The Rao Er family was exceptionally courteous. Even though Fars had not attended the banquet the night before, Count Rao Er personally invited the esteemed sorcerer to breakfast that morning. It is often said that even strangers can become acquaintances after sharing a meal, and this was certainly true. At the dining table, Fars was mindful of his demeanor; being overly aloof would not serve his purpose of winning the count's daughter.
As breakfast was nearing its end, Miss Lilith, still appearing quite weak, was helped into the room by a servant to personally thank Fars. Her presence provided Fars with the perfect opportunity to steer the conversation toward her.
After Lilith had greeted everyone, Fars wasted no time and directly asked, "Miss Lilith, would you like to learn magic from me?"
The abruptness of his question caught everyone off guard. Seeing their stunned expressions, Fars calmly elaborated, "Yesterday, while I was performing the exorcism for Miss Lilith, I noticed her considerable magical talent, which inspired me to consider taking her as my apprentice. I'm not one for flowery words, so I spoke plainly. I hope the count and his lady will forgive my bluntness."
After his speech, Fars noted the astonishment on their faces, quickly replaced by expressions of joy. He realized that his boldness had achieved the desired effect. Normally, such matters would be discussed gradually, but given Fars's precarious situation, he dared not linger on the topic with the count's family. Too many words could lead to mistakes, and he couldn't afford to reveal any flaws. Thus, this direct approach was indeed a wise strategy.
Count Rao Er was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Just yesterday, he had faced the prospect of losing his beloved daughter, and now he was celebrating her recovery, only to hear that she possessed a remarkable talent for magic and that a prestigious sorcerer wished to take her as his apprentice. Although the count was a man of the world, he found himself momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
It was important to note that the status of a magician was on par with, if not superior to, that of a noble. When Fars was merely a low-level mage, his noble lineage had already earned him a degree of recognition within the aristocratic circles of the Oxi Empire. Now, with the daughter of Count Rao Er being sought after by a sorcerer, it was truly a stroke of luck. The prospect of having a magician in the family, especially one who would be a direct disciple of a sorcerer, meant that the family would gain a powerful ally. The petty factions in the city would think twice before plotting against them, and it was not impossible for the family to rise even further in status.
Countess Rao Er, however, had a more complex perspective than her husband. As a woman, she tended to think ahead. While having a daughter with magical talent was indeed a blessing, the thought of her being taken away by a wandering sorcerer was distressing. After all they had been through, she was reluctant to let her daughter go. Deep down, she wished for Lilith to remain by her side, and when the time came, for her husband to find a suitable match for her. Although such a fate might not be particularly glamorous, the thought of her child living a safe and prosperous life was enough to satisfy any parent.
Clearly, this was not a decision to be made hastily. Moreover, it depended on Lilith's own wishes. Although Count Rao Er was inclined to agree with Fars, he had to consider the feelings of his wife and daughter.
"Esteemed Master Perugino, we find ourselves unable to make a decision at this moment. May we take some time to discuss this as a family?" Count Rao Er respectfully replied to Fars. The reason he addressed Fars as Perugino was due to their earlier conversation during breakfast, where Fars had politely shared his chosen pseudonym.
"At this stage, I am traveling across the continent. If Miss Lilith were to become my apprentice, she would need to accompany me on my journeys. Life on the road can be quite challenging, and I must make that clear. If she is unwilling to endure such hardships, then taking on an apprentice is a matter of fate, and I would not force her," Fars explained.
After a brief pause, he continued, "However, Miss Lilith does possess considerable talent. With my guidance, she could become a high-level mage in just over a decade. Whether she can advance further would depend on her opportunities."
The mention of becoming a high-level mage caused the entire Rao Er family to gasp in astonishment, as they tried to process the excitement. A high-level mage would be revered wherever they went; having one in the family was an irresistible temptation for anyone. Countess Rao Er began to envision her daughter's bright future. Could she really let her momentary reluctance jeopardize Lilith's chance to become a high-level mage or even a sorcerer? That would be a grave mistake.
Even fifteen-year-old Lilith understood the implications of Fars's words. After witnessing the sorcerer's incredible magic the day before, her imagination had already begun to soar. However, she also knew that learning magic required talent, and not everyone possessed it. The rarity of magical talent was precisely why mages held such a prestigious status. Moreover, those with magical potential were often not discovered, as was the case with Lilith. Despite being born into a noble family, Nordan was too remote, and there were few powerful mages around to test her abilities.
Fars's words resonated with the hopes in Lilith's heart, and she felt an overwhelming desire to accept his offer immediately. Yet, having been raised with a solid noble education, she understood that the decision ultimately rested with her parents. If they were truly unwilling to let her pursue magic, she would respect their wishes, even if it meant leaving her parents behind.
Count Rao Er recognized that he could not rush into a decision. He felt it would be better to give Fars a response later. Fars, too, was not pressing the matter too hard; allowing some space was beneficial. From the look in Lilith's eyes, he could tell that the girl was intrigued. With that in mind, he felt reassured. As long as the fish was willing to bite, it was only a matter of time before it took the bait. Fars believed that the temptation he offered was substantial enough. In truth, Lilith's talent surpassed his own when he was her age. When Fars's talent was assessed by a high-level mage—his own master—initially, no potential was detected. It was only after Fars's father, Baron Deron, insisted that the mage use a special crystal ball to test for talent that a hint of it was revealed. However, Fars's achievements had been rather modest; in the end, he had only managed to become a mid-level mage through external means.
Taking on an apprentice was not a solemn vow; whether Lilith could be taught to become a high-level mage would depend on her own fortune. Moreover, Fars's true motive for taking Lilith as a disciple was to satisfy his own desires. If he were to draw blood from her regularly, even with careful restraint, it would inevitably harm her body and affect her magical potential.
Once back in their room, Yuna playfully pinched Fars, who responded by pulling her into an embrace and teasing, "My little Yuna is still jealous of Lilith, huh? Would you like me to check if you have magical talent too? But if you truly become my disciple, you'll have to call me 'Master' in bed."
At the sight of Fars's lewd grin, Yuna's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as memories of their wild night came rushing back. She retorted, "Our Wintusia clan has never had a member become a mage. You can keep your wicked thoughts for your future little apprentice lover."
"Really? I've never heard of any race being unable to practice magic. Aside from the intellectually challenged orcs, who struggle with magic, my Yuna is so clever. Who knows, you might become a legendary mage one day," Fars replied, slightly puzzled.
Yuna pushed his hand away from her waist, laughing as she escaped his embrace and adjusted her clothes. "Heh, do you really think we, who have devoted our faith and souls to the gods, can practice magic?"
"Oh," Fars realized. He now understood why Yuna and her kin, who looked just like humans, were considered a different race. They claimed to carry the blood of the black cat Wintusia, having completely devoted themselves to their deity, leaving them with no choice in the matter. Unlike humans, who could change their beliefs, they were more like divine servants, marked from birth as Wintusia's children.
Divine servants were akin to the remnants of the gods on earth, destined to return to the divine realm. They could only wield the powers of the gods they worshipped, making it impossible for them to learn magic. This was indeed a pity, as gods were not omnipotent; each deity governed different domains, which limited the divine magic their followers could wield. Compared to ordinary people who could not use divine magic, this was an advantage, but it paled in comparison to the vast array of spells wielded by mages.
"Do you really think they would let their daughter go with you?" Yuna still felt uneasy. To be honest, after Fars had made his promise to her the night before, she was somewhat supportive of Lilith being taken away. After all, what vampire could resist the urge to feed? Watching Fars constantly draw blood from magical beasts was not a sustainable solution. If he ever succumbed to temptation and found himself alone with her, Yuna was very protective of her own life.
Fars smiled mysteriously, ignoring Yuna's curious inquiries as he pulled out a spellbook to read. However, this book was not particularly advanced; it was titled "An Overview of Basic Magic." It seemed he was quite confident, even preparing to teach a disciple. Yuna could only shake her head in resignation.