Even though Ragnora had said in her letter that the situation wasn't too urgent, Cassius didn't want to take any chances.
The situation could become dire at any single moment—a surge of mana fiends, a collapse in the mines, an attack from opportunistic bandits taking advantage of the chaos.
And besides, he was genuinely excited to go on another adventure. It had been a while since he had left the Holyfield estate for something other than a festival or a diplomatic visit.
So on that very same day, he departed from the household.
The farewell was, as always, an elaborate affair.
Every single one of his wives and maids gathered at the front gates, pressing safety charms into his hands, tucking small pouches of dried herbs into his pockets, and giving him baskets upon baskets of food for the journey.
There were freshly baked bread rolls, jars of preserves, smoked meats, dried fruits, and flasks of water and wine.
