Epic Of The Demonic Sage

Later that evening, a carriage arrived at the Inanis mansion. An old priest went inside and carried a box with him.

Upon his entry, he was greeted none other than the servants but also by Lord Asher, Kiana along with the Count and Countess.

"Young Lord Asher, it has been so long since we have seen each other." Priest Maleck greeted Lucius once he arrived at the Inanis mansion.

"Indeed it has been. I hope you have been well." Lucius replied. The last time that they have been together was already quite a long time as Lucius took care of other matters of precedence.

Now Lucius had the opportunity to focus on it again.

"Etara has blessed me and this land." Priest Maleck said. "I had heard news of trouble, so I am relieved that Etara has also shielded you from danger, Young Lord."

Lucius smiled tightly but then nodded.

"Shall we proceed?"

All the members of the Inanis family and Priest Maleck headed towards the Count's study for privacy and away from the eyes of servants and guards alike.

Even the Black Rose Knights were not informed of this meeting and had been distracted by Captain Donald in the barracks to keep the news from being spread or notice.

Once they were in the study, Priest Maleck took off the lid of the box. In it were several crystals, each one of a different quality and luster than the other.

'Somehow each one seems quite high grade on its own, but there is a certain change.' Lucius noted silently.

"Priest Maleck, I presume that this is a different method of appraising gifts?" Lucius asked.

He had remembered when Kiana and him privately went to the church of Etara in the city and had witnessed the appraisal ceremony and Lucius's private one that used an extraordinary artifact.

The details were still vivid in Lucius's mind.

Artifact Name: Appraisal Sphere of Etara

Artifact Grade: Legendary

Description: The Appraisal sphere can scan the gift of a person and compare it with the stored information in the grand repository of Etara, displaying the name of the gift. The artifact can only tell names of gifts that have already been in existence and all new gifts need to be recorded before it can show any information.

Evolution: Possible

"Unfortunately, I could not bring the Appraisal Sphere of Etara, even for you, Young Lord Asher. Forgive me Count and Countess Inanis, the grand cathedral had strict orders on what type of appraisals can be done in private away from the church itself." Priest Maleck explained.

"How is this different from the Appraisal Sphere of Etara? The accuracy of that Legendary artifact cannot be compared to… rune crystals?" Count Gabriel noted with a clipped tone.

"Do not worry about the accuracy, Count Inanis. The artificer's guild has worked with grand respository of Etara to create appraisal crystals. Each one is still blessed with the same ability as the Appraisal Sphere." Priest Maleck said as he picked up another heavy book and placed it on the table.

Priest Maleck and Lord Asher had already done this before, and it declared Lord Asher's gift as unique and unlike anything in this world as it had not been recorded prior, but perhaps time has changed it?

There were countless of appraisal halls around the world for people to discover their gifts. What were the chances that someone else might have gotten a similar or exact same gift as Asher's?

While not exactly privy to Priest Maleck's thoughts, Lucius became surprised when the priest picked up a chalk and apologized to the Count before drawing on the table that encircled the book that contained gifts alongside the crystal.

Priest Maleck's methods were not necessarily foreign to Lucius as he knew how important conduits were. With the lack of a legendary artifact, Priest Maleck stuck to what was available.

"To begin, please place your hand on the crystal, Young Lord Asher." Priest Maleck said. "And infuse it with your Aether, or activate your gift."

"Of course." Lucius said.

Count Gabriel and Countess Lita watched with bated breaths as their son placed his hand on the crystal and infused it with his Aether.

The crystal remained lifeless and it made everyone except Lucius blink. Priest Maleck bowed his head profusely.

"It seems that this crystal is not working or it cannot measure the Young Lord's gift. Allow me to use this one." Out of all the carefully arranged crystals, Priest Maleck chose the largest and most beautiful one next.

It had to be far more expensive than the two rune crystals that was used in the Appraisal Sphere of Etara, however Lucius and everyone said not a word.

Price was not an issue here.

Lucius then placed his hand on the crystal. This time, he chose to activate the Nexus gift and suddenly the crystal burned into a brilliant white light that plunged into everyone's senses.

Count Gabriel and Countess Lita shielded their eyes alongside Kiana, while Priest Maleck practically collapsed on the floor and was in shock of what happened.

Only Lucius stood unflinching.

"This light… its pure white brilliance." Priest Maleck stammered and was unable to process it for a moment. To him it emitted a holy light and once the light vanished fully, the crystal which Asher held shattered into multiple pieces.

"What was that?" Kiana rubbed her eyes. This hadn't happened during their last appraisal and she didn't know what it meant.

However, Priest Maleck didn't answer. Instead, his face became flushed, his eyes dilated wildly as if he was seeing something that the other four couldn't see.

It was a divine calling from none other than Ettara herself!

Priest Maleck knew it in his bones and it all happened because of his appraisal of Young Lord Asher's gift.

Priest Maleck quickly made his way to Lord Asher and then promptly fell on his knees. He could have bowed his head, but in that moment, he only had eyes for Lord Asher alone.

"I once again devote my life to Etara… and her chosen apostle, Young Lord Asher Inanis!"