Lieutenant John smiled and felt immensely grateful towards Asher, so when the Young Lord extended his hand for a shake, he quickly shook the man's hand.
There was a quick, numb feeling that passed, but overall, it ended so quickly that Lieutenant John imagined that it was nothing.
To him, it was an incredible thing that someone as young as the Lord Asher would feel like someone advanced in his years right now.
As they finished up their dinner, Kiana soon returned with a couple of items in tow.
"Good evening. I have done as you asked, Asher." Kiana said with a smile, and glanced over at Lieutenant John. "It is good to see that you are feeling better too, Sir John."
"Ah, we've discussed much, Young Lord Asher and I." Lieutenant John said, slightly embarrassed.
"That's great. I have already talked with the nearest innkeeper, Asher. A room is already available." Kiana said.
"Thank you. Shall we get going now, Lieutenant John?"
Meanwhile, within the famous restaurant in Inanis City, there was the presence of two people that Lucius both knew.
The first was Sir Cambrian, the weapon shop owner and a noble, who was seated and having dinner with Finch.
After the time that Finch was discovered by Sir Cambrian's wife, the relationship between the two had changed a little, and so it was with great effort that Sir Cambrian brought Finch to restaurants to treat her.
"Finch? Did you listen to what I've said?"
"Hmmm?" Finch lowered her wine glass down and glanced at Sir Cambrian. "What was that you said? Something about Viscountess Blackshield, right?"
"Yes, I've said something about that." Sir Cambrian nodded. "I was mostly asking about what you've done recently. It's been a while since the two of us had gotten a chance to meet together."
Finch smiled a little tired, but then shrugged a little helplessly. Compared to when she was out with other people who knew her, the Finch with Sir Cambrian was a lot more relaxed and less stressed with expressing what was on her mind.
"Ariana has been starting to see someone I think, but for the life of me, I don't know if it's Barty or Albus. My intuition says it's Albus, but it could be Barty, since that guy is a little sneaky when given the chance."
"Hmm, the members of your team…" Sir Cambrian noted. "Why do you not think that it's someone outside of your group? That is also possible."
"It's just better to meet with someone around the same line of your work." Finch said. "That means that the two of you will get to see each other more frequently."
Sir Cambrian was about to say something in response to Finch's words but then noticed the presence of the two men.
"Hah. I think we should pay respect to the Lord Inanis." Sir Cambrian said.
"Lord Inanis?" Finch's expression suddenly shifted slightly and she looked up expectantly at the Young Lord, Miss Kiana and Lieutenant John.
"Ah, Sir Cambrian, Miss Finch. A good evening to the two of you." Lucius momentarily greeted alongside Lieutenant John.
Lucius didn't expect that he'd see the two together, but then he really didn't care much for the lives of his hire unless it was related to their work.
Kiana and Lieutenant John also paid their greetings, but it was Young Lord Asher whom the people wanted to talk to.
"I did not expect that the busy Young Lord would have time to get out at all." Sir Cambrian greeted with a chuckle. "It's been a while since we've seen each other."
"Indeed, it has been. Unfortunately, I have something of an important matter to discuss with Lieutenant John." Lucius said respectfully. "And ah, Miss Finch. Perhaps around this time this week, please inform Gellor to come visit our residence. There are some things that I would like to discuss with him and your group."
"O-of course, Young Lord Asher." Finch nodded. "Please have a good evening to all of you."
***
Once they've ended their festivities and made their way to the private inn, Lucius allowed himself to prepare the materials for the evolution of John's gift.
'I could have done the upgrading of the gift at the Inanis Mansion, but with Viscountess Blackshield's presence over there, I cannot risk myself revealing this gift of mine unless I were certain of her allegiances.' Lucius thought.
Instead, Sir John and Kiana stayed inside the inn and looked at the materials with a mesmerized look.
"20 Aether Crystals, 800mL of Quicksilver and 3 Mist Veil Rune Crystals." Lucius said underneath his breath.
Even though Sir John witnessed the items laid out before him, Lucius didn't have any issues with it and knew that the man was under his control.
While Lucius originally kept his methods a secret from Arius and his companions, the same was not the case for Gellor and now Sir John.
Although, John was actually still confused about what was about to happen.
"Why is… he laying out all of these materials? What is the purpose of this?" Sir John asked with a hint of concern. "I have no knowledge of artifact building, which I heard is something that Asher is doing while training under an Artificer, but this feels a bit different."
Lucius's ears pricked up a little at the mention of the Artificer. Even though Sir John and Alessa's presence was missing from the Inanis Mansion frequently, the same could not be said for their eyes and ears.
'I wonder who told them about it? The Count? The Countess? Both are possible.' Lucius thought, but then he cleared his throat and offered the man a smile.
"This is how I have chosen to help you, Lieutenant John. While it has come to your understanding that I am Giftless, the truth is that I was blessed to have a Gift." Lucius said.
Lieutenant John reacted in the same way that the others in the past have done, with shock, surprise and then joy for Asher.
It was nothing new, but soon enough, the evolution of John's gift came.
Gift Name: Counter Mirror
Description: Can create mirrors which can reflect attacks. the effectiveness depends on the strength of the attack and the consumption of Aether will vary accordingly.
Rank: Epic
Type: Physical/Transmutation
Evolution: Possible
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