Epic Of The Demonic Sage

Lucius didn't think that the idiom was something used in this world, but back in his old world, it was said to warn against someone waking up a matter that they were unprepared to deal with.

The Black Rose Knight was afforded certain privileges because of his station and relation to the King of Grantz, but if the man tested Lucius's nerves too much, then he wasn't completely safe.

An unfortunate accident coming across this Black Rose Knight would be something he might encounter.

Luckily for the Black Rose Knight, Count Gabriel Inanis descended down from the staircase bearing the authority and air befitting of his status.

"Gentlemen, my son has only returned from the safe house and though I appreciate all of you checking on his condition, it is also important that he be given some time to catch his breath and relax. Save your questions for later."

"O-of course, Count Inanis! Pardon me for my manners. It is simply a matter that deeply concerns His Majesty that I sometimes can't help but forget matters such as this one." The Black Rose Knight bowed respectfully. "My apologies to you as well, Lord Asher. I hope that you will forgive me for my impudence."

"Your apology is accepted." Lucius said with a tight smile before he joined the Count up the stairs and headed for the man's office.

Kiana quickly went after him and left the Black Rose Knights by themselves. When they arrived at the office, Lucius was surprised to see the Countess also there.

"Asher, welcome home!" Countess Lita stood up eagerly and hugged her son tightly. "I've missed you so dearly. I would have come checked on you myself if you hadn't insisted on returning today instead."

It made sense that Countess Lita would not go on any trips because she had wanted to see Asher right away.

Both Lucius and Kiana had been away for nearly two weeks, and it must have worried them greatly not being able to check on Asher's whereabouts and conditions, even with Kiana around.

"I am good, mother. It's been awhile indeed." Lucius greeted with a nod and turned to his father who had taken a seat at his desk table. "I've come bearing good news."

"Yes, I take it that the mission has been a success?" Count Gabriel asked.

"We would not return if that hadn't been the case." Lucius said.

Those words nearly made Countess Lita's eyes bulge, but Count Gabriel only laughed and nodded his head. "That makes perfect sense! Tell me more about the details. We'd like to hear everything that transpired, spare nothing from our ears."

"We've reached the Aisse Territory and it took us several days to get there, primarily a week or so, and we took an unofficial path initially to get to the location of the Plow Worms." Lucius said.

"Right, the Plow Worms." Count Gabriel remembered it alongside Countess Lita. "How did it go? Did you encounter anything else while along the way? If all of you took the unofficial route, those areas are less secure than the ones patrolled by the guards."

"We fought some Long Claw Wolves in a forest that night, but other than that, the journey was mostly uneventful, Count Gabriel." Kiana said. "Gellor's team performed their duties well. They had saved Asher during an encounter with a Plow Worm."

"Saved Asher? What happened?" Countess Lita's creased in worry.

"The Plow Worm's territory is riddled with a lot of holes and uneven ground. And of them… well, there was a Plow Worm that caused an tremor that split the ground while Asher took care of it." Kiana said. She knew that the Count and Countess didn't know of Asher's gift so she tried to be brief.

However, it only made them all the more curious.

"I did hear of your plan on using the Rune Beasts to get vengeance against the Bergan's Band, but I do not understand how approaching a Plow Worm had done it. Did you learn something from the Kain? He is a Beast Master, although he was originally here to tutor you on relearning things." Count Gabriel murmured.

The last time that Asher and the Count had met, he didn't ask a lot of details and simply allowed his son to do what he wanted, but now that Asher returned, the curiosity was palpable for both the Count and Countess.

"The reason for that is because I have a gift, mother and father." Lucius said.

The two parents stared at Asher for a heartbeat before surprise and shock washed over their faces. Countess Lita nearly lost her balance while she stood and Count Gabriel's brows furrowed together, unsure if he had heard correctly.

Kiana mostly retained a neutral expression, but she was excited that Asher was finally sharing it to his parents. It was about time that they knew how incredible Asher was.

"A gift?" Countess Lita said. "You… you have gained a gift?"

"And it is related to Rune Beasts?" Count Gabriel said.

"It is a gift that allows me to compel other beings into following me." Lucius said with an even expression. "It is why I had needed to touch the Plow Worm to make it follow my command to destroy the Bergan's Band vaults and cause chaos there."

"Compel?" Countess Lita blinked.

"Allowing beings? Not merely rune beasts but even people as well?" Count Gabriel glanced at his wife.

The two of them had loved and protected Asher all of their life since they discovered that he was giftless, and now that they heard that he had discovered a gift at his age brought them into a state of confusion.

It wasn't so easy to accept.

"Yes, it's a gift that I've only recently discovered. Etara must have truly blessed me and given me a second chance for living." Lucius lied. "The reason why I haven't told anyone was the fact that it's easier to hide my gifts so that people will underestimate me. I've learned how to control my gift better, so now I can finally share it with the two of you."

The couple glanced at each other and made up their minds. "We have a small request, Asher."