Epic Of The Demonic Sage

"Really, Asher?"

"Yes."

Lucius did not make much efforts to speak with Bordeaux during the time that the man was willing to speak with him.

'Even if he says that he was willing to speak with me during that time, it is actually likely that he could be speaking lies and I will not have anything to prove the validity of his statements. And while I do have the Soul Scry spell which I could have used to thoroughly search him prior… with his body and brain still intact, I can also do this.' Lucius thought.

There was a link between Lucius and all of the Lost that he had made. It was easy for him to read their motivations, feelings and instincts and for someone like Bordeaux, it was also possible to search through his memories.

'Or at least whatever has survived during the transformation process.'

If there was no retention of basic instincts and even some memories, it was impossible for a Lost to be able to stand up, fight and perform their tasks.

And now, Lucius searched through Bordeaux's remaining memories.

***

"Ahahaha! Is that all the best that you can do, master?" Bordeaux let out a loud boisterous laugh as he eyed the man in front of him.

It was a bald man, wearing a unique set of clothes compared to those of Bordeaux's peers who watched them from the corner of his vision.

The bald man shook his head and merely rose to his feet. The land that they were in was something across a desert, it was hot and dry, with the sun beating harshly across their back.

Bordeaux's sweat dripped down his face but the mad grin on his face couldn't be wiped out despite the sweltering heat.

"Perhaps the student has already outgrown his teacher… is what I wish to say but you are only giving me lip service."

"Tch. This has gotten boring. You've got nothing to teach me now, old bastard." Bordeaux's face morphed into disgust as he threw his sword into the ground.

It clanged loudly in the training floor.

"Well, you're the one who learned the curriculum that I've prepared for years and finished it in a couple of months." An old man with a beard grunted. A greatsword rested on his shoulder. "So if you've got anyone to blame, blame yourself. If you've got nothing better to do, pick up your sword and leave. I have other students to teach."

"Yeah? Well, good riddance!"

A couple more memories flickered into Bordeaux's thoughts, each one traveling to different locations and learning from various masters. Whenever he finished training from one, he would move on and find another.

"Ahaha! Did you really think you could defeat me?" Bordeaux's fists were bloody as he beat up one of his companions.

"Enough! Sir Bordeaux, stand your ground or…"

"Or what? I'll kill you too if you try and stop me! I won't hesitate!" Bordeaux glared daggers at everyone who looked at him. "Come on! Anyone wants to test their luck? I don't need swords or any fancy Gift."

A chair crashed into the back of Bordeaux's head. A couple of drunk and angry mercenaries filled the tavern and were fighting.

Bordeaux threw his tankard into the ground and his eyes glinted. The rest of the mercenaries were too drunk to realize it until they pummeled into the ground and their heads were bashed in.

"Ahaha! I was trying to keep my head low but I keep getting dragged into fights! This must be fate! Ahaha, what's with that look on your face? You started it and I'm just returning the favor!"

Bordeaux stopped for a moment and glanced at the poor bastard's bashed head. No amount of guilt was on his face, instead, he noticed the golden necklace on the man's neck.

"Huh… this is some artifact, isn't it?" Bordeaux hummed and then glanced over his shoulders at the rest of the bodies that littered across the floor on the tavern.

A wide grin crawled on his face before he bursted into laughter. He recklessly smacked a table hard and despite his palm turning red, he continued to chuckle.

"Ahahhaa! I should have done this ages ago!" Bordeaux turned to the cowering innkeeper hidden underneath the bar area. "Fill up my tankard and I'll let you live! I've got bodies to loot! Actually, you know a good place to get more artifacts? These mercenaries probably don't have anything good on them."

When the innkeeper shakily filled up his tankard and gave Bordeaux directions to the nearest merchants to steal from, a smile curled on his face and he patted the man's head affectionately like a dog's.

"Good. Good. Have to leave this place once I finished…" Bordeaux drank up his ale and tossed it into the ground. He lazily looted the bodies, and even picked up a nice dagger that he liked. He reached the door of the tavern, and the innkeeper quivered in his place.

"… I changed my mind though."

***

All of the memories flashed through Lucius's head so quickly that Kiana looked at him curiously and was waiting for the man to respond.

"Bordeaux truly was a man who simply did he what wanted. And he has trained himself through various martial arts and masters." Lucius murmured. "As for the artifacts that he has with him, most of them were from the victims he killed and looted from. He is a powerful man, and now he will lend us his strength to achieve our goals without us worrying about his allegiance."

"I see…" Kiana sighed softly and relaxed a little. Even though she was nervous from the sight of the new Lost, she had more confidence in Asher's words and was once again reminded of why she swore fealty to him.

'If there is anyone in this world who can do the impossible then it is Asher alone. No matter how talented or powerful Bordeaux previously was, all of that raw strength was nothing in the face of Asher's ability and skill. There is nothing for me to worry about.'

"Shall we return back to the mansion, Kiana? I am sure that the others will be looking for us."