Chapter 156: Pathless Runesmith - Sermus Flinn

A few hours after leaving the Sun Church, Elias walked through the streets of Kilmir with the Sword Spirit floating lazily beside him. His dark blue gugel still covered most of his face, but even that was not enough to keep him from hearing the whispers spreading through the city.

"A duel is happening tomorrow..."

"Apparently, it is being done so that bastard can prove his innocence."

"How would that work? What kind of proof is a duel supposed to be?"

"Who knows? The City Lord should be dealing with the killer and the rift instead of wasting time on something like this."

Elias continued walking without reacting, although he couldn’t help agreeing with some of their confusion. Just like him, many people could not understand why Berlic was spending so much effort on a duel.

The gates were still closed, the murderer remained somewhere within the city, and the rift continued to threaten the entire region. Yet instead of solving any of those problems, the City Lord was determined to deal with him first.

Even the people who had no connection to Elias seemed to find the situation strange. Their voices followed him for several streets.

As Elias turned onto another street, the Sword Spirit flew slightly ahead of him before circling and facing him.

"How did it go?" she asked.

Elias glanced at her and answered through Mental Whisper, [There were no problems.]

The Sword Spirit nodded, then floated backward while keeping her eyes on him.

"So he will be overseeing your duel?" she asked.

Elias had originally gone to Mekah with the intention of having the old priest oversee his duel tomorrow, or at least that was what he had told the Sword Spirit before leaving.

However, Elias frowned slightly and shook his head.

[He is busy with the rift. I have no choice but to be vigilant.]

The Sword Spirit’s expression remained relaxed as she drifted around him.

"I already told you," she said, sounding almost amused. "No one would go against that City Lord to help you."

Elias chuckled and smiled beneath his gugel.

[It was worth a try.]

"How foolish," she muttered, shaking her head.

Elias ignored her and continued toward his manor, and after several more minutes, the familiar walls finally came into view.

However, the moment he entered the courtyard, his brows furrowed.

Someone was sitting there.

A rugged man with long, messy dark green hair sat in a chair; his clothes looked no different from a beggar’s. His hair covered most of his face, and his head hung so low that, from a distance, he almost looked dead.

Elias slowed his steps and stared at the man, his expression becoming cautious.

He didn’t recognize him.

There was no reason for a stranger to be sitting inside his manor’s courtyard, and the man’s appearance did nothing to explain how he had gotten there. The Sword Spirit also stopped beside Elias and stared at the stranger, although she remained silent.

Before Elias could do anything, footsteps approached from inside the manor.

He turned toward the entrance and saw Benjamin walking out with a bucket of water in one hand and a set of clothes tucked beneath his right arm.

The old butler noticed Elias and immediately approached.

Elias glanced toward the strange man before looking back at Benjamin.

"Who is this?" he questioned.

Benjamin halted and followed his master’s gaze toward the man sitting in the chair.

"This, my lord, is Sermus Flinn," the butler answered calmly. "The Pathless runesmith you were searching for."

Elias’s eyes shimmered with understanding.

’So this is him.’

He had been searching for a runesmith capable of helping Monica; however, runesmiths were rare because understanding runes required an innate talent.

The only runesmith in Kilmir was a Pathless mage, and now that person was before him. Yet the man before him looked less like a mage and more like someone who had spent years living on the streets.

Elias walked toward him.

His footsteps finally drew the man’s attention.

Sermus slowly raised his head, and his messy hair parted enough to reveal a pair of emerald-green eyes. Dirt and dried mud covered his face, making him look utterly miserable, yet beneath the grime his features were unmistakably above average.

For several seconds, Elias simply studied him.

The man’s eyes were dull, his posture was exhausted, and there was little strength in the way he sat. He seemed like the kind of person who was waiting for the end of his lifespan.

"Do you wish to live?" he asked.

Sermus blinked.

The question seemed to confuse him, and his lips parted slightly without producing an answer.

Elias realized his wording had been too vague, so he exhaled softly and shook his head.

"No, let me rephrase so it is easier to understand..."

His eyes sharpened as he looked directly into Sermus’s emerald-green eyes.

"Do you wish to regain your path?"

Sermus’s eyes widened.

For the first time since Elias had seen him, something resembling life appeared within them, and his head lifted slightly as though the words themselves had pulled him out of a long darkness.

"Yes..." he whispered, his voice rough and raspy from disuse.

His fingers slowly tightened around the edge of the chair as the faintest trace of hope appeared in his eyes.

"Yes, I do..." Sermus said.

Elias smiled faintly and turned around.

"Bath and make yourself more presentable... From today, you will work here as the gardener, and if I find you trustworthy, I will help you regain your path."

Sermus’s eyes trembled, and he lowered his head in silence.

Elias’s steps halted, and he added, "Speak if you are ready to work for me."

"It is impossible to help someone regain their path..." Sermus mumbled dryly. "What if you are simply lying to me?"

Elias chuckled in amusement and said, "How humorous. Pray tell, why would I offer such a deal just to have you do gardening for me?"

"I do not know," Sermus said.

Elias turned to him and said after taking out a coin from his inventory.

"Let’s settle it with a coin toss."