Epic Of The Demonic Sage

After hearing those words from Viscountess Blackshield, Lucius immediately smiled and saw a chance to say what he wanted to from the start.

"If you find everything so tedious nowadays, Viscountess Blackshield, what do you think of having a spar with me?" Lucius asked.

Viscountess Blackshield raised a brow at the young man's sudden words. She tilted her head slightly as her lips pressed down into a thin line.

'I am almost unsure if this young man is joking with me, but he has been honest and straightforward, so it has to be the truth.'

"It will be a chance to alleviate the feeling of boredom that you speak of, Viscountess Blackshield," Lucius continued in her silence. "I know that I am not my father, Count Gabriel, with his incredible gift and swordsmanship, but I also did participate in the war against Gisir and the battle against Viscount Drew. I can assure you that the battle will at least be entertaining for you."

It was easy to presume that Viscountess Blackshield's silence was her gauging Young Lord Asher and trying to assess whether or not he would actually be worth fighting with, hence why Lucius said those things in order to convince her.

"I am not underestimating your battle prowess, Young Lord Asher. On the contrary, I have heard of your story as well and know that you are a capable young man who is excellent with swordsmanship and received a gift from His Majesty of Grantz due to your valor… additionally you wouldn't have been able to survive an assassin if you were not quick on your feet and your mind either," Viscountess Blackshield said with a measured tone.

"Then does that mean that you are hesitating, Viscountess Blackshield?" Lucius asked next. "It will not be much of a spar if I do not use my natural skills to my advantage. In fact, it makes more sense that I be wary of you Viscountess, since you have an incredible gift, whereas I did not inherit mine from my father as most of the nobility already know."

Viscountess Blackshield's lips quirked at his words.

'Indeed. He knows about my gifts and also knows his own lack of innate gift and yet still seems to continue to wish to spar with me. He is being quite odd, but that is not even the oddest thing out of them all. This desire to fight me is…'

Viscountess Blackshield cleared her throat. "It is no spar if one's natural aptitude is forgotten, Young Lord Asher. Of course, it is also possible to set out rules in a spar and ensure that it most friendly and no one is hurt…"

"Or we can simply have healers come and station themselves. I understand that you have a penchant for violence and I will not be deterred by such a thing, Viscountess Blackshield. Some will take for a more friendly match to ensure fewer injuries, but the two of us can afford to truly go for that rush of a battle that you are aiming for," Lucius said. "We can discuss more rules at a later date, but I am quite open to it being blood pumping."

"Young Lord Asher, I truly appreciate that you would come and offer these things for me and yet there is one thing that continues to boggle me," Viscountess Blackshield said.

"And what is it, Viscountess?" Lucius raised a brow.

'I have already tackled my lack of a gift and not being bothered if she uses hers and for it to be a far more deadlier match so that it will not be boring has also been stated. What else would make someone like her hesitate if she truly lives for the thrill of violence and bloodshed?'

"Do you… do you not find it offensive to fight a woman?" Viscountess Blackshield asked.

"Ah, that is quite simple, Viscountess." Lucius chuckled, a bit in disbelief that this was what had bothered the Viscountess all this time, but he was happy to assuage her problems at once. "I believe everyone is equal in war. Men and women can fight as they please. I see no issue in fighting you at all, Viscountess. I truly hope that you do not have any hesitations with it as well."

'It only occurred to me at this moment that of course, she would have some qualms about this. I've seen Ariana and Finch fight together alongside Gellor and the rest of his team that I was under the impression that fights between men and women are common, but it seems that the traditional standards remain still in this world.' Lucius thought.

In his past world, there were still some reservations among other groups that didn't quite go away, but the Great Barrom Clan was a place where one's gender did not even affect one's expectations for battle. Men and women, were all the same to Lucius and you couldn't go softer for one and harsher for the other.

Viscountess Blackshield's eyes widened at his reply, before she finally let out a laugh. Everyone who was paying attention in the banquet found themselves in shock to see the Viscountess react in such a way.

It was a rare thing for her to laugh and not many were able to witness it.

Lucius himself was satisfied with the reaction because it meant that he finally managed to get the response that he had been waiting for.

Viscountess Blackshield's expression lightened up and a fire lit up in her eyes.

"Very well, if that is the case, then I see no more reason to turn down your proposition, Young Lord Asher. You have tackled my reservation and also spoken of other things in length already. I've already heard of your skills and it will be good to test them, that much I am excited for."

"Thank you, Viscountess Blackshield," Lucius said. "You honor me a great deal by saying such things. When do you think is the most appropriate date for us to set our spar then? What is your current schedule like, Viscountess?"

"Why not spar right away? Right now?"