Barbara "irresponsibly" fainted like that.
Even until she lost consciousness, Barbara never explained: why, despite being injured herself, she still chose to rescue Andrew just now.
Before falling unconscious, she thought of the scene when she was setting out from Warm Fire City—
"Here, this is the Warm Fire Order, it will help you find your future husband."
"What?"
"Ahem... it's just a joke, haha. But seriously, at critical moments, remember to follow the guidance of the Warm Fire Order! It will point out the way to break through any predicament."
"Oh, okay father."
Barbara didn't take it too seriously, but she agreed nonetheless.
On the way out of the city, her father was still nagging:
"Little Barbara, this is your first journey after reaching adulthood, and it's also our Warm Fire Commerce Association's tradition. After all, the best people are those who have personally seen the world with their own eyes, not bookworms working behind closed doors.
In other respects, I'm not worried about you.
But little Barbara, remember!
After leaving Warm Fire City, be sure to be cautious when you encounter people from the Magic Guild, remember this well!"
Her father, who was usually carefree and always laughing, lowered his voice significantly and was very serious when he spoke these words.
Barbara agreed seriously on the surface, but deep down she was somewhat indifferent.
Even if our Warm Fire Commerce Association and the Magic Guild have some different ideas, everyone is a Fire Mage.
Would the Magic Guild Mages really risk everything to harm me, the third lady of the Commerce Association?
It's known among the public: the Magic Guild and the Warm Fire Commerce Association do not share the same ideology.
But at least on the surface, the two major forces still maintain relatively friendly relations.
Her father had become more cautious with age.
That was Barbara's thought before she set off.
Just like that, Barbara, accompanied by twenty-five members of the Crimson Knight Order, left Warm Fire City to start her journey.
She first went to the Royal Court to visit her second sister.
Then went to the Scholar's Fortress.
After that, she visited almost all the famous big cities and even called on several retired famous mages.
Throughout the process, the thought that "the Warm Fire Commerce Association and the Magic Guild are not at odds" not only didn't change but became further strengthened in Barbara's heart.
Especially when she was warmly received by those senior mages of the Magic Guild at the Scholar's Fortress.
Barbara truly felt: the rumor about the Mages of the Magic Guild being aloof seemed a bit unfounded!
And so, she traveled for more than half a year.
According to the original plan, when preparing to return to Warm Fire City, her second sister sent a letter one day saying: if it's on the way, could Barbara help her buy some magic materials from Hunting Wasteland City? Of course, if it's not on the way, then forget it.
"Hunting Wasteland City? It's the largest city in the Inner Sea Desert, right, the one known as the 'Sanctuary for Hunters'?"
Although it was indeed a bit of a detour, Barbara thought it was just as well because she wanted to see Hunting Wasteland City too, so she went.
Thus she arrived at Hunting Wasteland City and bought the materials.
Then it felt natural to want to take a look at the Inner Sea Desert!
She also remembered that in Wildfire Town, there was a renowned Grand Mage named Humboldt from the Scholar's Fortress.
And that's how she arrived at Wildfire Town.
So indeed, Wildfire Town was Barbara's last stop before returning to Warm Fire City.
Little did she know, upon meeting Humboldt in Wildfire Town, everything would change.
If she could foresee the results, Barbara would have stopped her past self from deciding to come to Wildfire Town no matter what.
When she first entered the small town, she didn't feel anything amiss.
The small town was quite rundown, not at all on par with a bustling metropolis like Warm Fire City.
But for Barbara, who was used to opulence, this dilapidated little town in the heart of the desert had a peculiar freshness to it!
By the entrance of the town, there was an inn called "Living People Cemetery."
A strange name...
But the owner of that inn was as beautiful as her second sister!
Barbara couldn't help but take a few more glances.
After all, the ones who love looking at women the most in this world are forever women themselves.
Although Barbara was also very beautiful, she always admired her second sister's charming and mature grace.
In comparison, Barbara always felt that she was still an undeveloped little girl.
"By the way, who is 'Andrew'?"
Barbara withdrew her gaze from An Ya and asked the laboratory butler leading the way, "Why are people in the town all talking about this person named 'Andrew'?"
"Oh, he's a young man from the town."
The butler smiled and briefly introduced Andrew's heroic deeds of saving people from the fire last night. Yet, he didn't mention a word about Andrew confronting Humboldt.
"I see, a hero who saved people from a sea of flames?"
Barbara nodded.
Who would have thought that even this small Wildfire Town would have such a figure?
Sigh, what a pity.
Barbara knew that injuries caused by magical auras to the lungs were incurable, and even the Warm Fire Commerce Association could only extend the patient's life somewhat and try to ensure quality.
Hoping for a cure was out of the question.
"So the 'once it catches fire, it must be extinguished' approach advocated by our Warm Fire Commerce Association is indeed the right philosophy! The Magic Guild folks are quite passionate and courteous to me, but why is it that each of them is so stubborn, absolutely unwilling to listen to us?"
Barbara thought, "Maybe next time I go to the Scholar's Fortress, I should have a good talk with those Mages from the Magic Guild. We really can't keep having a bunch of fires every day and not allow them to be put out. If I step in, I should... be able to persuade them, right? After all, they were so enthusiastic about me before."
Lost in thought, she walked into Humboldt's Magic Laboratory located in the center of the town.
The sudden change occurred at the very moment the laboratory door closed.
Barbara could never forget how the twenty-five elite members of the Crimson Knight Order who accompanied her were almost instantly torn apart, entangled, and burned by the dark red Fire Serpents that leaped out from the walls of the hall!
Then the terrifying scene of them being completely devoured!!
The scene was so bloody and brutal, the dual impact on sight and soul was so great that words could hardly describe it!
Barbara was completely stunned for a moment.
She could hardly believe it was real!
"Miss Third, run!"
The leading Crimson Knight roared.
He pointed his spear, mustering all his strength.
He blasted a hole in the laboratory door from a distance!
Then he threw the still-dazed Barbara outside through the hole!
That Crimson Knight himself did not survive, as his head was swallowed in one bite by one of the largest Fire Serpents.
However, even after having his head bitten off, the Knight Captain staggered but stood his ground again!
It seemed he refused to simply fall.
Then the headless body stood firm, burning into ashes.
"Heh, since you're here, don't think about leaving."
Humboldt's aged voice smiled from some unknown corner.
"You are... Humboldt!?"
Barbara finally returned to her senses.
She became extremely angry, angrier than she had ever been in her life: "Why do this? Are you... are you crazy?! This 'Fire Snake Trap' is a Magic Array that can only be used with the approval of the Magic Guild, right? Did the Magic Guild instruct you to do this?!"
Her father's advice, "Be doubly cautious when meeting Mages from the Magic Guild," seemed to echo in her ears again.
Barbara's belief that "the Warm Fire Commerce Association and the Magic Guild are not irreconcilable" collapsed in that moment!
Her vision became slightly blurred.
Barbara was so angry that she cried.
Fortunately, the excellent education she received over the years, as well as her parents' strict demands, played a role at this time.
In mid-air, Barbara was flung towards the laboratory door by the Knight Captain.
While forcefully adjusting her center of gravity.
She countered with an "Orange Flame Spider Web" to temporarily block the Magic Fire Serpents pursuing her.
Then—
She leaped through the escape passage that the Crimson Knights sacrificed their lives to create for her.
The physical qualities of a Warm Fire Mage are generally a notch above those of an Earth Fire Mage.
Barbara flew through the hole in the laboratory door.
The price was being directly shaken into spitting out a mouthful of blood when clashing with the old mage's Magic Power!
This is the reason Barbara was injured when she later encountered Andrew.
With one blow.
Just a single confrontation with Humboldt left her seriously injured!
Meanwhile, on the other side, Andrew had just come out of the Living People Cemetery.
"Oh, got away, huh?"
Humboldt's figure slowly emerged from the body of a Fire Serpent.
The old mage's expression was somewhat helpless:
"The Magic Guild's task is for me to 'try to capture alive if possible.' Sigh, why must they give such a daunting task to an old man like me? If they hadn't promised to assist me in 'extending my life' after the fact, I really wouldn't want to offend the Warm Fire Commerce Association like this.
Luckily, the troublesome Crimson Knights all fell into the 'Fire Snake Trap' and were completely annihilated! Otherwise, if I had to go head-to-head with these knights, 'the current me' really wouldn't be able to handle it."
Though old, Humboldt's mind remained sharp.
He knew that once the Crimson Knights were dealt with, everything else would be easier.
Capturing a young girl just of age on this desert island-like small town was only a matter of time.
What's more, with a wave of his hand, the dark red Fire Serpents vanished.
The scene was left with only a ground of blood and broken armor and knight spears.
"Pass my order, seal off the entire town! I want her captured alive."
As Humboldt's words fell, a large number of Intermediate, and even Advanced Magic Apprentices, surged out of the Magic Laboratory, silently spreading throughout the town to commence the search.
Compared to Magic Apprentices like Andrew used to be, these Magic Apprentices were much more formidable.
The best among them already had the capability to cast Magic, and a step further and they could formally receive the title of "Fire Mage"!
Humboldt himself was in no hurry to take action again.
Thinking to himself that from today onwards, the Magic Guild and the Warm Fire Commerce Association might completely fall out with each other.
Standing under the setting sun, the wrinkles on the old mage's face seemed even deeper.
Silently pondering: "Although I took on this life-threateningly difficult task primarily for 'life extension,' I didn't ask much about what was hidden behind this assignment.
But I'm still somewhat concerned: why is it that the Magic Guild insists on me 'capturing this girl alive'?
Is it time for the 'Year of Tribute' again?"