章 104: Chapter 98: The Sunken River
On the morning of the Inlay River, a flurry of boats was already bustling along the waterway, transporting goods and passengers to and from Yao City, which lay over a hundred miles away. Some crew members, eager to reach Yao City for a much-needed rest, stood on the deck, occasionally gazing into the distance at the faint, blurry outline of the city.
The tranquil morning was suddenly disrupted by two unexpected guests soaring through the sky. Sharp-eyed sailors could see that the figures were two robed individuals engaged in a fierce chase, occasionally exchanging brilliant spells. For ordinary sailors, encountering even one mage was rare, let alone two of considerable power. Instead of excitement, the crew felt a sense of dread and fear. The direction the mages were heading was towards them, and battles between powerful figures often had collateral damage, especially when it involved destructive mages.
Not only were troublemakers flying above, but on the riverbank, a figure wrapped in a faint glow dashed toward the water like an arrow. This was Gu Fu, who was also pursuing Fars. In a bid to reach the Inlay River before Fars, he had unleashed his fighting spirit, propelling himself at maximum speed.
After Fars had played a game of hide-and-seek with them in the castle, his intention to head to the Inlay River became clear once he left the fortress. Both pursuers sensed that things were not looking good. They understood their own limitations well; Fars, being younger and more resilient, could handle the exertion, while Gu Fu, with his severed arm, found it difficult to keep up. The physical handicap would make it nearly impossible for him to compete with the cunning vampire once they entered the water.
Throughout the chase, both the mage and the swordsman held nothing back. The old mage continuously cast spells in an attempt to intercept Fars, while Gu Fu aimed to corner him alongside Galisi. However, Fars skillfully changed directions, making it difficult for his pursuers to successfully encircle him, even though he was still heading toward the Inlay River.
As the river came into view, Fars, filled with excitement, dove into the water at a spot where boats were densely packed. This made it challenging for the old mage, who wanted to vent his frustration by casting powerful spells, as he was now hindered by the presence of the boats. Having failed to intercept Fars along the way, their efforts seemed wasted after a long night of pursuit. Gu Fu, standing helplessly on the riverbank, felt disappointed as well; he had failed to fulfill the city lord's orders.
Once submerged, Fars and Danys quickly sank to the riverbed of the Inlay River. He figured that the old mage would hesitate to cast spells that could endanger the boats above. Many powerful spells could affect depths far below the surface, so to be safe, Fars decided to swim along the riverbed, sticking close to the muddy bottom. His chosen direction still led toward Yao City; this would catch them off guard, and the cargo ship carrying Yuna and the others was also headed north from Yao City. Once he dealt with his current situation, he needed to catch up with them as soon as possible.
The merchants aboard the cargo ship were unaware that Fars was no longer on board. They likely wouldn't dare to disturb him, and as long as Yuna kept her cover, they shouldn't discover his absence. Even if they did, could the crew really pose a threat to Yuna, who was also quite powerful? He worried, however, that if they were forced off the ship, he wouldn't be able to follow the river to find them.
Eventually, Galisi the mage, seeing that the boats on the river had thinned out, unleashed several powerful spells that stirred the water and created a long-lasting whirlpool. By this time, Fars had already left the area, sensing the fluctuations of magic from a distance. The fact that his pursuers were starting to vent their frustrations indicated they were giving up on the chase.
Thus, Fars continued his journey underwater, surfacing only briefly upon entering Yao City to confirm that the old mage was no longer in sight and that there were no strong presences nearby. Only then did he feel secure enough to head north and leave Yao City behind.
Beneath the Inlay River, aside from the mud, there was nothing unusual to be found. However, the water quality, formed from the melting snow of the Qidiaolo Mountains, was excellent, with high visibility and not overly murky. Relying on his senses, Fars found a spot where the water element was particularly active and sank the newly acquired coffin into the riverbed's mud. He then used his magic to drain the water from the opened coffin, allowing Danys to set up layers of ice walls around it to create a secluded space.
Once he was settled inside the coffin, he closed the lid and fell into a deep sleep alongside Danys. He drifted off peacefully, but unrest was brewing in Yao City. Information about the previous night began to leak into the public, and the destruction of the church was witnessed by many.
The news of the bishop being defeated by the evil vampires and losing an arm sent shockwaves through the city. Many began to worry whether the malevolent vampires would continue to wreak havoc. To stabilize the citizens and prevent mass panic from causing a population exodus, the city lord stepped forward to deliver a speech in the town square, detailing the events that had transpired. When he announced that the vampires had been driven out of the city by Galisi the mage from the Magic Guild, it had a significant calming effect.
The Magic Guild, which had been established in Yao City for twenty years, not only gained the support of the authorities but also won the hearts of the people. Even with Marquis Osyka's efforts to support the reconstruction of the church, it was difficult to overshadow the influence of the Magic Guild. The city lord attributed all the credit to Galisi, further solidifying their close relationship. With Galisi's presence, the Osyka family, having lost the lordship, could still enjoy nearly a century of prosperity, as long as they had the protection of the Magic Guild. The new Osyka family would have to think carefully before attempting to undermine their descendants.
The most frustrated were likely the bishop, whose church had been destroyed, and Marquis Osyka, who had been thoroughly overshadowed by the cunning city lord during this conflict. They had put in the most effort, yet the rewards had gone to others, while they bore the losses. To the discerning eye, their side had become a laughingstock. This only intensified Osyka's anger toward the city lord's family and hastened his efforts to gather talented individuals. The Osyka family was indeed incredibly wealthy, but having money did not necessarily solve problems. If only he had someone like Gu Fu to bolster his side. Even if they couldn't reach the bishop in time, having a backup would have prevented the city lord from monopolizing the credit.
On that day, there were still witnesses who saw Fars diving into the water to escape. Many crew members had observed this. Initially, they didn't know what was happening, but upon reaching Yao City and connecting it to the rumors about the vampires, they realized they had narrowly avoided an encounter with the evil bloodsuckers. In their fear, they couldn't help but gossip, embellishing the story over drinks in taverns. With the encouragement of some, the news spread like wildfire. The key difference between this news and the city lord's claim of expulsion was that it sparked renewed panic. It turned out that the evil vampires had not definitively left Yao City but were likely lurking both inside and outside the city.
Those within the city felt somewhat reassured, believing that with Galisi the mage's protection, the vampires would not dare to commit further atrocities. However, those outside the city were far more frightened. Many wealthy nobles living in the outskirts hurriedly brought their families into the city for safety. The entire Yao City began to take on a shadowy semblance of prosperity.
Strange occurrences continued to unfold. Soon, news emerged that a thick fog had suddenly appeared in the northern section of the Inlay River. Many cargo ships were stranded in that area, unable to navigate normally, which drew the close attention of the city's authorities. The fog was peculiar; while Yao City typically experienced some fog due to its humid and warm climate, it usually dissipated within a short time.
However, this fog was different. It was unnaturally dense, and the water vapor was so thick that torches extinguished the moment they entered it. Prolonged exposure caused corrosion, damaging clothing, and those who ventured too far into the fog returned in a disheveled state.
The Magic Guild, regarded as the city's guardian, also sent people to investigate. Even a magically conjured wind could only temporarily disperse the fog, which quickly reappeared. Ultimately, Galisi the mage personally confirmed that this was a man-made magical fog. The caster's power was so formidable that even Galisi felt inferior. It was unclear how they had crossed paths with such a powerful individual, and when they called out into the fog, no one responded. The situation reached a stalemate, leaving the Magic Guild in a precarious position. If they resolved the issue, their status would be further solidified; if they failed, they would face criticism.
Indeed, this fog was the result of Fars's handiwork. He was at a crucial juncture in his advancement, and if anyone dared to venture into the fog, they would discover that the river's water had taken on an inky hue, exuding a chilling dark aura that seemed capable of freezing flowing blood. Such a blatant phenomenon would inadvertently reveal that he had not left Yao City but was hiding right there. With a clear objective, a sufficiently powerful force could be assembled to hunt him down, making escape impossible.
Galisi the mage had also speculated whether the fleeing vampire was behind this, but aside from the fog, there were no other leads. Fearing that he might offend a powerful mage, he refrained from further interference. Generally, powerful mages had their own reasons for acting this way, and one should never provoke them lightly. Once the matter was resolved, it was likely that the fog would dissipate on its own.
Deep in the cold waters, a coffin buried beneath the riverbed slowly began to rise, breaking through the mud's obstruction.
Fars's advancement had taken nearly ten days to complete. The reason for his prolonged absence was that Danys had also fallen into a deep sleep at this time, seemingly transitioning from her infancy to her growth phase. Like dragons, phoenixes had long lifespans, resulting in slow growth. Transitioning from infancy to maturity in just a year was an astonishingly rapid pace. This was due in part to Fars's diligent care, as he fed her large quantities of precious ice crystals daily and often allowed her to consume high-level souls. Danys, possessing the traits of a mythical beast, naturally accelerated her growth in tandem with her master's increasing power.
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