Chapter 43: You’ve Got To Believe One Of Them
“Sir?” the female elf called softly.
“Oh, are all the people in the garden inn guests?” Anse asked casually.
“Not all of them, there are also guests who are just dining. The first floor of the treehouse is the dining room.” A smile hung on the female elf’s face, as smooth as snowflake cream, appearing very patient.
“Mm, two rooms then, how much?” Anse decided to stay first, keep an eye on Gais, and consider the next steps later.
“2 gold coins per room per day, water and breakfast are free, room fee paid in advance.” The female elf smiled brightly, waiting for Anse’s reaction.
“So expensive?!” Anse’s eyes widened in shock.
This price truly shocked him; not to mention ordinary people, even general professionals couldn’t afford it.
The female elf pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing, seemingly very satisfied with Anse’s reaction: “Sir, Moon Shadow Kui Ling has always been this price. We also have authentic and delicious moon elf cuisine here that you can’t get elsewhere.”
Brat quietly tugged Anse, frequently giving him eye signals. This place was not stayable, because lying in bed he would ache with heartache and be unable to sleep.
“Two days first.” Anse steeled himself and took out a platinum coin, placing it on the counter.
This was an extraordinary time; other inns would definitely jack up prices, and might not even have rooms. Better to stay temporarily and keep an eye on Gais to prevent him from running.
He still had over a hundred gold coins in hand; staying a few weeks was no problem.
“What is the sir’s name?” The female elf picked up a pen and looked at Anse. “Each room needs to register one person’s name; a codename is also fine.”
“Nolnos, Brat.” Anse casually gave two names.
Gais probably wouldn’t recognize him, but he feared the other would become alert if he knew his name, so to be safe, he didn’t reveal it.
The female elf quickly noted down the names, took out two copper tags with keys hanging from them, and beckoned to Anse and the others: “Please follow me.”
Anse signaled Brat to go first, then pulled Finn to the window, pointing at the distant shadow figure: “Have Greyhawk keep an eye on that person.”
“Got it.” Finn took off his backpack and handed it to Anse, then hurriedly ran out of the mushroom house.
Anse picked up the backpack and quickly went upstairs.
The mushroom house’s decor was fresh and natural, with every detail very thoughtful. The corridor was hung with many oil paintings, mostly landscapes or plants and animals.
They went all the way to the top floor and stopped at the door marked 6-1; opposite was room 6-2, with a very straightforward naming method.
The female elf opened the door and handed the room tag to Anse, but did not enter: “I am Dara Karonas. If you need anything, you can come find me in the treehouse.”
“Thanks.” Anse nodded.
Dara waved her hand, smiling as she left, her steps very light.
“You really splurged. Aren’t you coveting her beauty?” Brat dropped his backpack, looking at him suspiciously.
“Heh.” Anse ignored him and surveyed the room’s layout, his eyes showing some satisfaction.
The room was about twenty square meters, decorated uniquely with original wood furniture. The floor and bed sheet were very clean, and the washroom in the corner had no odd smell at all—something ordinary cleaning methods couldn’t achieve.
The nearly one-and-a-half-meter glass window let in good light, and there was an outer sliding layer that, when pulled down, was waterproof, light-blocking, and soundproof.
Anse walked to the window in a few steps; the nearby bay and dock, as well as the town and garden below, all came into view.
“Look at that person wearing a blue robe.” He beckoned to Brat.
“What’s up?” Brat came over, full of curiosity.
“Don’t stare.” Anse reminded him. “His name is Gais, the culprit who made me fall into the giant pit.”
“Such a coincidence?” Brat realized, his face turning serious.
Coincidental if called coincidence, not if not. The north was blocked, and going east or south was a long journey; heading north by sea from Silver Scale Bay was indeed one of the best choices.
Gais had gotten Fabian’s inheritance; it was only natural for him to stay in the best inn.
“He’s a wizard? Seems like he has accomplices.” Brat’s observation was very keen.
“I don’t know them.” Anse frowned slightly; the other two were not magic apprentices from the mage tower.
He opened the window and leaned out pretending to admire the view, but his mind focused on those people.
【Gais, human, level 1 sorcerer（Scarred）】
【Blue Flame Cult priest, human, level 3 sorcerer（Scarred）, level 1 wizard】
【Blue Flame Cult elite, human, level 4 sorcerer（Scarred）, level 1 priest】
‘Blue Flame Cult?!’ Anse’s heart shook greatly. ‘How did Gais get involved with them?’
But he immediately reacted; the key point didn’t seem to be there.
‘What is a Scarred Sorcerer? This… doesn’t make sense.’
During the magical plague era, getting close to a blue flame storm could lead to infection, forming a spell mark called scar on the body surface, manifesting externally as blue jagged cracks, flame-like flickering blue runes, or deep blue flame wings.
The Blue Flame Cult believed this was not a curse but a holy existence—not for healing, but for understanding and control, thereby mastering a magic power called blue flame.
They worshiped the spell plague and developed their own god and savior, but ultimately they were a cult and disappeared after the goddess of magic returned.
This was also the origin of the sorcerer subclass Hellfire Sorcerer.
But now there were clearly no out-of-control blue flame storms—at least not near Baldur’s Gate—so theoretically there was no opportunity to gain this power.
‘A subclass similar to Hellfire Sorcerer?’
Faerun had plenty of strange branch classes, but most were not systematic and hard to popularize.
For example, priests had over twenty subclasses: life, light, trickery, war, arcana, knowledge, grave, blood, night… countless.
All about believing in something even if not truly believing—gotta believe in something!
“What’s wrong?” Brat spoke up, interrupting Anse’s contemplation.
“Tricky.” Anse closed the window, blocking others’ view. “Those two are from the Blue Flame Cult; one of them is an elite professional.”
He had previously heard Soradin say that the Blue Flame Cult knew of him and classified him as a heretic; maybe Gais really knew he was still alive.
Moreover, Gais had been a magic apprentice with little talent before; in just a few days he had become a sorcerer.
If the Blue Flame Cult really had the ability to mass-produce spellcasters, a mere beckon would attract countless magic apprentices and formal wizards; the rate of expansion… unimaginable.
“There will be times when they’re alone.” Brat chuckled, unconcerned.
“Makes sense. Have Greyhawk keep watch, call Finn up, wash up and rest.”
“Got it.”
Two rooms: Brat and Finn in one, Anse alone in the other.
Everyone had been traveling all day, tired and dirty; perfect time to wash up properly. With daylight still remaining, a short nap.
The garden downstairs bustled with people; the Blue Flame Cult group had long disappeared, but Greyhawk had confirmed they entered this mushroom house, so no rush.
He was now only thinking about where to get some experience and quickly level up to 4, which would increase his chances.
Thanks to all reader bosses for your support and suggestions!
Priests: DND or Baldur’s Gate 3 downplays the relation between priest faith and subclass, but actually if you worship Lothander, priest subclass can only be life or light domain; choosing death or blood would be…
