A few minutes later, the inn lit up brightly. Several cavalrymen had bound the man with coarse rope, and his shoulder wound was given only a simple bandage to stop the bleeding.

Many people gathered inside the inn, watching with curiosity, whispering and speculating.

In a room, Captain Frien, the innkeeper, and merchant Vanderhey had gathered together, while Sylutia and Talier sat on the bedside.

“After that shadow slammed into me and woke me up, I immediately called for help. He panicked and tried to jump out the window, but Tia blocked him in one move…” Talier excitedly recounted what had just happened.

“So he was a thief,” Frien said, rubbing his brow, still a bit sleepy.

“Boss, do you recognize that man?” He glanced at the innkeeper standing awkwardly to the side.

“I… have a vague impression. He’s someone from town who idles away his time and sometimes does odd jobs. Didn’t expect he’d be a thief.” The innkeeper nervously folded his hands in front of him as he explained. Although the matter didn’t directly involve him, he couldn’t deny suspicion — if the cavalry captain pressed the issue and arrested him, things would go badly for the innkeeper.

“Take it slow. Is there anyone in town who knows him better?” Frien thought of the local constable.

“Uh… I don’t know much.” The innkeeper genuinely couldn’t recall much; after all, he’d only seen the man a few times and heard others talk about him.

Riverstone Town belonged to Viscount Xuefeng’s domain and was not under Baron Horlin’s jurisdiction, so any security matter here required consulting the local constable.

“Mr. Frien, may I come with you to where he’s being detained?” Sylutia stood up.

She had once again donned the reddish-brown cloak, with a little silver hair showing at her neck.

Frien thought it odd that she made such a request, but he still nodded in agreement.

Soon, the two of them and a few cavalrymen arrived at the detention spot — the inn’s cellar, which the cavalry had just cleared out to hold the prisoner.

“Captain!” A young cavalryman stood at attention and saluted.

“Hm.” Frien scanned the place, feeling it adequate, then had a few men stand guard at the door before entering with Sylutia.

The man who had snuck into the inn lay on the cold floor, tied up in layers of rope, dark red blood still seeping through his clothes.

“Tia, did you notice anything?” Frien asked, glancing at the thief on the floor.

“Yes. He’s not weak. He likely knows Breathing Technique and some kind of concealment skill.” Sylutia’s eyes fluttered slightly as information about the man surfaced in her mind.

——

Name: Unknown

Race: Human (mortal body)

Condition: Injured (bleeding controlled)

Talents:

Glimmer Vision [Good]: Even in dim light you can make out some things. Don’t expect too much; if it’s too dark, you still can’t see.

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

In the dim frame, a silhouette tiptoes by itself, with nothing else around it.

Ability Cards:

[Breathing Method Lv.1] (Blood Discipline): Regulates blood flow through breathing to drive and enhance strength and reaction speed throughout the body. This ability places strain on the heart and body and cannot be used for long (recommended not more than 1 minute/day).

[Concealment Method Lv.0] (Mist Shadow): Can blur one’s outline in dim environments, making it difficult for others to see or hit you. (If there is a candle, this ability becomes ineffective.)

——

“You mean this fellow knows Breathing Technique?” Frien looked somewhat surprised after hearing Sylutia’s account.

Breathing Technique wasn’t rare, but someone who knew it could usually find steady work — at worst serve as a village patrolman, which was much easier than many other jobs.

“Yes, and he seems to have a hiding skill too, though it’s not strong — only marginally effective,” the girl added.

“If he really knows that, I’d suspect he’s tied to the thieves’ guild.” Frien rubbed his chin beneath his beard.

After a moment he shook his head.

“No, he probably isn’t from the thieves’ guild.”

“Though the thieves’ guild isn’t some formidable force, this kind of person would be beneath their standards. He likely stole a few tricks from some source.”

“Leave the interrogation to me. Tia, you’ll be setting out tomorrow; you should get some rest early.” He had methods not suitable to show in front of a young lady.

“I understand. You should rest early too.” Sylutia nodded, glanced at the curled-up man on the floor, then left the cellar.

……

Back in the room, the candle had been lit. Talier was happily eating the apologetic meal provided by the innkeeper.

“Tia, look — I saved half a roast chicken for you. It’s so good~”

On a wooden platter sat half a roasted chicken, steaming and fragrant. It looked like the innkeeper had ordered the cook to make it on the spot.

Sylutia was a little hungry and didn’t refuse. She carefully picked up the drumstick with her fingers and ate. It had to be said that in these ten days, this was the best food she’d had; no wonder Talier was so excited.

After enjoying the rare feast, Sylutia curiously asked, “How much does a roast chicken usually cost?”

“A chicken costs about 8–12 copper coins. If made into a roast chicken, the price goes up another 2–5 copper coins,” Talier recalled.

100 rotten copper coins = 1 silver leaf coin (usually people will only trade at 110 rotten copper coins). Ordinary villagers earn 2–3 silver coins a month; a roast chicken is about a day and a half’s wages.

Eating meat every day would indeed be a luxury. Sylutia felt a pang of nostalgia for the prices of her previous life.

After their late-night snack, the two went back to bed. This time they didn’t blow out the candle; they fell asleep with the light still burning.

……

The next morning, still a bit drowsy, Sylutia and Talier went downstairs. The inn’s main hall was already filled with people eating.

Everyone was talking about last night’s events; a few members of the town’s security team sat there as well.

They asked the innkeeper for a complimentary breakfast, then sat at a corner table in quiet. When they finished, a cavalryman approached and requested Sylutia’s presence.

“The captain wishes to see you. The constable is also here,” he informed.

Sylutia rose and followed. Soon they arrived at a room in the inn’s backyard where, besides Frien, a short, broad-chested man in chainmail — likely the local constable — waited.

“So you must be Miss Tia.” As soon as she entered, the constable fixed his gaze on her face.

He seemed surprised by Sylutia’s looks and his lazy, casual attitude suddenly became slightly more formal.

“Yes. May I ask who you are?” Sylutia lifted her pale blue eyes and looked at him.

“Cough, cough. I am the local constable. I’ve been informed about last night’s incident.” If this had been an ordinary commoner, he would have dismissed them casually; he wouldn’t have stayed to explain.

Though he didn’t know which family Sylutia came from, he could tell she wasn’t of humble origin, so he treated her with a bit more politeness.

“Sorry to disturb your rest, Miss Tia. I will take that thief back and interrogate him properly so he knows the consequences of offending you.”

“Um…” The girl’s voice hesitated as she glanced toward Frien.

After a few days together, Frien could sense what the girl hoped for — likely that she didn’t want the thief treated too harshly.

“Lord Mort, I think we should take this thief back to Three Towers Town for detention,” Frien said.

“Oh? Why is that?” Constable Mort frowned slightly.

Though a single thief was a small matter, Riverstone belonged to Viscount Xuefeng. If Baron Horlin’s cavalry captain casually took people away, that would be a loss of face for the viscount.

Work performance could be explained away in many ways, but losing face was hard to justify and could earn a scolding from the viscount — possibly even dismissal.

“The target was Miss Tia, a guest of Lord Horlin. With such a big incident last night, if I don’t take the man back and report, I’ll be hard-pressed to deal with Lord Horlin,” Frien reasoned.

Mort, being a colleague, could understand the logic, but it was ultimately Frien’s business, not his.

Mort hesitated and said it would be difficult for him to let the man go easily.

Silence settled over the room.

“Lord Mort.” Sylutia spoke up.

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

“I hope you will agree to Captain Frien’s request.” She spoke directly.

Mort looked puzzled by her straightforwardness.

“I’m about to depart for Scorchstone City. Captain Frien is escorting me. If we meet Viscount Xuefeng in Scorchstone City, I will praise your excellent work and performance to him,” Sylutia said, easing Mort’s previous concerns.

“In that case…” He showed hesitation, held his stance a moment, then nodded in agreement.

“All right, I’ll grant Captain Frien’s request. But you must provide me with a detailed report afterward, so if Viscount Xuefeng asks, I can account for it.”

“Thank you, Lord Mort.” Frien knew inviting Sylutia over had been the right move.

The transfer proceeded smoothly. Frien had the man tied onto a wagon, then he and Sylutia entered a private room to talk in detail.

“You were right about many of the details. My interrogation yielded quite a bit,” he explained.

“This is some money found at his home.” He placed a purse on the table.

“Those are incidental. What matters is a thief’s diary and a bottle of ‘Cold Fog Wine.’”

He took out a tattered diary and a dark glass wine bottle from a nearby cabinet. The bottle held a grey, fog-like liquid.

[Thief’s Diary]: Records the life and notes of a thief; teaches basic lockpicking techniques and the secret method for practicing ‘Concealment Method.’

[Cold Fog Wine] (Tier 1 — Mist Shadow): A special wine infused with Mist Shadow aspect energy, usable for practicing the Mist Shadow aspect or other purposes.

Less than a quarter of the liquid remained in the bottle; it had been used.

“He likely learned the concealment skill using the diary’s method and this Cold Fog Wine,” Frien explained.

“Aside from an aspect inherited in the bloodline, acquiring other aspect powers requires external aids to seed the cultivation of that ability.”

“Everyone has a faint, latent Blood Discipline aspect within them. Learning Breathing Technique cultivates and amplifies that latent Blood Discipline. But other aspects aren’t so simple — they need methods. For example, Cold Fog Wine can trigger the practice of the Mist Shadow aspect.”

“Every Sinking Mist Season, on moonlit nights when the light is hazy, certain plants in the forest absorb a faint Mist Shadow aspect power. If you gather them before dawn and hand them to someone skilled in special methods, they can be refined into Cold Fog Wine.”

“This is what I heard from Scholar Fegan. He’s the viscount’s advisor. Years ago, when I was still a low soldier, I searched the forest for such plants, but the yield was minimal.”

Frien picked up the bottle and gently shook it. The liquid swirled like mist — strange and eerie.

“Judging by its state, it was brewed in the last Sinking Mist Season — at least twenty years ago. Most of the Mist Shadow aspect within has dissipated.”

“The man’s talent is ordinary. He used most of the bottle but still couldn’t complete the Concealment Method. It’s possible the Cold Fog Wine’s aspect power had already mostly faded.” He analyzed the situation.

“Tia, you probably can’t use this, and I don’t advise you to learn it. I’ll take the bottle and the diary back to the baron and Scholar Fegan.”

“Even if it’s of limited use, Scholar Fegan likes these things and will likely reward some money.” He then placed about twenty silver coins into the purse on the table.

“Consider this travel expenses. You are undoubtedly of good birth, but searching for relatives won’t be easy; money helps.”

Sylutia bowed in thanks and then stood up.

“Where did that man get these things?” she asked.

“I asked him. He found them in a hidden cave by the river that used to be a stash for some thieves. An accident happened later; several members died inside and nothing was taken, so that place became his lucky find.”

“The valuable items inside were mostly sold secretly by him. Many others had rotted and were useless. If you’re curious, I can have someone take you to see it.”

“No need.” Sylutia shook her head. The place probably smelled and was full of muck — she had no desire to go.

Frien chuckled.

“All right, finish preparing. We’ll depart soon.”

After delaying a morning, the group ate lunch and set out. Not long after leaving Riverstone Town, they parted ways at a crossroads.

“I know the smith Mu Yan in Scorchstone City. Tell him my name when you go; he won’t cheat you. If you need to maintain swords or blades, go to him,” Frien said. After the clash last night, Sylutia’s newly acquired short sword had several small chips that needed repair.

“Understood. Thank you, Captain Frien.” Sylutia bid farewell to the departing cavalry, then returned to the wagon and continued the journey.

Thinking over last night and today, Sylutia rubbed her brow, feeling it all rather unbelievable. Compared to her previous tranquil life, these experiences were far more different and thrilling.

Leaning back in the seat, she sorted her thoughts and returned to the Thief’s Diary.

Before leaving, she had asked Frien for the diary and read it on the road, noting important points before returning it. She had learned a fair bit about Concealment Method and the Mist Shadow aspect.

She hadn’t expected Mist Shadow to be related to Luminous Moon. She opened her pale blue eyes and looked out at the forest scenery beyond the window.

As one of the three lunar-type aspects split from ancient Phantasmal Moon, Mist Shadow inherited Phantasmal Moon’s traits of haziness, illusion, concealment, shadow, masking, and deception, while Luminous Moon inherited the clarity left after Phantasmal Moon’s haziness was stripped away — pure moonlight.