The Rhine River, flowing vigorously through the territory of the Rhine Kingdom, runs from north to south and is the largest river within the principality. Its source lies in the towering Mount Cidialo of the Roland Empire, where melting snow converges to form the mighty Rhine. Stretching thousands of miles, the snow-capped glaciers not only serve as the origin of the Rhine but also as the source of several major rivers within the Roland Empire, nourishing the fertile lands of the central region.
On the shimmering surface of the river, golden sunlight reflected off the flowing waters. As the sun began to set, the merchant convoy escorted by Fars decided to set up camp along the riverbank. They were still about two hundred miles from their destination, the city of Yao, and traveling at night would be dangerous, especially since the horses and men were weary.
The entire Rhine principality lies in the lower reaches of the Rhine River, where the main channel is several hundred meters wide, and in some flat areas, it exceeds a kilometer. The numerous tributaries provide the most convenient conditions for the principality's water transport industry. Merchant convoys from nearby small principalities often prefer to transport their goods to the Rhine Kingdom first, then travel upstream via the Rhine River to the Roland Empire, contributing to the prosperity within the Rhine.
The city of Yao is not only a military stronghold in the western part of the Rhine principality but also an economic center in the southwest, making it one of the largest cities in the country, rivaling even the capital, Rhine City, in terms of prosperity. Although Rhine City bears the name of the kingdom, it is not built along the Rhine River. This is primarily to guard against the colossal Roland Empire sweeping down the river and easily ravaging the entire territory. This journey also provides an opportunity for Lilith and Linte to broaden their horizons. Yuna, who had not spent much time in human territories, found the larger but less prosperous Macas principality less appealing and was filled with great interest.
Fars, having been born in the colossal Osis Empire, comparable to the Roland Empire, had already seen the grandeur of Lantis City, which ranks among the top ten in all of Elras. Thus, he felt little interest in merely large cities within small principalities. However, he was quite intrigued by the tales of Yao City shared by adventurers who frequently traveled through the Rhine Kingdom.
"The most beautiful sight in Yao City is undoubtedly the view from the Yoseta at dusk, where one can feast their eyes on the golden ribbon of the Rhine stretching for miles. What a magnificent sight it is!" As the old adventurer spoke passionately, he gazed longingly at the distant Yao City, unable to calm his excitement.
This sparked envy among the young people around him who had never been to Yao City, wishing they could sprout wings and fly to the Yoseta to admire the breathtaking scenery. However, the old adventurer sighed, filled with regret, and continued, "Unfortunately, ever since the Magic Guild planned to establish a branch in Yao City twenty years ago, the then-lord immediately offered the best locations, including the Yoseta. Alas, aside from those noble mages and the prominent nobles in the city, ordinary people have no chance to witness this golden ribbon at dusk."
The old man had a talent for storytelling, and his words left the young listeners both yearning and sighing in disappointment. They lamented that they were either not born yet or had only visited towns a hundred miles away. Fars had originally planned to take Yuna and the others to see the beautiful sights of Yao City. Now, however, that idea had been dashed; he knew he couldn't simply waltz into the Yoseta as a vampire. Mages were exceptionally perceptive, and with his abilities, it was unrealistic to think he could pass unnoticed. Moreover, the branch of the Magic Guild would certainly have a mage stationed there...
Before he could lament the loss of his plans, he turned to see Yuna, Lilith, and the newly recruited Linte looking somewhat disappointed. Before he could react, Yuna, with her bright eyes, spoke up eagerly.
"Dear master, since you were once a mage, why not take me to see that Yoseta?"
Her sweet, soft voice was indeed soothing to Fars, but he knew his own limitations. If he truly had the power, it wouldn't be impossible to venture into a branch of the Magic Guild, which was likely only guarded by a single mage. Not wanting to refuse Yuna, he pondered for a moment and came up with a solution. The so-called golden ribbon was merely an illusion created by standing at a height, allowing one to overlook the Rhine River as if it were a golden silk ribbon within reach. Since he could fly, why bother climbing the Yoseta?
"Yuna, close your eyes for a moment. You can open them when I tell you to," Fars whispered gently in her ear, avoiding a direct answer.
Though unsure of Fars's intentions, Yuna obediently closed her eyes. She felt her body lighten as strong arms enveloped her. After a while, when she still hadn't heard Fars tell her to open her eyes, her curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked. The lush green grass by the river was gone, as were the bustling adventurers; instead, wisps of clouds danced around her hair.
At that moment, Fars feigned anger and scolded, "Yuna, you're not listening! How dare you peek? What should I do with you now? But now…" His tone softened as he gently murmured to her, "Here's your golden ribbon."
The clouds enveloping them gradually parted, revealing the winding Rhine River, which, under the reddish hues of dusk, truly transformed into an endless golden ribbon before their eyes. The people below had long lost clarity, appearing merely as moving black dots. In that instant, Yuna was deeply captivated by the scene. When she finally came to her senses, she heard Fars teasing her, "My little Yuna, shouldn't you show some gratitude to your master?"
In response, she leaned in and planted a kiss on Fars, her moist lips pressing against his, her tongue attempting to pry open his mouth. As a man, how could Fars allow himself to be toyed with like this? He boldly pushed her playful tongue away, taking the initiative to invade, while his hands began to explore Yuna's forbidden places. Fortunately, there were many people below; even at a great height, if he went too far, it would attract attention. Fars wisely paused his actions just as Yuna was becoming increasingly flustered.
"We'll continue this later. Alright, we've enjoyed the view enough; let's head down." Fars hadn't informed Lilith and Linte beforehand, so he took Yuna and flew up, worried that the two children might panic from confusion. With so many people around, he had to act like a proper mage to conceal his vampire identity, thus he couldn't simply spread his wings and take off. Maintaining the flying spell for long periods was also quite draining on his magic.
Just as they were about to land, Fars quietly said to Yuna, "My little Yuna, you should eat less; my arms are about to break. Haha…"
Before Yuna could react, Fars let go and dodged just in time to avoid her flustered punches. At that moment, Lilith and Linte approached, bombarding Yuna with questions, primarily asking about the experience of being up in the sky. Yuna, having been caught off guard by Fars, had no time to seek revenge.
The way others looked at Fars had changed; it was clear to everyone that he was a noble mage, and his ability to soar through the sky had become a mark of a high-level mage. The reverent gazes made Fars feel quite pleased, as it helped him shake off the disdain they had shown towards the small Deunasha adventuring group of only four members. The other three C-rank adventuring groups were composed of over a dozen members, and initially, they had been puzzled as to why the employer had hired Fars and his team.
The Deunasha group was relatively new and had little reputation. With only four members, half of whom were seemingly inexperienced children, it was hard for anyone to take their strength seriously. Fars had deliberately kept his identity under wraps, so the merchant convoy's leader hadn't revealed it. Most of the group traveled on horseback, while only Fars, Yuna, and Lilith rode in a more luxurious carriage, drawing extra attention and curiosity from others. Now, the mystery behind Fars's special treatment had been unveiled, and no one could question the strength of the Deunasha adventuring group any longer.
"Teacher, what exactly did you and Sister Yuna do up there? Why does Sister Yuna look a bit flushed and not quite normal? Were you two...?"
Children often speak without a filter, and Lilith's question made Yuna's face turn even redder, making it hard for anyone to resist the urge to tease her. Fars playfully pinched Lilith's rosy cheek and grinned, "Well, Lilith, would you like to try it too?"
After escaping Fars's playful grasp, Lilith quickly darted behind Yuna, sticking her tongue out at Fars in a cute manner. Being small and mischievous, she was well aware of what Fars and Yuna did together at night or in the carriage.
As night fell by the Rhine River, several campfires were lit. Given Fars's openly acknowledged special status, the small Deunasha group had originally planned to join another adventuring team for dinner. However, no one dared to eat or drink casually near Fars anymore, nor did anyone have the audacity to openly ogle Yuna's stunning figure. The mage's prized possession was not something they could covet.
Fars accepted this special treatment with ease. The disparity in status created a vast chasm, completely separating people from one another.