章 77: Chapter 74: The Banquet
When it came to attending the banquet, Fars knew he couldn't just shroud himself in a black robe. While there was no strict prohibition against mages wearing their robes, completely covering one's face would be considered quite rude.
What troubled Fars the most was his youthful and strikingly handsome face. He was so good-looking that it was almost disconcerting, especially given his identity as a sorcerer. Most mages who reached such a level were typically in their fifties, if not older, often showing signs of aging, even if they hadn't yet gone gray. It was exceedingly rare for someone to step onto the path of eternity before the age of thirty; those who did were like shining stars, envied by all.
Fars, looking barely over twenty, could easily raise suspicions. His deep power contrasted sharply with his youthful appearance, making his vampiric identity all too apparent. Even if no one dared to confront him that night due to his overwhelming strength, it was likely that word would reach the church, and he could find himself at the stake.
Moreover, there was nothing to gain from attending someone else's banquet. It would only invite unnecessary trouble. Thus, Fars decisively chose to decline the invitation.
"Please convey my thanks to Count Rao Er for his kind invitation. However, I will be leaving Nordan tomorrow and need a good rest tonight, so I won't be attending," Fars politely returned the invitation to the old butler.
The old butler showed little surprise at the sorcerer's refusal to attend the count's banquet. It was understandable for mages to prefer not to mingle with common folk. Regardless, the butler had fulfilled his duty, conveying the count's welcome to Fars.
"Then I shall take my leave and report back to my master. I hope Nordan will not disappoint you, esteemed Sorcerer," the butler bowed and exited.
After accompanying Yuna for lunch, Fars's purpose for entering the city was to buy her some clothes and gather supplies for their journey. To be honest, Fars was a rather considerate employer, always thinking of Yuna's needs. Spending time with her was enjoyable and relaxing, allowing Fars to gradually treat her as a friend. Yuna, in turn, showed no signs of fear or disgust towards him as a vampire. Perhaps being from different races and both being wanted made their interactions quite harmonious.
After their meal, the sun was high in the sky, and the already warm city felt like a furnace, causing foot traffic to dwindle. However, whenever people encountered Fars and Yuna, they instinctively stepped aside. This was not only out of respect for the mage but also due to the fear of the unknown. Fars had casually dealt with a few adventurers who had harassed Yuna outside the Adventurers' Guild, making him a figure that the people of Nordan dared not provoke.
This preferential treatment extended to every shop Fars entered, whether it was a tailor or an inn where he planned to stay. An old tailor, who usually required several days to complete a garment, confidently promised Fars that he could pick it up the next day. Not all of Yuna's clothing needed to be custom-made; she also selected several beautiful outfits from ready-to-wear shops. Of course, Fars paid for everything, claiming that the expenses would be deducted from Yuna's wages. Fortunately, even the luxurious clothing worn by nobles could be found for a reasonable price, ranging from dozens to hundreds of gold coins. Compared to Yuna's daily wage of one hundred gold coins (since she rarely referred to Fars as her master, her pay remained unchanged), buying a few outfits was not excessive.
The inn also prepared the best room for Fars. As for Yuna, being Fars's attendant, it was only natural for her to share a room with him in the eyes of others.
Having not slept on a soft bed for a long time, Fars waited until the innkeeper left before casually casting a soundproof barrier and unceremoniously shedding his oversized robe, collapsing onto the bed. Yuna had been sharing a tent with Fars for the past two days and didn't mind sharing a room with him. Besides, Fars had not made any inappropriate advances, so she lay back on the large bed, looking quite content.
To outsiders, it appeared that the sorcerer and his beautiful female attendant had retreated to their room long before nightfall, leaving them to wonder what they were up to. Given that Fars had spent a considerable time in the Qihara Mountains, it was easy to assume he was simply indulging in the comforts of civilization.
However, Fars had no inappropriate thoughts about Yuna. After lying there for a while, he entered a meditative state to complete his daytime tasks. He had matters to attend to that night; after all, it would be a shame not to enjoy a few sips of human blood after finally entering a city.
As dusk fell and most of the day's laborers returned home, it was the perfect time for Fars to go hunting. He gently woke Yuna and asked if she wanted to join him. Although Yuna was also from a different race, the Ventusian tribe did not have a particular affinity for human blood. Only vampires had a special craving for it. Leaving Yuna behind in the inn, Fars layered protective spells and magical traps in the room before slipping out through the window.
The night served as Fars's best cloak; as long as he stayed in the shadows, ordinary people would not notice the vampire lurking nearby. This ability to conceal himself was not a natural talent but rather a skill he had honed through numerous dark spells.
To find suitable prey, Fars flew high above, surveying the entire city of Nordan. He bypassed the bustling main streets, not wanting to cause a commotion. Instead, he focused on the eerie back alleys, which became his primary targets.
Recalling the enchanting scent of Jessie's blood, Fars felt fortunate to have so many options available. He decided he should select a young maiden as the main course for his evening feast. After all, mysterious deaths in the city would cause too much unnecessary trouble. Fars's principle was to savor the flavors of beautiful young women while minimizing harm to their bodies.
After draining two girls around seventeen or eighteen years old, he used his charm to make them forget the unpleasant experience. This merely induced a temporary amnesia; it wouldn't erase the memories entirely. As long as the girls weren't subjected to extreme stimuli, they wouldn't recall the night when a strange man kissed their necks.
Feeling satisfied, Fars noted that most people were likely drifting into slumber. His vampire banquet was approaching its climax. After flying for a while, he quietly slipped into several courtyards, but unfortunately, none of the potential prey met his standards. Was this how the night would end? Fars refused to believe that in a city of thousands, he couldn't find a single beautiful young woman.
Through an open window, he spotted a noble lady resting her chin on her hand, gazing wistfully at the moon. The nights in Nordan were not particularly cool, but people were accustomed to closing their windows before bed. It was by chance that Fars noticed this girl, and he was immediately drawn to her. The owner of this house seemed to be a wealthy and influential figure in Nordan, as the property was large and centrally located, with plenty of guards, including two high-level professionals on night watch.
In a small place like Nordan, there were probably very few with such stature. Fars took a moment to carefully assess the situation from below the entrance. What a coincidence! Earlier that day, Count Rao Er had sent an invitation to Fars, inviting him to the banquet, which Fars had declined. Now, in the dead of night, he found himself drawn to the count's daughter.
However, having finally found a suitable girl, Fars had no reason to let her go. Seeing her awake at this hour, it was clear she was lost in thoughts of some man. Seizing this opportunity, Fars felt compelled to offer her some comfort.
Using his skills, he easily bypassed the guards by flying in from above. By this time, most of the Rao family had gone to bed, and the villa was quiet. Fars hid in the shadows and cast a hypnotic spell, causing the young lady to fall into a deep sleep.
Cradling the girl with the rosy cheeks in his arms, Fars felt quite pleased. She appeared to be around fifteen years old, with soft, delicate skin and a well-developed figure, igniting a burning desire within him.
Fortunately, Fars was not blinded by lust. A small amount of blood loss would only leave her feeling weak, and few would suspect anything. Noble ladies were expected to be delicate; if they fainted too often, they would be embarrassed to boast to their friends. At her age, it was likely she was still a virgin; only married women were rumored to have scandalous affairs. If Fars were to take her, the evidence would be left on her, and unless he killed her to cover his tracks, the following day would bring chaos to the household. Perhaps the count would not make a public spectacle of capturing a rapist to protect his daughter's honor, but he certainly wouldn't let a suspicious stranger go unpunished.
As someone who had just arrived and planned to leave the next day, Fars felt confident that even if the count were furious, he wouldn't dare confront a sorcerer. Yet, the girl in his arms was simply too tempting. As Fars gently kissed her snow-white neck, an intoxicating fragrance filled his senses, causing him to lose himself in the moment. By the time he regained his composure, the rosy-cheeked girl had turned pale, appearing to have lost too much blood.
Fortunately, Fars snapped back to reality just in time; had he continued, it would have been disastrous. It seemed the evening's feast was nearing its conclusion, but there was still time before dawn. Perhaps he was simply reluctant to part with the girl in his arms, as he held her a little longer, savoring the moment.
While he enjoyed the closeness, Fars was also contemplating how to keep her by his side permanently, allowing him to indulge in her delicious blood from time to time.
Slowly, a plan began to form in his mind. Fars took the girl's small hand and infused her with a dark magical energy.
Hmm? Fars was puzzled to find that the magic he sent into her body was being partially rejected. Could it be…? This time, he had infused her with a different, colder magic. Along with the rejection, he sensed a hint of absorption. Oh, it turned out this girl had a talent for learning magic. Her affinity seemed to lean towards the water element. As a legitimate high-level mage, Fars felt confident in his assessment. Only high-level mages could detect subtle changes in magical energy to determine whether an ordinary person had the potential to learn magic.
Indeed, she was a gem. Fars felt that even if he had to forcibly take her, he would do so. Moreover, since she had magical potential, why not use this to stage a perfect scenario for taking her as a disciple?
After some thought, Fars decided to proceed with his original plan, injecting a malevolent magical energy into the girl to simulate symptoms of being haunted by a vengeful spirit. The weakness from blood loss would conveniently align with this portrayal. When he passed by the church in the small town during the day, he hadn't sensed much pressure, suggesting that only a few priests were stationed there. Given their level of skill, it was unlikely they could dispel the disturbance afflicting the girl.
At that point, a powerful sorcerer would be present in the city, and the count would surely be anxious to send for help if his daughter's life were in danger.
It seemed he would need to create some delays tomorrow, prolonging his stay to avoid being found too quickly.
Gently placing the girl back by the window, he arranged her to appear as if she had fainted in a nearby chair. After erasing any traces of his presence, Fars flew back to the inn, casually wrapping his arms around the sleeping Yuna as he meticulously planned each step for the following day.
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