Rayven stood silently as his hands were still wrapped around the mystical pouch of gold coins he’d collected...
He then looked over his shoulder.
Miki had her arms crossed, seated by the fire, and she seemed to be cautiously observing the surroundings for any hidden threat.
Nara, on the other hand, was preoccupied tending to Thyruz’s slight injuries while occasionally glancing toward the unconscious woman lying on the makeshift bedding.
Apparently, when Thyruz was supporting him and casting a spell against Varien, he got injured from the flying debris of the rampaging man.
Still, the injury only created some bruises. There was no need to spend an expensive healing potion to cure it.
Indeed, according to Thyrus, three of the vials that they had collected were actually healing potions. However, the quality was simply too high, and it would be a waste to use it on small bruises that could heal in just a few days.
Rayven sighed as he looked at his pouch.
To be honest, he just wants to take them all for himself.
He was the one who had risked getting killed by Varien after all.
’Well... Maybe I should share some to Sir Thyrus...’ He thought.
Nonetheless, since it couldn’t even let him buy a new skill, he might as well not get too greedy.
He sighed before quietly slipping the pouch into his own bag for safekeeping.
"It’s not like she’ll care," he muttered to himself. "She almost died."
He then turned his attention to the woman. She had not moved since Thyruz used Wraithstep to get him there quickly. Her clothes were torn, scorched in places, and her gloves were cracked with dried blood.
Her hair was plastered to her face with sweat, but she still looked beautiful now that he was observing her...
Anyway, the items she had were also placed beside her. It was her broken staff, along with a scattering of items, old scrolls marked with unknown runes, potions with golden seals, several small vials of various tonics, and some magical items in the form of accessories.
Then, it was at this point that her fingers twitched.
A low, ragged breath escaped her lips as her eyelids fluttered.
And then... she woke.
Her eyes immediately moved and looked around. Not in panic, but assessment.
She took in her surroundings quickly—the fire, the three strangers around it, and the young man seated nearby.
Rayven straightened but didn’t speak. He sensed that she was someone dangerous, even now, but since she wasn’t showing hostility, he knew that it was a good start.
"...You were there..." she said softly, her voice hoarse. "During the battle... You’re the travelers who got caught in the fallout."
Rayven gave a nod. "Yeah. You sort of crash-landed near us."
She blinked slowly. Then she saw her belongings beside her, neatly arranged.
"My crystals... my vials..." she murmured, checking each one. "You didn’t touch any of them?"
Miki shrugged. "We figured they were magic things. Didn’t want to get cursed."
That was true, Thyruz could tell that there were seals on them, so even if they stole it, they would have to spend a huge amount of money in order to remove the seal.
’I wonder if she’s looking for the gold coins as well.’ Nara thought.
On the other hand, Ardania’s eyes flicked to her belt, where the coin pouch once rested.
"Gone..." she murmured. "I suppose that’s fair. I’m still alive, after all."
She looked at Rayven, and she was only filled with amusement and not accusing. "You took them?"
Rayven paused... then nodded. "Just for safekeeping."
As he said this, he swiftly acted and tried to return it.
However, Ardania chuckled. "No... That’s yours. If you didn’t save me, I would’ve probably died. That was a few hundred coins at most. One of those scrolls here is worth ten times that. You could’ve stolen a fortune—but you didn’t."
There was silence. Then, as she was able to gather her strength, she finally sat up.
"Thank you... for saving me."
Her voice now carried a different tone. It was filled with grace and dignity.
Now, everyone could tell that she must be a noble.
"I am Ardania. A Senior Professor at the Teal Arcane Academy. I specialize in Combat Conjuration and Magical Theorems... Are you planning to enroll? I think you’ve missed it by a couple of days."
Miki blinked. "Whoa~ You’re a professor? Ahh... No, we’re not planning to enrol."
Rayven also added. "We’re just going to Hesa..."
He then mentioned how he was simply a merchant and hired two escorts to protect him. Thɪs chapter is updated by novelꞁire.net
"I see..." Ardania gently nodded as she heard this.
Still, Thyruz couldn’t help but feel impressed by the Senior Professor.
"Teal Arcane Academy... It’s one of the five great Arcane Academies. No wonder you’re so powerful. If that man didn’t consume that Core, you could’ve easily overpowered him." Thyruz muttered.
Rayven gently nodded. The name of the Academy meant little to him.
After all, he didn’t plan to enter any Academies about magic since he had his system.
Furthermore, he doesn’t have any magical talent in the first place! It means that without his system, there was no way he could use magic...
In short, he would just spend unnecessary gold coins if he decided to ’learn’ or ’practice’ magic spells in the place!
’Ohh?’ Ardania was amused once again as she realized that the kids looked uninterested even after she revealed her identity.
"Well," Ardania smiled. "Seems none of you wanted to learn magic even with the Tier 3 Mage with you."
As she said this, everyone realized that the mage she was referring to was Thyruz...
He was actually a Tier 3 Mage!
"Hohoho... I just asked them to give me a lift, so we’re traveling together. It was just a chance." Thyruz explained.
Right now, she had to think about what kind of parting gift she’d give them. After all, she wasn’t just a mage but also a noble.
She couldn’t just leave after being cared for a few hours...