Chereads / Legacy of the Crimson Lord / Chapter 82 - Chapter 78: Summoning the Spirit

Chapter 82 - Chapter 78: Summoning the Spirit

To Yuna's surprise, Count Rao Er and his wife provided Fars with a clear answer during lunch, expressing their hope that their daughter, Lilith, could become his apprentice. However, they were concerned about her frail health and requested that she stay home to recuperate for a while before embarking on her travels with Fars.

Fars was pleased with the Rao Er family's straightforwardness, and they engaged in a thorough discussion regarding Lilith's need for additional rest. Fars explained that he had an important gathering to attend in the distant Roland Empire and could not afford to delay any longer. After some negotiation, they agreed that Lilith would be sent off with Fars in two days.

In truth, Fars was glad to have a couple more days. Since he had taken Lilith as his apprentice, he felt it was his responsibility to ensure she was adequately prepared.

Every individual with magical talent must undergo a process known as "spirit summoning" before they can truly become a magic apprentice. What is spirit summoning? It involves drawing external elements into oneself to cultivate the first spark of magical power. Without the assistance of a highly skilled mage, an apprentice would typically need several months to achieve this step. However, Fars did not want his apprentice to struggle through such difficulties. After all, he would be taking a delicate girl with no combat experience into the perilous Qihar Mountains. At the very least, he wanted to improve Lilith's physical condition over the next two days, and spirit summoning was also a process of cleansing the body. Once the summoning was complete, Lilith would truly become an apprentice, and they could apply for a three-leaf clover badge at a nearby magic guild.

"Lilith, after lunch, get ready. Your teacher will conduct the spirit summoning for you, so you can truly become a magic apprentice," Fars instructed the excited Lilith, who was beaming at the prospect of becoming a mage.

Count Rao Er was overjoyed to hear that the esteemed sorcerer would be overseeing Lilith's spirit summoning. It was a momentous occasion to witness his daughter take her first step onto the path of magic.

"Lilith, hurry and thank the esteemed sorcerer," Count Rao Er urged his daughter.

"Thank you, Teacher," Lilith said, standing up and bowing to Fars, sweetly calling him "Master."

This address filled Fars with delight; he finally had an apprentice of his own. Meanwhile, Yuna, who had been standing by Fars's side, couldn't help but show a hint of jealousy.

However, since it was Lilith's first time calling him "Master," Fars felt he should give her a proper gift. He pondered his collection but found nothing suitable. In the end, he decided to present her with a spatial ring, which he levitated in front of her.

"Dear apprentice, this is a gift from your teacher—a spatial ring. You can use it to pack your belongings over the next couple of days. It has a capacity of ten cubic meters. If you have too much to fit, just give it to your Master to hold for you."

Fars figured that a young lady from a remote noble family would likely not have the means to afford a spatial ring, so he believed this gift was quite substantial.

Indeed, it was a significant gift. Although Lilith did not fully grasp the value of the ring, everyone else did. Count Rao Er, who also possessed a spatial ring, felt a bit embarrassed and instinctively pulled his hand back. His own ring was merely for show and had a capacity less than one-tenth of the one Fars had just given.

After lunch and some polite conversation, Lilith was ready. In truth, Fars had not asked her to prepare anything specific; the young girl had taken the time to bathe and dress up.

To avoid any disturbances during the spirit summoning, Fars taught Lilith how to meditate and then set up a barrier around her. This barrier was primarily to prevent any distractions that might interrupt Lilith during the summoning process.

This time, Fars did not use his precious staff. He was still getting accustomed to it, and since the spirit summoning was crucial for Lilith's future, he felt responsible for his first apprentice.

There were no incantations involved; Fars simply gathered the surrounding water elements with the help of Danis, as Lilith was likely to have a water affinity. Once the water elements had gathered sufficiently, even Yuna and the others could see hints of blue radiance. Fars felt it was time to send the water elements into the barrier and gently lifted Lilith, allowing her to float in mid-air, completely immersed in the dense water elements.

As time passed, the Count's family anxiously watched their daughter enveloped in the blue light. Fars, however, gradually relaxed. With his keen sensitivity to elements, he could clearly feel the elements beginning to be absorbed into Lilith's body. He could also gauge how much water element she could absorb before reaching saturation, providing insight into her potential.

Half a day went by. While Fars remained at ease, observing Lilith, the Count and his family were growing weary and eventually found chairs to sit on, anxiously awaiting the completion of the summoning. Yuna, with her superior physical constitution, stood behind Fars without complaint.

As Fars continuously gathered water elements to replenish Lilith's energy, the blue aura surrounding her showed little change. Only Fars truly understood the situation and grew increasingly delighted by Lilith's remarkable talent. The duration of the spirit summoning alone was not enough to indicate a person's potential, but Lilith's speed in absorbing the surrounding elements was comparable to that of a novice mage. This was largely due to Fars clearing out other elements, leaving only pure, high-density water elements.

After a while, the aura around Lilith began to swirl, and eventually, it was pushed a foot away from her body. Fars knew that the spirit summoning had concluded; Lilith's body had reached saturation and could not hold any more elements.

Gently dispersing the concentrated water elements was crucial; if mishandled, even the gentlest water element could unleash significant destructive power, potentially harming both Lilith and those nearby.

When Lilith opened her eyes, a hint of blue light shimmered within them. This was a normal phenomenon resulting from her insufficient control after the spirit summoning. Some apprentices destined for fire magic, for instance, might find flames igniting around them due to poor control after the summoning.

"Why are there so many blue lights in the room?" Lilith asked curiously.

Fars, pleased to have such a talented apprentice, smiled and explained, "Hehe, that's because the water elements I gathered for you haven't fully dispersed yet. Lilith, once you learn some basic magical knowledge, you can go to the magic guild and try to apply for a three-leaf clover badge."

"Really? Really? Does that mean I'm a magic apprentice now?"

"Yes, Lilith has truly become an apprentice!"

Overjoyed, Lilith began to bounce around her parents in excitement.

"Count Rao Er, I have some matters to attend to. I'll come to pick up Lilith the day after tomorrow," Fars said, ignoring Count Rao Er's repeated attempts to keep him there. He left the count's estate with Yuna, who was personally seeing them off.

It wasn't that the hospitality at the count's estate was lacking; Yuna was quite satisfied with the cook, as the food was better than what they had at the local taverns. However, Fars felt that staying there was inconvenient for his nighttime hunting. The meals they had during the day provided no nourishment for his needs.

Another reason for his departure was to visit the Adventurers' Guild to see if there were any suitable tasks for him along his journey. Fars had an idea to form a smaller adventuring party. Yuna was naturally his first choice for a member. Although their relationship had become somewhat ambiguous, it did not hinder their collaboration. After all, they had started as employer and employee. Whether to include Lilith as a member was still a matter for Fars to consider.

As night fell over Nordan, the town gradually settled into tranquility. However, the Adventurers' Guild remained open late into the night, rarely experiencing a moment of peace. People came and went, some posting tasks, others accepting them or collecting rewards for completed ones. There were also many patrons drinking and making noise.

Fars's first encounter in Nordan had been in front of the Adventurers' Guild, where he had dealt with a few unruly drunks. Many onlookers had witnessed the spectacle, and Fars had left a deep impression on them when he froze those troublemakers with a mere glance.

As Fars and Yuna pushed open the door to the Adventurers' Guild, the room fell silent. A few patrons who had been boasting to their companions quickly closed their mouths upon noticing Fars.

A woman, even more voluptuous than Yuna, immediately set down her current customer and approached Fars with a smile. Her figure was undeniably enticing, making one want to take a bite. However, her face was not as striking as Yuna's, though she was still quite pretty.

Despite the spacious hall, the waitress quickly reached Fars and Yuna. Noticing Yuna's superior beauty, the waitress realized she had little chance of catching the attention of the renowned sorcerer. Thus, she merely threw a flirtatious glance at Fars, a habit of hers. She didn't dare to tease him directly; while she wasn't afraid of being taken advantage of, she certainly feared being frozen solid. Instead, she professionally asked, "Esteemed Sorcerer, I assume this is your first visit to the Adventurers' Guild in Nordan? Allow me to be your guide. Are you here to post a task or perhaps to enjoy a drink?" As she mentioned drinks, she found it somewhat odd. She didn't believe this sorcerer would come to accept tasks; in a small place like Nordan, there wouldn't be any tasks worthy of a sorcerer's involvement. Little did she know that Fars was actually there to register a small adventuring party.