Cold Mist Wine

Minutes later, the inn was ablaze with bright light. Several cavalrymen had bound the man with thick rope, his shoulder wound having received only a rudimentary bandage to staunch the bleeding.

Many people crowded into the inn, watching with curiosity, whispering and asking questions.

Inside a room, Captain Frien, the innkeeper, and the merchant Vandhi gathered together, while Sylutia and Talia sat by the bed.

"After that shadow bumped into me and woke me up, I shouted for help immediately. He became very flustered and tried to escape through the window, but Sylutia stopped him in an instant..." Talia excitedly recounted what had just happened.

"So, he was a thief, then." Frien rubbed his brow, still feeling the effects of a interrupted sleep.

"Innkeeper, do you recognize this man?" He turned to look at the innkeeper, who was standing there uneasily.

"Him? I have some impression of him. He's a local from town, usually idle and picking up odd jobs. I never expected him to be a thief." The innkeeper explained, his hands nervously clasped in front of him. Although he wasn't directly involved, it was hard to say he was above suspicion; if this cavalry captain decided to press the matter and haul him away, it would be a disaster.

"Take your time. Is there anyone else in town who knows his situation well?" Frien thought of the local magistrate.

"This... I don't know much more." The innkeeper truly couldn't recall much; he had only seen the man a few times and heard others mention him in passing.

"Fine, wait here for now. I'll have someone go call the magistrate." He waved his hand.

River Stone Town was the fief of Viscount Xuefeng and did not fall under the jurisdiction of Baron Holin. For a security incident occurring here, he could not avoid consulting the local magistrate.

"Mr. Frien, could you let me come with you to see where he is being held?" Sylutia stood up.

She had already draped her reddish-brown cloak back over her shoulders, with only a few strands of silver hair visible at her neck.

Though he found her request strange, Frien nodded in agreement.

Before long, the two of them and several cavalrymen arrived at the holding area—the inn's cellar, which the cavalry had just cleared out to house the prisoner.

"Captain!" A young cavalryman stood straight and saluted.

"Hmm." Frien scanned the area, finding it acceptable, then ordered the men to guard the door before heading inside with Sylutia.

The man who had snuck into the inn to steal was now bound in layers of rope, lying on the cold floor, his clothes stained with dark red blood.

"Miss Sylutia, did you discover something?" Frien asked, glancing at the thief on the ground.

"Yes. He isn't weak. He likely knows a breathing technique and possesses some sort of ability to conceal his presence." Sylutia's eyes blinked slightly as the data on the man surfaced in her mind.

--

Name: Unknown

Race: Human (Mortal)

Status: Injured (Bleeding stopped)

Talents:

[Glimmer Vision (Good Grade)]: You can see somewhat clearly even in dimly lit places. Do not rely on this too much; if it is too dark, you still won't see anything.

Fate Card: [Nimble Hands and Feet] (Rank: None)

In a grey-toned frame, a figure walks on tiptoe, with nothing else around.

Ability Cards:

[Breathing Technique Lv.1] (Blood Law): Relies on breathing to regulate the flow rate of blood, driving and enhancing the strength and reaction speed of the entire body. This ability places a load on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods (Recommended: no more than 1 minute/day).

[Stealth Art Lv.0] (Mist Shadow): Can blur one's figure in dim environments, making it difficult for others to see or hit you. (If there is a candle, this ability has no effect.)

--

"Are you saying this guy knows a breathing technique?" Frien was somewhat surprised after hearing Sylutia's account.

Breathing techniques were not rare, but anyone who knew one could usually secure a job—at the very least, a patrol position in a village, which was much easier than other labor.

"Yes, he should also have an ability to hide his figure, though it isn't strong and only has a slight effect." The young girl added.

"If he really knows those, then I have to wonder if he's from the Thieves' Guild." Frien rubbed the stubble on his chin.

A moment later, he shook his head.

"No, he shouldn't be from the Thieves' Guild."

"Although the Thieves' Guild isn't exactly a prestigious organization, a character like this would be too much of a stain on their reputation. He likely learned a few things through some other channel."

"Leave the interrogation to me, Miss Sylutia. You have to set off tomorrow, so you should get some sleep." He had certain methods that were not suitable to be displayed in front of a young girl.

"I understand. You should get some rest as well." Sylutia nodded, glanced at the man curled up on the floor, and left the cellar.

Returning to the room, the candles were already lit. Talia was eating the apologetic meal sent by the innkeeper, looking quite happy.

"Sylutia, look! I saved you half a roast chicken. It's especially delicious~"

On a wooden platter sat half a roasted chicken, still emitting heat and fragrance; the innkeeper must have had the chef prepare it on short notice.

Sylutia was feeling hungry by now and did not refuse. She sat down and carefully used her fingers to pick up a chicken leg. She had to admit, this was the best food she had eaten in ten days; no wonder Talia was so excited.

After enjoying this rare, fine meal, Sylutia asked curiously, "What is the usual price for a roast chicken like this?"

"Chickens cost about 8-12 copper coins each, and if it's made into a roast chicken, the price goes up by another 2-5 copper coins," Talia recalled.

100 base copper coins equaled 1 silver leaf coin (usually, it took 110 for others to be willing to exchange), and an average villager's monthly income was 2-3 silver coins. A roast chicken was roughly 1.5 days' wages.

If one wants to eat meat every day, it is truly a luxury, Sylutia thought, feeling a sudden pang of nostalgia for the prices of her past life.

After finishing their late-night snack, the two returned to bed to sleep, though this time they did not blow out the candle, drifting off to dreamland by its flickering light.

The next morning, feeling a bit drowsy, Sylutia and Talia walked downstairs to find the inn's common room already bustling with people eating.

Everyone was discussing the events of the previous night, and several members of the town's security squad were seated nearby.

After asking the innkeeper for the complimentary breakfast, the two sat at a corner table and ate quietly. Once they had finished, a cavalryman approached and invited Sylutia to follow him.

"The captain wishes to see you, and the magistrate is there as well," he explained.

Sylutia rose and followed him, soon arriving at a room in the inn's backyard. Aside from Frien, there was a short, pot-bellied man wearing a chainmail shirt, who was presumably the local magistrate.

"This is Miss Sylutia, correct?" As soon as the young lady entered, he fixed his gaze upon her face.

The magistrate's expression shifted to one of surprise at Sylutia's appearance, and his initially lazy, casual demeanor became slightly more formal.

"Yes, and you are?" Sylutia lifted her light blue eyes to look at him.

"Ahem, I am the local magistrate. I have been informed of last night's events." Had she been a commoner, he would have dismissed her with a wave of his hand and never bothered to stay and explain himself.

Although he did not know which noble house Sylutia hailed from, he could tell she was of high birth, so he softened his tone accordingly.

"I apologize for disturbing your rest, Miss Sylutia. I will take that thief back for a thorough interrogation and ensure he understands the consequences of offending you."

"This..." The young lady's voice was hesitant as she glanced at Frien.

Having spent several days together, Frien could guess what she meant; she likely hoped he wouldn't be too harsh.

"Magistrate Mort, I believe it is necessary for me to take this thief back to Three Towers Town for detention."

"Oh? And why is that?" Magistrate Mort frowned slightly.

While a mere thief was a trivial matter, he was a subordinate of Viscount Xuefeng. If he allowed Baron Holin's cavalry captain to just walk off with a prisoner, it would make the Viscount lose face.

Whether one's work was good or bad could always be explained away with various excuses, but if one lost face and couldn't provide a good explanation, they risked being reprimanded by the Viscount or even losing their position.

"The target was Miss Sylutia, an honored guest of Lord Holin. Given the gravity of last night's incident, if I don't bring the man back to report, I fear I will have a hard time answering to Lord Holin."

Frien's words held some merit. As a man in the same line of work, Mort could understand, but these were ultimately Frien's affairs, not his.

Shaking his head, Mort indicated that he was in a difficult position and could not simply let the man go.

The scene fell into a tense silence, neither man speaking.

"Magistrate Mort," Sylutia spoke up.

"Yes, Miss Sylutia?" Mort turned around.

"I hope you will grant Mr. Frien's request," she said directly.

"This..." Mort did not understand why the young lady would make such a request.

"I am departing for Scorched Stone City shortly, and Mr. Frien is escorting me. If I see Lord Xuefeng in Scorched Stone City, I will be sure to praise your excellent work and performance before him." Sylutia's words dissolved the concerns Mort had been harboring.

"In that case..." His expression showed hesitation, and after a brief moment of feigned reserve, he nodded his approval.

"Then I shall grant Frien's request. However, you must provide me with a detailed report so that if Lord Xuefeng does ask, I have something to show for it."

"Thank you, Magistrate Mort." Frien knew that inviting Sylutia over had been the right choice.

The handover proceeded smoothly. Frien had the man from the night before tied to a carriage, then joined Sylutia in a private room for a detailed discussion.

"The details you discovered yesterday were indeed quite fruitful after my interrogation," he said, explaining why he had insisted on taking the man.

"This is some of the money found at his home." He placed a coin purse on the table.

"Of course, those are just incidental. The important items are a thief's diary and a bottle of 'Cold Mist Wine'."

He retrieved a tattered diary and a dark glass bottle from a nearby cabinet; inside the bottle was a liquid that looked like gray mist.

[Thief's Diary]: Records the life and notes of a thief. Allows one to learn simple lock-picking skills and the secret method for practicing the "Stealth Art."

[Cold Mist Wine] (Tier 1 - Mist Shadow): A special liquor containing the "Mist Shadow" aspect. Can be used for practicing "Mist Shadow" aspect abilities or other purposes.

The liquid in the bottle was less than a quarter full, suggesting it had already been used.

"He must have learned his stealth ability by following the methods in the diary and using this Cold Mist Wine," Frien explained.

"Aside from the aspects inherited through one's bloodline, if one wishes to obtain other 'aspect powers,' one must rely on external objects to serve as seeds for practicing those abilities."

"Every one of us has a faint, latent 'Blood Law' aspect within us. By learning breathing techniques, we can nurture and strengthen this weak power. But other aspects are different, so one must use specific methods. For instance, this 'Cold Mist Wine' can unlock the practice of 'Mist Shadow' aspect powers."

"During the Season of Sinking Fog, on nights when the moonlight is dim and obscured, certain flowers and grasses in the forest become imbued with faint 'Mist Shadow' aspect power. If one collects them before dawn and gives them to someone skilled in special secret arts, they can be refined into 'Cold Mist Wine'."

"I heard this from Scholar Fegen, the Baron's advisor. Years ago, when I was just a low-ranking soldier, I went into the forest looking for such plants, but unfortunately, I didn't have much luck."

Frien picked up the wine bottle and shook it gently; the liquid inside swirled like mist, which was quite strange.

"Looking at this, it was likely refined during the last Season of Sinking Fog. It's been at least twenty years, so the 'Mist Shadow' aspect within has mostly dissipated."

"That man's talent was mediocre; he didn't even complete his training in the 'Stealth Art' after using most of the bottle. It's also possible that the aspect power in this 'Cold Mist Wine' had faded too much," he analyzed.

"Sylutia, you likely can't use this, and I wouldn't recommend you try. I will take this Cold Mist Wine and the diary back to present to the Baron and Scholar Fegen."

"Even if it's not very useful, Scholar Fegen is quite interested in these things and will likely provide a monetary reward." As he spoke, he took out about 20 silver coins and placed them into the pouch on the table.

"Take these for your travel expenses. Your background is clearly not low, but the journey to find your kin won't be easy, and having money always makes things much more convenient."

Accepting the money bag, Sylutia bowed in gratitude before straightening up.

"Where did that man obtain these items?"

"I asked him that. He found them in a hidden cave by the river. It must have been a place where some thieves stashed their loot in the past, but an accident occurred, and several members died inside. They didn't take the goods with them, so that fellow got lucky."

"The valuable items inside have already been sold off by him in secret, and much of the rest has rotted away and is of no use. If you're interested, I can have someone take you to see it."

"There's no need." Sylutia shook her head. Such a place would likely have a terrible environment, and who knows how much filth and stench there might be; she had no desire to go there.

"Heh, heh, heh." Frien laughed at this.

"Alright, get ready in a moment. It's time for us to depart."

After losing the entire morning, the group set off only after finishing lunch. Not long after leaving River Stone Town, they parted ways at the crossroads.

"I am quite familiar with the blacksmith Mu Yan in Scorched Stone City. Mention my name when you get there, and he shouldn't try to cheat you. If you need to maintain your sword or weapons, you can go to him." After the battle last night, the short sword Sylutia had just acquired had developed several small nicks; if she wanted to continue using it, she would have to find a blacksmith to repair and maintain it.

"Understood, thank you, Mr. Frien." Sylutia bid farewell to the departing cavalry unit before returning to the carriage to resume her journey.

Recalling the events of last night and today, Sylutia gently rubbed her temples, feeling a sense of disbelief. Perhaps it was because such experiences were simply too different and stimulating compared to the mundane life she had known before?

Leaning back against the seat, Sylutia organized her thoughts and returned to the Thief's Diary.

Before leaving, she had asked Frien for the diary, read it through completely on the road, memorized the important contents, and then returned it to him. She had gained quite a bit of understanding regarding the "Stealth Art" and the "Mist Shadow" aspect within it.

She hadn't expected the "Mist Shadow" aspect to be related to the "Radiant Moon." She opened her light blue eyes and looked at the forest scenery outside the window.

As one of the three great moon aspects split from the "Phantom Moon" in ancient times, "Mist Shadow" inherited the traits of haziness, illusion, concealment, shadow, obscuration, and bewilderment from the "Phantom Moon," while the "Radiant Moon" inherited the clarity left behind after the "Phantom Moon" stripped away its haziness—that is, the pure moonlight.

Aspect [Mist Shadow]: (The vacancy of radiance, blurred illusions, and lightless shadows)