Epic Of The Demonic Sage

While Lucius, Kiana and Gellor's team hid away and stayed at their camp by the hills, a messenger quickly returned to Cutlass city bringing frightening news.

"Out of my way!" The messenger was white-faced and stricken pale. He looked deathly sick as if he was on his last final hours.

Fortunately for him, his horse was like lightning on its hooves, and sped through the streets as they arrived at Bergan's Hall.

The messenger forced himself down and rushed to find Eric.

"Eric! Message from Bergan!" the messenger announced with deep breaths once he'd reach the office.

"I've sent several messengers to inform Bergan. Tell me, why are you the only one who'd return?" Eric asked calmly as he eyed the messenger that remained alone without his earlier companions.

"… he was unhappy with the news. H-he told me that if I was unable to deliver the message, my family will get nothing when I die. Please tell him that I've made it, at least, Eric. I beg of you."

"Of course." Eric eyed the messenger with a frown. "But the chances that you've actually been affected by Bergan's Toxic Touch truly depends. Sometimes he merely threatens people so they work themselves to death…"

"Does that mean that I'm not going to die, sir?"

"Or that he did poison you, and is just waiting for a more opportune time to kill you." Eric smiled icily. "Now tell me… what did he say? He's coming back at once, isn't he?"

Whenever there was bad news, it was far more common to send more than one messenger so that at least one was able to return alive to deliver the news.

The messenger who arrived looked sick to death, but compared to Eric, the man was not injured physically.

Even though Eric had survived the explosion, it did not mean that he was completely free from any injuries whatsoever.

"I… you're not going to like the news." The messenger took a deep breath.

***

"Unacceptable!" Eric was red-faced and glared at the remaining members of the Bergan's Band. "Not one survived inside the vault?Surely, there is one who can tell me anything they've seen. Anything suspicious at all?"

"I-it was an attack by a rune beast, Eric. I don't think there was anything suspicious except for that!"

"Hah!" Eric laughed hysterically and slammed his hand on one of the nearby tables. "Think hard you fools. This isn't only for my sake but everyone else's as well. Bergan is furious beyond relief and if we do not have even a scrounge of information, you might as well all join our members who were devoured by that beast."

It was enough to shake up the entire Bergan's Band as they started to panic even further. Although a lot of them were exhausted and injured, the knowledge that Bergan was about to arrive made them frightened.

"Uh, uh what about other mercenaries not from Bergan's Band? They might have some information or are the ones behind it, Eric."

"And where is the list that compiled every single mercenary that was nearby then?! If I don't have it in my hands in the next couple of minutes, we won't even have to wait for Bergan to arrive. I'll be the one punishing all of you for our failures." Eric barked.

All of the mercenaries quickly glanced at each other restlessly, until a smarter mercenary quickly moved forward with a document in hand.

"This was from the guards, Eric! Every mercenary that has visited for the last few days are here, even the ones who left the city today or the ones still remaining."

"Good." Eric narrowed his eyes as he accepted the paper. "If one of you recognizes these people, let everyone know and inform us of their credibility. Now this one is a team from Etara's Cross, the members are as followed…"

Even though it was clear that many mercenaries would leave Cutlass city after experiencing a dangerous earthquake and rune beast within the city, Eric didn't falter and hoped that one of them would turn out suspicious or had gifts that might allow them to control the rune beast.

"Gellor and his Muscle Strengthening, Finch with Flame Touch, Albus and his Crane Legs, Barty with Air Vortex and two new additional mercenaries." Eric read aloud with a deep frown. "Kristine with Stone Shooter, and Lucius with a Fireball gift."

This had been one of the latest team that had arrived and Eric crumpled up the paper and threw it away.

"This is all useless! None of the mercenaries would ever attest to being related to the beast attack nor would they have any gifts concerning it. I want someone to check the vicinity of the vaults."

"But the area is quite unstable, Eric. We've tried to discourage people from coming lest they fall into the tunnels of that beast."

"We're waiting for a group of builders to arrive and fix it with their gifts. Maybe we'll be able to repair it even before Bergan arrives and he wouldn't get as upset."

Eric laughed and then glared at one of the members.

"Do you want to cover any possible evidence we might find there? Hold off the builders and have several people with gifts that allow them to fly temporarily or with steady footing to search and scrounge for clues. Searching the mercenaries is useless, we'll work with what we can with the environment."

That was what Eric could do for now, search for any other avenues.

"Others check the rune beast records or find a Rune Beast Master that might help us identify what attacked us. We're looking for even the smallest information."

Meanwhile, as this all happened, a single Lost Bore Shrew was hidden in the Bergan's hall and observed everything for Lucius.

Even though Lucius was not physically present, he wanted all the information that he could gather and it helped him make a decision as he and everyone stayed at the hill nearby Cutlass city.

"We'll be leaving Aisse territory tomorrow morning." Lucius informed Gellor and his group. "Let's make a quick return to Inanis City."