Chapter 480 – Aramir

Two clusters of Wind Chime Flowers flanked the inn’s entrance. As Mo Lan and her companions walked past, the breeze they stirred set the blossoms swaying, producing a crisp and pleasant “ding-ling” sound, as if someone had rung a doorbell.

Beside the door, the spider-veined grass leaves were parted by a pair of slender-jointed hands bearing a few slight wrinkles.

Only then did Mo Lan and the others notice that behind the broad spider-veined grass leaves, there was a window.

A head poked out from the window. Slightly cloudy silver-gray eyes lingered on them for a moment:

“Are you here to stay or to buy? If you’re staying, consuming meat inside the establishment is prohibited.”

Mo Lan withdrew her gaze from his pointed ears and said, “We’d like to stay, and if the price is right, we might also be interested in buying.”

The elf perked up with interest. “Why don’t you all come inside to discuss!”

The door was opened.

Just inside the door was a bar counter, and the small window was set within it — the elf had simply leaned forward to pull the door open.

Compared to the Silver Globe Flower Inn where they had stayed before, the bar counter at the Oak Inn’s entrance was really quite small.

There were only two seats at the counter — not nearly enough for Mo Lan’s entire group to sit down.

The dining area was modest in size as well, with only one long table.

However, there was also an open kitchen, a spacious sitting area, and a tea room.

Every section was decorated with exquisite natural elegance. Intricate, vibrant murals coexisted harmoniously with all manner of plants — pure elven style through and through.

It just didn’t feel like an inn. It felt like a warm and cozy home.

“Why don’t you all come sit over here!” The elf led them to the sitting area, brought out some berries, and offered them as refreshments.

The elf introduced himself: “Just call me Aramir.”

Mo Lan and the others introduced themselves as well.

Before Mo Lan could even ask, Aramir spoke up:

“If Miss Sylph is the one buying my house, twenty Magic Gold Coins will do. If it’s Miss Moira, thirty Magic Gold Coins. The only condition is that you don’t disturb the old oak tree in the yard. You’re free to plant whatever you like in the flower beds, but they can’t be used for anything other than growing plants. So — does that price work for you?”

Lilith and Vasida waited and waited, but he never mentioned them. “Wait — what about us? We can’t buy it?”

Aramir thought for a moment. “If Sylph and Miss Moira don’t buy it, and you’re willing to leave the flower beds and the old oak tree alone, I can sell it to you too. But it’ll be at least fifty Magic Gold Coins.”

“???”

Lilith now understood why this inn hadn’t been able to sell!

How could someone price things differently depending on the buyer?

“Is it because Sylph and I are skilled in wood-element magic?” Mo Lan asked.

Meeting for the first time yet already treating them so differently — this was the only explanation Mo Lan could think of.

She and Sylph both openly practiced wood-element magic, so they would inevitably carry traces of wood elemental force.

“Exactly,” Aramir said.

“Then why is Sylph’s price even lower than mine?” This was the part Mo Lan couldn’t figure out.

“Miss Sylph has received a Sprite’s Blessing, hasn’t she? She must be a child who truly loves plants to have earned a sprite’s favor. If it were her, I’m confident this place would always be filled with the breath of nature, and Yar would be well taken care of.”

Aramir said.

Bi’er, hidden invisibly in Sylph’s hair, shrank back a little. Had she given off her presence?

Sylph silently reassured her. Sprites didn’t only bless witches — even if discovered, it wouldn’t matter.

“Yar is… the old oak tree in the yard?”

Aramir nodded. “It grew from an acorn I brought from the Elven Woods. The very first day I settled here, I planted it right there.

I’m in a hurry to return to the Elven Woods, and once I go, I may never have the chance to come back.

I just can’t stop worrying about Yar.

If this place continues to have all kinds of plants around, it won’t be lonely.”

Sylph understood his concern completely. She looked at Mo Lan:

“Instructor, this price should be a great deal, right? Could you lend me some money so I can buy it? I’ll work hard to earn it back and repay you as soon as possible!”

She certainly had enough money. But to maintain her persona while still reasonably expressing her wishes, this was the only way she could put it.

“Mr. Aramir, we’ll need some time to think it over.”

Mo Lan should have agreed on the spot. She was a stingy instructor, not one who exploited her apprentices. The apprentice was only borrowing money, not asking for a handout. Twenty Magic Gold Coins for a courtyard this size in Lance City was already extremely cheap — buying it would be a steal.

But hearing Aramir say that he was being so particular about buyers because he couldn’t stop worrying about Yar, Mo Lan had begun formulating other plans.

Sylph, Lilith, and Vasida were all somewhat surprised by Mo Lan’s response, but for now they were still playing the roles of mages — an instructor and her apprentices.

They couldn’t question their instructor’s decision. They could only suppress their confusion.

Aramir looked slightly disappointed. “You have three days to think it over. In three days, I must depart. The rooms on the second floor — take your pick. The keys are in the doors.”

With that, he lost interest in further conversation, stood up, and headed out the door.

“Lena, Jenny — could you come back here to find us tomorrow?” Mo Lan had Lilith pay them their guiding fee. “We’ll settle the charges separately then.”

“Of course!” Lena and Jenny said happily.

These mages were far too generous — they’d paid a full day’s fee just for being led to the inn!

Lena and Jenny ran off, and Mo Lan’s group carried their luggage upstairs.

There were exactly three suites on the upper floor, but they didn’t choose rooms just yet. Instead, they all filed into one suite and shut the door to talk.

“Mo Lan! Why can’t we just buy this place!” Sylph said. She truly loved it here.

“It’s not that we can’t! I have an even better idea!” Mo Lan said.

“What?” Sylph asked, puzzled.

Mo Lan gazed out the window:

“Mr. Aramir is so reluctant to part with the old oak tree, and the Elven Woods are embroiled in war. What if we use a spatial planting pot as bait to invite him to join the Dawn Society?

That way, he could take his old oak tree back to the Elven Woods with him, and we’d be planting a seed in the Elven Woods ahead of schedule.

The turmoil in the Elven Woods is precisely the time when the elves need support, which would make it much easier for our ‘seed’ to take root and grow.

It’s just… I’m torn about how to approach him with the invitation!

If we invite him personally, we’d have to pose as Dawn Society members ahead of time — far earlier than originally planned. If he refuses, it poses a certain risk of exposure for us, though in the end we’d still be able to buy this place at a low price.

If we don’t invite him personally, then without Yar tying him here, Aramir could easily drop all those demanding conditions and sell the house to someone else at a normal price. We might have to start looking for a new place to stay all over again.”