At noon, Sylutia, Yero, and Scholar Heide rode together in a carriage to Viscount Xuefeng's castle.
The carriage creaked as it slowly passed through the ancient moss-covered stone walls, traveling along a cobbled road beneath the gray, overcast sky.
"So you're Sylutia. What an adorable young girl." The viscount's wife welcomed the three of them inside the castle, dressed in a dark red velvet gown.
"Come, sit beside me." With a kindly smile, she invited Sylutia over, then took the girl's hand and asked about her circumstances.
"...You got lost in the forest and then lost your memory? Poor child." She shook her head with a sorrowful expression and sighed.
"But it's all right. You can think of Scorched Stone City as your home from now on. If you ever run into trouble, you can come to me." After speaking, she summoned a maid and brought out a ring bearing the crest of Viscount Xuefeng's family.
"Here, this is for you. Take this ring, and the castle guards won't stop you."
"Thank you, Madam," Sylutia said gratefully.
The viscount's wife continued chatting with Sylutia for a long while. When Viscount Xuefeng arrived, they all sat down to lunch together.
Lunch was lavish. The flavor and quality of the dishes matched those at the finest restaurant in the city. A meal like this might cost seventy silver coins elsewhere.
After lunch, Viscount Xuefeng spoke with Sylutia for a while as well. He was mild-mannered and seemed to like the girl very much. He gave her many gifts, including a house in Scorched Stone City.
"If you don't need it, you can use it to store your things. Don't worry, it's in the West District, where the streets are safe and thieves don't venture."
"Thank you, Lord Xuefeng."
The girl was a