Chapter 119: Celebratory Preparations
Our travels maintained a consistent schedule, much like the one we had followed during our week-long stay in High Valley. Fyren insisted on rigorous training every day, pushing our party to its limits. As Soltair and Trithe grew more coordinated, he began including my spells in the practice sessions, forcing me to react to random attacks and provide shields, walls, or general interference with my magic.
When we weren’t traveling or training, I immersed myself in studying the spellbooks. Having already committed the first two, Regenerate and Nexus, to memory, I dedicated my focus to the third: a fifth-circle Fate Spell called Blade Ward. While Mirror Sphere could deflect magical attacks, Blade Ward specialized in countering physical ones. My goal was to combine the two spells to create a protective barrier against weapons, spells, and magical techniques.
The week’s journey to Viriden passed swiftly. Each night left me thoroughly exhausted, a result of intense studying, combat practice, and long treks. However, this exhaustion didn’t discourage me; it felt like progress. I quickly mastered Blade Ward in just a few days, and my combat sense continued to improve. Even if I failed to track the others’ movements at high speed, I was capable of landing buff spells at the height of the battle, addressing the problems I’d encountered when we fought the Shadow Demon.
Upon our arrival, the city welcomed us with open arms, turning our visit into a grand celebration. The people of Viriden lined the streets, bubbling with excitement as they cheered our return. Soltair, as usual, reveled in the attention, waving confidently to all, casting small beams of sunlight for the delighted children, and making the young women swoon. I had returned to wearing a cloak, albeit with the cowl down. The magical garment provided protection, as well as hiding the Sunpurge. It would tarnish Soltair’s reputation if his past recklessness were revealed.
As we reached the City Lord’s keep, Lord Griffon stood waiting, a small smile gracing his features. The cheering crowds fell silent as he addressed us, "Viriden welcomes you! We heard of your triumph over the demonic cults in High Valley and are relieved that you are all safe."
"Thank you, Lord Griffon," Soltair replied proudly, "But this is merely a small part of our duty to this city. Our stay will be brief, but please don’t hesitate to approach us with any problems we can assist with."
The pleasantries over, Lord Griffon invited us into the keep, where he offered us quarters. Although the sun hung low in the sky, a celebratory banquet was planned in our honor for later. After cleansing the dirt and grime of the journey with a hot bath, I found myself shepherded to a dressing room by several friendly Beastkin maids. Initially hesitant, their warm smiles and laughter quickly put me at ease.
"Lady Xiviyah!" I turned to find the tailor who had crafted my current dresses. She smiled and approached, examining the rich scarlet fabric of my travel dress.
"It appears to have held up well," she remarked. "But I couldn’t stop thinking about you after your departure. It’s simply not fitting for such a lovely young lady to wear rags like this to a feast."