The camp was completely quiet. Only the guards' footsteps could be heard once in a while as they walked around. Inside the tent, Desanro lay on a beast - hide blanket, her face pale and beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her body trembled from time to time, and her lips moved slightly, as if she were trapped in a harrowing dream.
"Is she still not awake?" Vansil asked softly, her eyes filled with worry.
Butler Ute shook his head. He twisted the damp cloth until no more water dripped, then carefully wiped Desanro's brow. "She's not running a fever, but the sweating... it's like she's trapped in a nightmare."
With a worried frown, Dapoe asked, "Is she in danger?"
Leaning against the tent entrance with his arms crossed, Lin Yuan said calmly, "No." When everyone looked at him, he explained, "If it were something harmful, she'd be dead by now. Her soul is struggling, which means she's breaking through some kind of barrier."
As time ticked by, the first light of dawn finally appeared on the horizon. Suddenly, Desanro's eyes snapped open. A strange glint flickered in her purplish - red pupils.
"She's awake! She's awake!" Vansil exclaimed joyfully.
Hearing the commotion, Lin Yuan, the captain of the guards, and the others rushed over. They watched as Desanro sat up slowly, breathing softly. She looked worn out, but there was a new calmness on her face.
Lin Yuan stared into her eyes, his gaze sharpening. Although she still looked like a young, curvaceous beauty on the outside, through her eyes, he could sense the weight of years. This girl's soul was over two hundred years old. It seemed she had experienced an extraordinary adventure.
"How do you feel?" Lin Yuan asked.
Desanro flexed her wrists and smiled. "More clear - headed than ever."
"Did you get stronger?" Dapoe asked, his curiosity piqued.
Without a word, Desanro held up her hand. Instantly, a thin stream of dark purple energy materialized, swirling like fog from a haunted dream. It crackled with a dangerous, otherworldly power that made the air feel charged.
"Wow," Vansil gasped, her eyes wide with surprise.
Lin Yuan arched an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Looks like you made quite the haul."
Desanro shrugged. "Let's just say I've finally regained part of what belongs to my clan."
Over the next few days, the group continued their journey. They were attacked several times, but managed to fend off the threats without major losses. What was most astonishing was the drastic change in Desanro's fighting style. She seemed like a whole new person. Her swordsmanship became more precise. She could even use her nightmare power to disrupt her enemies' minds, causing them to lose focus briefly during battles, and rarely missed her mark. She also got a lot faster. It made everyone wonder if she'd gotten stronger all around.
Watching her effortlessly defeat a group of attacking wolf riders, Lin Yuan thought to himself, "Could little Desanro be the protagonist of this world, and a female lead at that?" He himself had an easy time. He barely had to lift a finger during the journey. The only exception was when they encountered an orc shaman proficient in magic. With a casual ice blast spell, Lin Yuan froze the shaman and the surrounding minions into statues. After that, the orcs didn't dare to bother them again.
As they traveled, Dapoe and Vansil's connection deepened. Desanro often flashed them playful glances, thoroughly entertained by their growing affection.
Finally, on the twentieth day of their journey, the group reached a bustling town. As soon as they entered the city gates, everyone was drawn to the massive shadows soaring through the sky. Several white dragons glided gracefully above, trailing clouds in their wake like messengers of the gods.
"Are those... dragons?" Butler Ute gasped in amazement.
"White dragons," the captain of the guards nodded. "The guardians of the White Tower Academy."
Ahead, a towering white tower came into view. Its surface was as smooth and shiny as jade, and magic patterns glowed softly in the sunlight. The whole town was built around this tower, with broad streets and fancy buildings that had magic in them.
On the streets, people were constantly on the move. Young students in magic apprentice robes were everywhere, most of them holding wands or books and looking focused. Many were accompanied by strange magical pets: flying cats, transparent water sprites, little wolves with blue flames... The variety was overwhelming.
Looking at these magical creatures, Dapoe sighed enviously. "This place is so lively."
Vansil took a deep breath. "You can even smell the magic in the air."
Desanro grinned. "Should we go find somewhere to clean up?"
Vansil quickly raised her hand. "Yes! I'm so gross. It's been forever since my last bath, and I'm stinky and scratchy all over."
Lin Yuan scanned the surroundings and said calmly, "I'd rather have a good meal first. Bathing can wait."
Just as the group was about to look for an inn, Butler Ute stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Sir, Lady Brissmelie has invited you to a dinner party tomorrow. She seems to have something to discuss with you."
Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow. "Brissmelie? She wants to see me?"
Butler Ute nodded. "Yes, and the rest will be there as well."
Lin Yuan rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
===================
营地一片寂静,只有巡逻的护卫偶尔发出些许脚步声.
帐篷内,德珊萝躺在兽皮毯上,脸色苍白,额头上渗出细密的汗珠.她的身体时而颤抖,嘴唇微微开合,仿佛正在经历一场沉重的梦境.
"她还没醒吗?" 万玟丝轻声问道,眼里满是担忧.
乌特管家摇了摇头,手中的湿布再次拧干,小心翼翼地擦拭着德珊萝的额头:"她的体温正常,只是一直在冒汗,像是做了什么噩梦似的."
"会不会有危险?" 达破恩皱眉道.
林远靠在帐篷门口,双手环抱,淡淡地说道:"不会."
众人看向他,他解释道:"如果是有害的东西,她早就死了.她的灵魂一直在挣扎,说明她正在突破某种桎梏."
时间一点点过去,天边终于泛起一抹晨曦.
突然,帐篷内的德珊萝猛地睁开双眼,紫红色的瞳孔中闪烁着一丝奇异的光芒.
"醒了醒了!" 万玟丝惊喜地喊道.
听到动静,林远,护卫长以及其他人立刻围了过来,看到德珊萝正缓缓坐起,轻轻喘息,神色带着几分疲惫,但更多的是沉稳与冷静.
林远盯着她的眼睛,目光微微一凝.
虽然她的外表依旧是年轻,身材火辣的美少女,但林远却透过她的眼神,看到了岁月的沉淀,这少女的灵魂,已经足足两百多岁了.
看来,她经历了一场非同寻常的奇遇.
"感觉如何?" 林远开口问道.
德珊萝活动了一下手腕,笑了笑:"比以往更清醒了."
"你是不是变强了?" 达破恩一脸八卦地问道.
德珊萝没直接回答,而是轻轻抬起手指,一缕暗紫色的能量浮现,宛如流动的梦魇之雾,透着神秘与危险的气息.
"哇哦." 万玟丝惊讶地瞪大眼睛.
林远挑了挑眉,嘴角微微上扬:"看来你收获不小啊."
德珊萝耸了耸肩:"只能说,我终于找回了一部分属于自己一族的东西."
接下来的几天,队伍继续赶路.虽然途中遭遇了几次突袭,但都没什么大碍.
最令人惊讶的是,德珊萝的战斗风格大变,整个人仿佛脱胎换骨.
她的剑术更加精准,甚至能利用梦魇之力扰乱敌人的思维,让对手在战斗中出现短暂的恍惚,几乎未曾失手.而且她的反应速度也提升了好几个档次,让人不得不怀疑她的身体素质是否也随之提升.
林远看着她轻松击败一群来袭的狼骑兵,心中暗叹:"德珊萝小妹妹,该不会是这个世界的主角吧,而且是大女主剧本."
他自己倒是悠闲了许多,一路上基本没怎么出手,除了其中一次遭遇一只精通魔法的半兽人萨满,他随手放了个冰爆术,直接把对方连同周围的小怪全部冻成雕像后,这群半兽人再也不敢来了.
达破恩和万玟丝的感情似乎也在旅途中逐渐升温,德珊萝偶尔会用调侃的目光看着他们,似乎对这对新情侣的发展乐见其成.
终于,在旅程的第二十天,队伍抵达了一座繁华的城镇.
刚进入城门,所有人就被天空中掠过的几道庞然巨影所吸引,几只白色的龙优雅地在天际滑翔,身下拖曳着翻腾的云雾,宛如天神的使者.
"那是... 龙?" 乌特管家惊叹道.
"是白龙." 护卫长点头道,"白塔学院的守护者."
前方,一座高耸入云的白色塔楼映入眼帘,塔身光滑如玉,魔法纹路在阳光下隐隐闪烁.整个城镇围绕着这座白塔而建,街道宽敞,建筑风格典雅且带有魔法元素.
街上,人来人往,随处可见穿着魔法学徒袍的年轻学子,他们大多手持魔杖或书籍,神色专注.更有不少人牵着奇形怪状的魔法宠物,会飞的猫,透明的水精灵,身上燃烧着蓝色火焰的小狼... 五花八门,令人目不暇接.
达破恩看着这些魔法生物,羡慕地叹了口气:"这里可真繁华啊."
万玟丝闻了闻空气,满足地说道:"这里连空气里都有魔法的味道."
德珊萝轻笑:"不如先去找个地方洗澡吧?"
万玟丝立刻举手:"我也是我也是!太久没洗澡了,全身又臭又痒!"
林远扫视了一圈,淡淡道:"我想先吃顿好的,洗澡可以稍后."
正当众人准备寻找旅馆时,乌特管家走上前,低声说道:"老爷,士嫆莉女士邀请您明天参加她的聚餐,似乎有事想和您商谈."
林远挑眉:"士嫆莉?她想见我?"
乌特管家点头:"是的,而且其他人也会在."
林远摸了摸下巴,若有所思.