Fars had successfully gathered a small group, and with Linte now included as a new member, it seemed that Lilith was the happiest of them all. Having another peer to accompany her and call her "sister" brought her great joy. Yuna, while not saying much, understood that since she had chosen to follow Fars, she had to comply with his decisions. If he wanted to take in a child, what could she do?
Before Linte arrived, he had followed Fars's advice and changed into clean clothes, which made him appear somewhat handsome. However, years of malnutrition and the burdens of life had left him looking dark and thin. Fars gently called out to Linte, helping him escape from Lilith's playful clutches, as he felt the need to understand the boy's situation better.
"Can you read?"
Linte awkwardly shook his head. There was nothing shameful about it; it was difficult for ordinary families to afford education, especially for a poor child like Linte, who had been left to fend for himself at such a young age.
As Fars had suspected, it seemed that besides teaching him combat skills, he would also need to help Linte learn to read and write. However, he couldn't assume that Linte lacked the potential for magic. Fars called Linte over and carefully examined him. It seemed that the rare magical talent he had encountered before had not manifested in Linte. Fortunately, he hadn't held too many expectations, so he wasn't disappointed. After all, if Linte couldn't learn magic, he could still train in martial skills and become a warrior.
Yuna noticed that Fars was checking Linte's magical potential and asked, "Does he have any magical talent?" Linte, still processing the icy energy that Fars had transmitted into him, realized that this man who claimed to be a vampire was, in fact, a legendary mage. He had heard many tales about mages, and now he found himself following one.
Seeing Fars shake his head, Linte understood that he had limited potential and would not become a high-ranking mage. Fars then asked, "Have you ever ridden a horse?"
Linte had to shake his head again. He had already done so much of that today that he no longer felt embarrassed. Fars faced the reality that this child he had taken in was a blank slate, having learned nothing at all. However, if Linte couldn't ride a horse, that would be a significant issue. Fars had no intention of cramming another boy into the carriage, which would interfere with his romantic moments with Yuna. The priority was to teach Linte to ride before they set off in two days.
"You can't ride? Do you think you can learn in two days?" Fars fixed his gaze on Linte, exerting a strong pressure that bore down on the boy.
Linte struggled to adapt to the sudden weight of the pressure, his body nearly buckling under it. Yet, deep within him, an indomitable spirit surged forth, and he stood firm against the pressure, shouting out his conviction to Fars, "I can! I will!"
"Good, that's the spirit," Fars replied, turning to Yuna. "Take him into town and find a place where he can learn to ride. Make sure he can ride a horse by the time we leave. Also, if you have time, help him pick out a suitable weapon."
"What weapon do you like, Linte?" Fars asked, considering Linte's preferences.
This time, Linte had adjusted to Fars's questioning and no longer felt overwhelmed. After some thought, he replied, "A knight's lance. I want to become a knight."
Yuna chuckled and asked, "Little Linte, do you think you can handle a knight's lance with your current build?"
The boy blushed and fell silent. Even children trained from a young age to become knights typically started with simpler weapons. They had to build a solid foundation first, practicing riding and using a longsword before specializing in techniques for charging with a lance.
Thinking of the knight's lance reminded Fars of Agno, the composed and taciturn man who had left a strong impression on him. He recalled Agno's steady swordsmanship and the bravery he displayed while wielding his lance, truly a remarkable talent.
"Alright, Yuna, stop teasing Linte. Remember what I told you, and take him now. When you return in the evening, help him get a room. I'll take Lilith to the Adventurers' Guild to help Linte with the paperwork to join our Deunasha Adventurers' Group." Fars then remembered that Linte didn't even have a surname and spontaneously asked, "Linte, since you don't have a surname, would you like me to give you one?"
"Yes, please! I beg you to grant me a surname!" Linte exclaimed, kneeling before Fars, visibly excited. He understood what having a surname represented. For years, he had been bullied and ridiculed by his peers for lacking one.
Fars was pleased with Linte's reaction. After becoming a vampire, he could no longer carry on the glory of the Derong family, which had become a permanent source of pain for him. Even if he added the surname to his name, the blood that flowed through him could only be called Hill. The boy before him bore no trace of the Derong bloodline, but allowing him to carry the surname would at least provide some comfort.
"From now on, you will use Derong as your surname. It was my name in life, and I will gradually tell you about the glory of the Derong family." Speaking of the Derong family still weighed heavily on Fars's heart; the warmth of family was something he could no longer experience as a cold-blooded vampire. After saying this, he waved his hand, signaling Yuna to take Linte away.
As he watched Yuna lead Linte out of the room, Fars leaned back in his wooden chair, reflecting on the Derong name that had always tugged at his heartstrings. He then took Lilith to the Adventurers' Guild to help the newly named "Linte Derong" join the group he had established.
Inside the Adventurers' Guild, the hall was filled with the stench of blood and decay, thanks to the many adventurers bringing in goblin heads to turn in their quests. Even though the staff had set up a special station outside to handle the influx of adventurers, the foul odor still lingered in the air. Fars found himself missing the days when the guild was filled with the smell of alcohol; he realized that a tavern filled with drunken adventurers was far preferable to the current scene, which resembled a slaughterhouse. After stepping outside, Fars took a deep breath of fresh air and exhaled, realizing that happiness could be so simple.
Next on his agenda was to prepare some reading materials for Linte. One might think that a powerful mage like him would carry all sorts of books, but he didn't have a comprehensive language textbook on hand. While he did have some books on language and writing, they weren't about the common tongue. Fars didn't expect Linte to be a genius who could learn everything instantly; even he found the Nez language and other racial scripts challenging.
As for a teacher, Fars had already chosen Lilith for the role. Having received a good noble education, Lilith was capable and knowledgeable enough (at least compared to Linte, who knew nothing) to guide him in his studies. The reason for choosing Lilith as Linte's mentor was twofold: first, Fars had his own matters to attend to in the vast world of magic, and he had only just taken his first steps. Compared to ordinary high-level mages, his only source of pride might be his combat strength. Second, he wanted to deepen the bonds within their small group; communication among peers would likely be easier. Yuna, in contrast, didn't seem like the type to take on a teaching role, but she had her own responsibilities, so Fars decided to entrust her with teaching Linte combat skills.
After all, Linte was inheriting the illustrious surname of Derong, and Fars genuinely wanted to educate him to become a capable individual. In the future, he could become his right-hand man, able to handle tasks independently.
Fars selected several books specifically for Linte: "Basic Common Language Tutorial," "A Brief History of Elras," and "Noble Etiquette." Given that Linte likely had no foundational knowledge, studying these would be quite challenging for him. However, without some understanding of history and basic noble etiquette, even if he excelled in martial skills, he would suffer due to a lack of wisdom and refinement. In fact, Fars also planned to compile a history of the Derong family for him, instilling in Linte a sense of pride and identity through the family's noble traditions. It was a long road ahead; nurturing an elite was no easy task.
By evening, Fars placed the three relatively thin books heavily in front of Linte, who was exhausted and nearly unable to keep his eyes open after a long day. He announced that Lilith Rao would honorably take on the responsibility of teaching Linte.
Fars continued in an authoritative tone, "As for my dear Yuna, the task of teaching Linte combat skills falls to you."
"Everyone is tired today, so take the opportunity during dinner to rest well. Nighttime activities will be the same as last night. Lilith will continue practicing Arcane Missiles and some simple tricks, while Linte will learn to use a longsword under Yuna's guidance."
Finally, Fars added, and with that, everyone, including Yuna, let out a heavy sigh. Yet, no one dared to question Fars's decisions. They resigned themselves to finding a comfortable spot to lie down, hoping to catch a few more minutes of rest. Poor Linte was sent to another room to rest, while he, having been battered by a spirited horse all afternoon, could only drag his weary body back to his own room. Linte was no stranger to hardship; he had endured much, but physical exhaustion was undeniable. After being thrown off a horse, he would get back up and keep going. It was sheer willpower that had brought him this far.