Chapter 49 Reward?

Lucas was left alone, Robert had gone to his father while Liam was with Venion. He didn't feel safe now that his companions were gone. Especially Liam, he trusted him, but Venion wouldn't mind torturing a child to perform some experiments. What wouldn't he do to an adult to get some information? Trying to stop him from making contact would only attract more attention.

If Venion did figure something out from their conversation he could get in trouble. Running away wasn't really an option though, if he simply sneaked out of this place, assassins would be sent after him. He was a mage who could use dark magic, meaning another mage must've taught him. If he leaked from where he got it both the baron and Venion would get in trouble. They needed him dead or completely hidden. Besides, the contract is still in effect, if he ever came into contact with the baron again or one of his descendants he would be chained down again. Simply running away wouldn't work in the long run. Having a death sentence chasing you around wasn't something that Lucas wanted.

If he went to the mine and made it as if he perished in the mine, it wouldn't work as well. The contract is between two beings, the baron would feel the contract break if he died. Things would work out if he could destroy the contract while in the mine, but there wasn't any kind of timer. It existed as long as the baron and his descendants do.

'We need to get out of here'

'No shit, everything is almost in place, we just need to start the fuse.'

He couldn't just go to the baron and ask that he goes to the final mine just because he wants to. That would seem a bit strange. Either way, Lucas would find a way to leave the mansion. He would be leaving behind this part of his life. While he should've been in a hurry, he also wanted to take his time reminiscing about what he had done here. He was still quite young, around 13 to 14 years old. Looking back on your past would occur in a later stage of life, but Lucas had been through enough life-threatening situations to experience those feelings already.

He had always been someone to enjoy a walk, so he started to stroll through the mansion, passing the training ground. He thought back on his training and the potions he needed to consume. And while those potions did hurt immensely and had a pretty bitter taste, they helped him develop to impossible standards for his age. He already had the muscle strength of an adult, even though he was still a bit short. Lucas believed he would grow up while continuing his training, as he grew to like those moments more than everything.

He entered the library again, most of the books he had already read. Dust had gathered again. He couldn't help but smile while he grabbed the broom from the corner. He cleaned it up for a final time, enjoying the process. It wasn't special, it was normal, but that gave him a feeling of peace. He could've led such a life, but he had chosen something else. He wanted to become one of if not the most powerful mage out there. He had set his mind on the peak and nothing else. Seeing what power could get you and how everyone around you would bow just because of your strength made him desire it even more.

He visited his shack again and picked a new set of clothes that Liam had gifted to him. 'You can do this, let's go.', he was so excited he couldn't hold his hands still and adrenaline flowed through his veins.

He went to the baron's office and knocked three times on the door. The door opened slightly to reveal a girl in a maid outfit, once she realized who he was she closed the door again.

Not long after the door opened completely, "You may come inside.", the maid was fulfilling her duty diligently. He would be leaving those people as well, 'I'm sorry.'

'No you're not, don't try to hide it', he thought before going inside. "Why have you come to me, Lucas? This is the first time you visited me without a calling."

"Excuse me for interrupting your work, but I wanted to propose something if that's alright with you."

The baron had a pondering look on his face but went ahead to hear whatever Lucas had to say. After all, he was an obedient slave in his eyes, so he knew that Lucas would never hurt him. "I would like to revoke my precious reward and change it with something else."

"Oh, that's fine with me, I haven't sent the request to the treasurer anyway, what would you like?"

"I would like a tome that contains the next sets of runes for all the elements, besides dark of course.", the baron's somewhat good mood was immediately ruined. Venion warned him that the stronger Lucas became the harder it would become to control him.

"I would like to get this so that I may protect the lineage for years to come. With my enhanced magic, I would be capable of helping out in the mines, or in agriculture."

'Hmm I guess that would be useful, but I also need to pay for an entirely new platoon as well. And if gets too powerful he would be harder to control. Though I do wonder what Venion meant with that. If it means he can deny certain things I guess it's not that bad.'

"My lord, as proof that it is worth the investment I would like to show you what I can do with the sets of runes I have now. I would like to clear the final mine alone."

"Are you sure? That mine is the biggest one that's infested with tons of monsters.", but the baron was starting to become convinced, that if Lucas could kill so many monsters alone with the first sets of runes, what could he accomplish with even more powerful runes? 'He might even play a part in the war, that would boost my position even more.'

"I'm confident in my skills my lord. Give me a few days and I'll show you the desired results."