Cold Mist Wine

A few minutes later, the inn blazed with light. Several cavalrymen tied the man up with thick rope and simply bandaged the wound on his shoulder to stop the bleeding.

Quite a few people gathered to watch, asking questions out of curiosity and whispering among themselves.

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

"After that shadow bumped into me and woke me up, I immediately called for help. He panicked and tried to escape through the window, but Tia stopped him in an instant..." Talia excitedly recounted what had happened.

"So he was a thief." Frien rubbed his brow, still not fully awake.

"Boss, do you know that man?" He turned to look at the restless innkeeper standing nearby.

"I recognize him a little. He's from town, usually lazing around and picking up odd jobs. I never thought he was a thief." The innkeeper nervously clasped his hands in front of him as he explained. Though this had little to do with him, it was hard to say he wasn't under suspicion. If the cavalry captain decided to investigate and took him away, things could go badly for him.

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

"Well... I don't know much else." The innkeeper couldn't think of anything more. He'd only seen the man a few times and heard people talk about him.

"All right, wait here. I'll send someone to fetch the constable." He waved a hand.

River Stone Town belonged to Viscount Xuefeng and wasn't under Baron Holin's jurisdiction. When it came to a local crime, he had no choice but to consult the constable.

"Mr. Frien, would you come with me to see where the man is being held?" Sylutia stood up.

She had put her reddish-brown cloak back on, with only a little silver hair showing at her neck.

Though Frien wondered why she wanted to see him, he nodded.

Soon, the two of them arrived with several cavalrymen at the place where the man was being held. It was the inn's cellar, which the cavalrymen had just cleared out for use as a cell.

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

"Mm." Frien glanced around and seemed satisfied. He had a few men stand guard by the door, then went inside with Sylutia.

The man who had broken into the inn to steal was now bound in layer upon layer of rope, lying on the cold floor. Dark red blood still seeped through his clothes.

"Did you notice something, Miss Tia?" Frien glanced at the thief on the floor and asked.

"Yes. He's not weak. He probably knows the Breathing Technique, and he can also use some kind of ability to conceal himself." Sylutia's eyes flickered as the man's information surfaced in her mind once more.

--

Name: Unknown

Race: Human (mortal body)

Status: Injured (bleeding stopped)

Talents:

Dim-Light Vision [Good]: Even in dim places, you can see a little. Don't count on this too much. If it's too dark, you still won't be able to see.

Fate Card: [Nimble Fingers] (Aspect Power Rank: None)

Within the gray frame, a figure crept along, with nothing else around him.

Ability Cards:

[Breathing Technique Lv.1] (Blood Law): Regulates the flow of blood through breathing, strengthening the body's overall strength and reaction speed. This ability puts strain on the heart and body and cannot be used for long periods. (Recommended limit: 1 minute per day)

[Stealth Art Lv.0] (Mist Shadow): Blurs the user's form in dim surroundings, making it difficult for others to see or hit them. (This ability has no effect if there is a candle.)

--

"You're saying this fellow knows the Breathing Technique?" Frien looked a little surprised after hearing Sylutia's explanation.

The Breathing Technique wasn't a rare ability, but anyone who knew it could usually find work. At the very least, they could become a village patrolman, which was much easier than most other jobs.

"Yes. He probably knows an ability that conceals his figure, too, though it's not very strong. It only has a slight effect." The girl added.

"If he really knows it, then I have to wonder if he's with the Thieves' Guild." Frien stroked his beard.

A moment later, he shook his head.

"No, he probably isn't with the Thieves' Guild."

"Even if the Thieves' Guild isn't a powerful organization, someone like him would still tarnish its reputation. He probably picked up a few things from somewhere."

"Leave the interrogation to me, Miss Tia. You have to set out tomorrow, so you should get some sleep." He had certain methods that weren't suitable to show the girl.

"I understand. You should get some rest, too." Sylutia nodded. She glanced at the man curled up on the ground, then left the cellar.

When she returned to the room, the candle had been lit. Talia was eating the innkeeper's apology meal, looking quite pleased.

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

Half a roasted chicken sat on a wooden plate, still steaming and fragrant. The innkeeper must have asked the cook to make it on short notice.

Sylutia was a little hungry herself, so she accepted and sat down, carefully picking up a drumstick with her fingers. It was the best food she'd eaten in ten days, and it was no wonder Talia was so excited.

After enjoying this rare feast, Sylutia asked curiously, "How much does a roast chicken like this usually cost?"

"A chicken costs about eight to twelve copper coins. Roasting it adds another two to five," Talia recalled.

100 tarnished copper coins = 1 silver leaf coin (usually, people require 110 of the other coins to make the exchange). Ordinary villagers earn 2–3 silver coins a month. A roast chicken costs about a day and a half's wages.

Eating meat every day really was a luxury, Tia thought. She missed the prices back in her previous life.

After their late-night snack, they went back to bed. This time, however, they left the candle burning and drifted off to sleep by its light.

The next morning, Sylutia and Talia went downstairs, still a little sleepy. Quite a few people were already eating in the inn's hall.

Everyone was discussing the previous night's events, and several members of the town's constabulary were sitting there as well.

They asked the innkeeper for the complimentary breakfast and sat quietly at a table in the corner. After they finished eating, a cavalryman came over and asked Sylutia to come with him.

"The captain wants to see you. The constable is there, too," he explained.

Sylutia stood and followed him. Soon, they reached a room in the inn's backyard. Besides Frien, there was a short, heavyset man in a chain shirt who had to be the local constable.

"So this is Miss Tia, is it?" As soon as the girl entered, he fixed his gaze on her face.

The constable was quite surprised by Sylutia's looks, and his previously lazy, casual manner became a little more formal.

"Yes. May I ask who you are?" Sylutia lifted her pale blue eyes to look at him.

"Ahem. I'm the local constable. I heard about what happened last night." If she had been a commoner, he would have brushed her off without a second thought. He wouldn't have stayed to explain himself.

He didn't know which family Sylutia belonged to, but he could tell she came from a prominent background, so he showed her a little more courtesy.

"I'm sorry that we disturbed your rest, Miss Tia. I'll take the thief back and interrogate him properly, so he'll understand the consequences of offending you."

"Well..." The girl's voice was hesitant, and she looked toward Frien.

After spending several days together, Frien could guess what she meant. She probably hoped the man wouldn't be treated too harshly.

"Lord Mort, I believe I need to take this thief back to Three Towers Town and hold him there."

"Oh? Why is that?" Constable Mort frowned slightly.

A thief was a small matter, but he was Viscount Xuefeng's subordinate. If he let a cavalry captain serving Baron Holin take the man away at will, wouldn't that make the viscount look bad?

There were always ways to explain whether he'd done his job well or poorly. But if he failed to handle an insult to the viscount's dignity, he could be reprimanded or even lose his position.

"The man's target was Miss Tia, a distinguished guest of Lord Holin. Something this serious happened last night. If I don't take him back and report to Lord Holin, I'll have a hard time explaining myself."

Frien had a point. Mort understood, as they were both in the same line of work, but this was ultimately Frien's problem, not his.

Mort shook his head, saying he was in a difficult position too and couldn't release the thief so easily.

Silence fell. Neither of them spoke.

"Lord Mort," Sylutia said.

"What is it, Miss Tia?" Mort turned to her.

"I hope you'll agree to Mr. Frien's request." She came straight to the point.

"Well..." Mort couldn't understand why the girl would say that.

"I'm setting out for Scorched Stone City soon, and Mr. Frien's duty is to escort me. If I see Lord Xuefeng in Scorched Stone City, I'll praise your excellent work and conduct to him." Sylutia's words dispelled Mort's earlier concerns.

"In that case..." His expression showed his hesitation. He held out for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Then I'll grant Frien's request. But you'll still need to provide me with a detailed report, so I'll have an explanation ready if Lord Xuefeng asks."

"Thank you, Lord Mort." Frien knew that asking them to bring Sylutia along had been the right choice.

The handover went smoothly after that. Frien had the man from the previous night tied up and put in a carriage, then went with Sylutia to a private room to talk.

"Your observations from yesterday led to quite a few discoveries when I questioned him. That's why I wanted to take him away."

He placed a money pouch on the table.

"Of course, that's just a bonus. More importantly, he had a thief's diary and a bottle of Cold Mist Wine."

He took a battered diary and a dark glass bottle from a cabinet nearby. Gray, mist-like liquid sloshed inside the bottle.

[Thief's Diary]: Records a thief's daily life and notes. It can teach basic lockpicking and the secret method for learning the "Stealth Art."

[Cold Mist Wine] (First Order—Mist Shadow): A special wine containing the "Mist Shadow" Aspect Power. It can be used to learn abilities of the "Mist Shadow" Aspect Power, or for other purposes.

Less than a quarter of the liquid remained in the bottle. It seemed someone had already used it.

"He probably learned the Stealth Art by following the instructions in the diary and using this Cold Mist Wine," Frien explained.

"Aside from the Aspect Power inherited through one's bloodline, you need an external aid as a seed if you want to gain the power of another Aspect Power and learn its abilities."

"We all have a weak, latent Blood Law Aspect Power in our bodies. Learning the Breathing Technique simply cultivates and strengthens that faint Blood Law power. But other Aspect Powers don't work that way, so you need to use certain methods. This bottle of Cold Mist Wine, for example, can help someone begin learning abilities of the Mist Shadow Aspect."

"During the Season of Sinking Fog, on nights when the moonlight is hazy and faint, some plants in the forest absorb a trace of Mist Shadow Aspect Power. If you collect them before dawn and give them to someone skilled in special techniques, they can be distilled into Cold Mist Wine."

"I heard that from Scholar Fegen. He's the baron's adviser. Many years ago, when I was still a common soldier, I went into the forest to search for those plants, but I didn't find much."

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

"Judging by its appearance, it was probably made during the last Season of Sinking Fog. That was at least twenty years ago, and most of the Mist Shadow Aspect Power has faded."

"That man's talent is average. He used most of the bottle without managing to master the Stealth Art. It could also be that too much of the Aspect Power in the Cold Mist Wine had faded," he speculated.

"Tia, you probably can't use this, and I don't recommend that you learn it. I'll take the Cold Mist Wine and the diary back with me and hand them over to the baron and Scholar Fegen."

"Even if they aren't much use, Scholar Fegen is very interested in things like this. He'll probably give me a reward." As he spoke, he took out about twenty silver coins and put them in the pouch on the table.

"Take this as travel money. You must come from a prominent background, but finding your family won't be easy. Having money will certainly help."

Sylutia accepted the money pouch, bowed in thanks, then straightened up.

"Where did that man get these things?"

"I asked him. He found them in a hidden cave by the river. It used to be a place where some thieves hid their stolen goods, but something happened later, and several members died inside without taking anything with them. That fellow got lucky."

"He'd secretly sold anything valuable inside by now. Most of the rest had rotted away and was useless. If you're interested, I can have someone take you there."

"There's no need." Sylutia shook her head. That sort of place was probably filthy, with God knew how much mud and stink. She didn't want to go.

"Heh heh." Frien laughed at that.

"All right, get ready in a bit. It's time for us to set out."

After a delay that lasted all morning, they set out after lunch. Not long after leaving River Stone Town, they parted ways at a crossroads.

"I know Blacksmith Mu Yan in Scorched Stone City fairly well. Give him my name when you get there, and he shouldn't take advantage of you. If you need your sword or other weapons maintained, you can go to him." After last night's fight, the short sword Sylutia had only recently acquired had several small nicks in it. If she wanted to keep using it, she would need a blacksmith to repair and maintain it.

"Understood. Thank you, Mr. Frien." Sylutia bade farewell to the departing cavalry, then returned to the carriage and continued on her way.

Thinking back over last night's and today's events, Sylutia rubbed her brow, finding it hard to believe. Maybe these experiences were just so different and exciting compared with her peaceful life before?

Leaning back in her seat, Sylutia organized her thoughts, then returned to the [Thief's Diary].

Before leaving, she had asked Frien for the diary. She read it all during the journey and memorized the important parts, then returned it to Frien. She had also learned quite a bit about the "Stealth Art" and the "Mist Shadow" Aspect Power.

She hadn't expected the "Mist Shadow" Aspect Power to be related to the "Radiant Moon." She opened her pale blue eyes and looked out at the forest.

As one of the three great Moon Aspects split from the "Phantom Moon" in ancient times, "Mist Shadow" inherited the "Phantom Moon's" haziness, illusions, concealment, shadows, obscuring, and deception, while "Radiant Moon" inherited the clarity left behind when the "Phantom Moon's" haziness was stripped away—in other words, pure moonlight.

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