In the northern provinces near the Ice Plains, the Harvest Moon weather had already turned cold, and today was a rare stretch of clear, crisp skies.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—a squadron of cavalry thundered across the wasteland, sunlight spilling over their black armor and gilding the emblem of the crimson giant bear.
They appeared to be searching for something, yet they paid no attention to the mercenary band nearby, as though the men were transparent.
"I recall that Mass Invisibility is a seventh-circle spell?" Among this group of mercenaries was the least mercenary-looking gentleman of them all. He wore a vivid crimson frock coat, leaned languidly against his horse, and held a glass of red wine—as if afraid no one would realize he was a noble and elegant "aristocrat."
In response to Viscount Karlandia's question, Katrina answered with a prim hint of pride: "Research into light has run through the Parliament's entire history, so we have an exceedingly deep understanding of invisibility. Single-person invisibility and multi-person invisibility are not fundamentally that different."
"Though that is only part of the principle, creating a fifth-circle spell with partial Mass Invisibility effects is not difficult. In fact, Viscount, the only reason you've never seen one is that this spell can only deceive ordinary knights."
"Sometimes I envy arcanists. You always seem to have an insatiable curiosity and an unstoppable drive to push forward, so life never feels boring. Unlike those of us who spend most of our time rotting away in gloomy old castles, constantly finding life monotonous and pointless—as if living and being dead make no difference." Viscount Karlandia took a sip of red wine, affecting the melancholy air of a literary youth.
Katrina pressed her lips together and smiled. "Viscount, aren't vampires undead? When did you get the idea that you're still alive?"
"You have a point..." Faced with a lady who had grown up under the influence of the "Voice of Mysteries" and Lucian, Viscount Karlandia suddenly found himself at a loss for words.
Nearby, Anna watched the two with a delighted smile, glad to discover that the powerful and mysterious sorceress Katrina and the handsome, formidable vampire Viscount Karlandia still had a normal human side—not the arrogant, gloomy figures who looked down on all weaker beings that she had feared.
After the cavalry had passed into the distance, Katrina turned to Anna and Yakov. "Have you decided where you're going?"
Since Viscount Andrei had been Count Calkart's only heir, even though he had been the mastermind behind the "Demon Worship Incident" and deserved execution, Yakov, Anna, and the other mercenaries still feared covert retaliation. How could the Church forever protect people of their low standing?
So after the incident ended, they had seized the window of opportunity to find their families and stage their deaths at the scene of the "Slaughter Feast," then followed Katrina and Viscount Karlandia out of Calkart City.
"Sister Katrina, you left the Continental Magic Parliament investigator's mark at the estate. I believe Count Calkart won't pay too much attention to our situation—as long as we don't stay in the northern provinces, it doesn't matter where we go. So we'll choose somewhere we're more familiar with." After escaping the crisis of death, Anna was no longer so anxious about dangers of this level, and she appeared much more optimistic and open-minded. "What about you—are you returning to the Continental Magic Parliament?"
Grown up in the Shahran Empire, they were far from grasping the world's true political landscape. Except for Yakov, who had briefly cooperated with official arcanists, none of the other mercenaries had ever even heard of the Continental Magic Parliament or Arling before Katrina introduced herself. They only knew of the Holm Kingdom, famous for its cloth, unique jewelry, and mineral exports—mercenary bands were frequently hired to protect merchants smuggling these goods.
Though Katrina had become an exalted arcanist, when she spoke of leaving, Yakov and the others couldn't help but turn their gazes to her, hoping they might travel together a while longer.
"I still have other missions to attend to and won't be returning to Arling anytime soon. Actually, you could go to the Holm Kingdom—it's relatively free and doesn't lack opportunities for training. Head north to the Ice Plains, then keep going east. After passing a few lightly defended fortresses, you'll reach the Eastern Exile Lands. From there, making your way to the Holm Kingdom will be much easier—especially for you, Yakov, since you're a knight." Katrina advised sincerely.
Anna's eyes lit up and her expression grew excited, but just as quickly it turned somber. "Sister Katrina, I've actually been thinking about these past two days. But—but I've lived on this land since I was a child. I love it from the bottom of my heart. The food, the architecture, the poetry, the stories, the customs, the way people treat each other—all of it is deeply branded into my soul. Unless it's truly the last desperate moment, I don't want to leave. Maybe we'll head east to a few more provinces. There are plenty of resources and opportunities there as well."
"Anna and I have similar thoughts. Don't worry—I'm a knight, and no noble would refuse a knight's allegiance. This isn't like those southern countries that haven't seen war in two or three hundred years." After a moment of silence, Yakov answered firmly. Perhaps one day he would go to Arling, but he hoped that by then he would have reached the rank of fifth-level Great Knight and be able to meet Katrina's gaze as an equal.
Katrina said nothing more. She simply used a Message spell to warn Anna and Yakov: "It would be best to part ways with Hake and the other mercenaries who betrayed you midway, so they don't learn your true destination. You don't want them selling you out again for whatever rewards Count Calkart might offer."
Though she lacked the ruthlessness to silence them permanently, she still possessed the caution befitting an arcanist.
"Alright." Yakov and Anna found it hard to accept the suggestion at first, but after recalling their ordeal in the prison cells and on the sacrificial altar, they finally steeled themselves and nodded. Years of mercenary life had exposed them to enough death and slaughter that they wouldn't give in to sentiment so easily.
With the aid of magic, the group quickly reached the northern Ice Plains. Anna reluctantly clutched Katrina's hand, a faint shimmer of tears rising in her eyes. "Sister Katrina, when I get the chance, I'll come visit you in the Holm Kingdom."
"You're welcome anytime. If the opportunity arises, I may even return to the Empire. When that happens, I'll make sure you can go home without any worries." Katrina's voice had grown gentle as well. In the Shahran Empire, where Message spells, telegraphs, landlines, postal services, and couriers did not exist, and before Yakov and Anna had found a suitable city to settle in, this parting today might well be their last.
Thinking of this, Katrina gained a deeper understanding of why her teacher had worked so hard to popularize alchemical goods.