- Ch 16

The ride to Salfe had gone without difficulty. The city was large, with a colorful suburb and a more austere inner city. The inner town was surrounded by a fifteen-meter high wall. It was clear that the outer suburb, which was several times larger than the inner city, had not originally been part of Salfe. It had sprung up around the town. Salfe's walls had several round high watchtowers with round tiled roofs and flags flying on top of them. Inside, there were even taller towers that had made Siri gasp in wonder.

Siri's room was unusually large even though it was only for one person. She had insisted on a regular room but, the owner of the inn had refused. As a cultivator, she at least had the status of a noble lady. She hadn't used Qi and was disguised with the help of the necklace Raven had given her, but everyone could see she was a cultivator and that included the innkeeper.

Siri, Elix and, Raven had checked into an inn called 'Rays of the Sun' in the suburbs. They hadn't wanted to attract attention, but that was too much to ask. Rumors spread faster than the wind sweeps across lands and kingdoms. Rather, they had become celebrities among the city's nobility.

"Can someone explain what's wrong with my cultivation," said Siri.

"No! But it looks like a curse. Attracting creatures from the Grey Land using Qi should be impossible. You're even opening portals." Raven replied.

Siri felt sad. "What if I can never use Qi without attracting monsters."

"It could be someone sending a portal to you from the Grey Land when they sense you using Qi. It might be an active action from a person and not a spell."

"That could be an option," Elix said. He looked at Siri with pity in his voice.

"Maybe you're both right. I have a curse that tells me where I am and when I use Qi, someone sends up demons and monsters." Siri's voice was weak. She didn't know what to do or rather what they would do.

"You could use Qi if you destroy the portal when it's about to open. I've seen that you managed to do that last time we were attacked. And the monsters coming through the portal don't seem to be able to move too far from the portal itself."

"So what do I do? Use Qi and run. That's not my style," Siri muttered.

"I know that, but Qi is part of us. It's impossible not to touch it or stay away from it for too long."

"I could teach you rune magic, but that would require you to use Qi... so I don't think it's a good idea as a substitute for cultivation."

"No." Was the simple answer she gave.

"Maybe we can go into the portal where the monsters come from."

Both Elix and Raven looked at her as if she had grown three heads.

"Then maybe we'll know where they're coming from." Siri shook her head. She didn't like it but, how else were they going to find the root of the problem.

"Might be an idea, if nothing else helps. But we have to get help."

"Who would want to help me? Most people would probably want to kill me if they knew I was a magnet that attracts monsters and demons. Like Zerzers, for example. I was the one who destroyed the Phoenix cult. You know that. I'm a danger."

"Yes, but you're also the one who can save us."

"Only if I'm that Goddess" She spat out the words.

'I don't want to be some goddess and save the world,' Siri thought.

"You are what you are," Raven replied.

"Yeah yeah."

"So, who can help us here in Salfe? Is there a cult? Any branch of your Lodge Raven?"

"No, there is not." You could tell he didn't like saying those words. It looked as if he had eaten something bitter and sour at the same time.

"What help is there here in Salfe?"

"Salfe is one of the largest cities in the kingdom and, it may be strange that there is no sect here but, the local power lies with the local nobility or noble clans. They have great resources that could help us."

"And that will entangle me in the local power struggle because I'm a girl who can cultivate. There aren't that many are there?"

As Siri finished the sentence, there was a knock on Siri's door.

Elix got up from the chair and went to the door to open it. It was the innkeeper and not a maid standing there. He was slim and well-groomed for an innkeeper. At least in comparison to other innkeepers out in the suburbs.

Siri and the others looked questioningly at him where he stood panting. After a while, he looked up with a big smile that showed all his teeth and held out a bundle of letters.

"This came by messenger for you Miss. He took no notice of Elix and Raven. "

"Letters? What letter?"

"I don't know, my lady." It appeared from a distance that he was not telling the truth. But he probably didn't want them to think he was snooping.

Elix took the letters from his hand, causing the innkeeper to flinch. Siri didn't think he'd noticed Elix standing there, which was silly because he was the one who'd opened the door.

Elix looked at the letters and had a deep frown between his eyebrows. It was fine parchment, soft and smooth to the touch. Soft.

"What is it?" Siri asked.

"Invitation letter," Elix replied, wrongly. "Maybe a suitor's letter or two." The innkeeper backed away, still bowing.

"Was there anything else?" Raven asked the innkeeper. "No, no, I was just leaving," he said and hurried away. Being curious was one thing to offend cultivators was another.

"Who knows we're here? Who sent the invitations?" Siri asked expressionlessly.

"The answer to your first question is. Everyone in the nobility and probably half the city! The rumor spread. We come from the east and you're a woman from the Wind-Sky sect that's enough. It may be that you are the only female cultivator in the city. The clans don't have anyone, that much I know. Besides, they've probably gotten a report from Taylor by now about what happened at the inn that's piqued their curiosity. All addressed to you, Siri."

Elix handed her the letters.

"They look like three letters of invitation from the major noble clans in this city. Lerice, Eenno, and Aytaill. The second letter looks personal. Siri opened the personal letter and started reading it.

"What is it?"

"It's an invitation to a ball and, Elliot of Lerice wishes to be my cajoler. He invites you too if you don't stand in his way if you read between the lines." said Siri.

Elix smiled and nodded to himself. "Elliot..."

"Anyone, you know?" asked Siri.

"I know of him. Would hardly say I know him."

Siri opened the remaining letters. They were all invitations to some event. But none of them were trying to ask Siri out. She was about to throw them into the fire before Raven stopped her.

"It's not a good idea to make these clans your enemy. We probably need to go to these... gatherings."

"Do I really need to go with this Elliot," Siri asked with a hanging head.

"That's a good idea. You'll have fewer men pursuing you... "

"Stop it!" Siri shouted.

"When is the ball?" Raven asked.

"In two days but, I don't want to go. What's so special about this Elliot? Is he a cultivator?"

"Yes, and he has the same cultivation as you. He is also the future heir to House Lerice. The clan has thirty cultivators and, some are really strong. And, they have many runemasters. If there's anyone who could help us here in Salfe with your ... problem, it's the Lerice clan."

Siri looked at the letter again. "It says he's coming to pick me up in a wagon. And It seems he thinks I can't say no." Siri felt anger.

"He'll be surprised in that case." Raven laughed.