The Bookstore Mage

Seeing the confused expression Lucien was making, Ian hastily explained.

"My father was also a mage, a gold-ranked Apprentice. He was the one that thought me everything I know."

Lucien nodded as he waited for him to continue with his explanation.

Ian took a deep breath as his face twisted into a mixture of pain and rage before he spoke:

"Two years ago, my father was supposed to go explore a newly opened dimension with my uncle who is a bronze-ranked Apprentice. The only one that came back was my uncle, he had all of my father's items on him, and the first thing he did was confiscate our mansion."

Lucien frowned, something about this story felt wrong. Still, he didn't know what it was so he remained silent.

"All of my father's research and spells are hidden in the mansion, I'm sure that's why my uncle took over it, but he doesn't know where they are hidden."

"And you know?" Lucien asked to which Ian hastily replied:

"Yes! I-I used to help father with his spells and experiments, my uncle doesn't know where the lab is located at."

"But there's only so many places it could be hidden, besides didn't you say he took over the mansion two years ago? Doesn't that mean there's the possibility that he already found it?"

Ian firmly shook his head and answered:

"He can't, even if he did find it there's no way he could open the door. Only father and I know the way."

"Huh, and so you want me to help you kill your uncle because..."

"Because he killed my father!" Ian's eyes were bloodshot as he cried out. The rage was evident in his gaze which surprised Lucien since his initial impression of the young man was that of a shy and naive mage.

"A-Ah, I'm sorry... I still get agitated every time I think of the past. M-My uncle was always jealous of my father's progress. He was the one that invited him to explore that realm."

"Hmm," Lucien nodded and fell into deep thought.

Ian did not appear to be lying, or so his instincts told him. Still, something was wrong with the whole situation, he just couldn't put his finger on it just yet.

"W-Will you please, help me avenge my father?" Ian pleaded with a pitiful expression.

Lucien stared deep into his eyes causing the young mage to flinch and lower his gaze.

"Ian."

"Y-Yes!"

"Are you asking me to kill your uncle for the sake of your revenge or the sake of this laboratory?" Lucien asked with a serious expression, his eyes seemed to shine with a dangerous hue as he gazed at Ian.

"I-I..." The young mage's mouth opened and closed for a few seconds as a blank expression took over his face.

Lucien nodded and replied:

"I see, that answers my question."

"N-No!" Ian suddenly shouted causing Lucien to raise his brow.

"Oh, what no? Do you mean to tell me you are asking me to do this out of filial piety?"

"I-" Before he could answer, Lucien, replied with a cold expression, his entire aura changed as he glared at Ian and continued:

"Don't lie to me, Ian."

The young mage suddenly turned silent under Lucien's pressure. He nervously gulped and tried to say something, but he couldn't.

A sigh escaped Lucien's mouth as he shook his head. He would be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed. After all, he had a good impression of the young mage since the first time they met. Now, however, he was inwardly feeling conflicted.

"T-That's true... My father and I fell off shortly before his trip to the other dimension." Ian's temperament suddenly turned calm and solemn as he continued:

"We got into an agreement concerning certain methods he implemented, and we parted on not-so-pleasant terms. Shortly after that, he went on that expedition with my uncle and never returned."

Lucien's expression remained passive as he listened to Ian. He could tell that the young man was not lying this time. Though if he was telling the whole truth, was another matter. What he was mostly curious about was the magical contract.

He knew that it was legit, and he had read its terms. But even so, Ian still managed to bypass it and hide certain information from him. It seemed like even the contract had some loopholes that could be exploited.

"What is the research about, that you are willing to go this far?"

Ian bit his lips and hesitated for a few seconds before he clenched his fists and spoke:

"M-My father was the first to discover that strange language in the spell that I gave you. I-I have a few other similar ones..."

"Ah, so that's why you didn't mind leaving it with me," Lucien nodded in understanting. The young man before him was not as naive and trusting as he expected, no, the naive one was him.

He had been had. 'Well, I'll be damned. I was stupid,' he inwardly cursed and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Ah, n-no, that's-"

"Just stop, continue with your story."

Ian nervously gulped and spoke: "...Before I left, there was a certain ancient spell that caused problems between me and my father, we managed to decipher certain parts of it, and it was a summoning spell..."

Lucien's brows raised at the revelation. He didn't know why, but his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He tried not to show it on his face, however, and continued staring at Ian with an emotionless gaze.

"I-I want to try that spell."

"I see, you should take your leave now."

"Ah?"

"I'll contact you later with my answer."

"B-But-" Ian was about to argue when a chill suddenly ran down his spine. The eyes of the man sitting in front of him turned incredibly cold causing a shiver to run down his spine. A pressure unlike any he had felt before descended on him forcing him to lower his head with a whimper.

"You were saying?"

"N-Nothing! I-I'll leave!"

"Good." the pressure receded and Ian hastily grabbed the remnant soul and ran out of the bookstore, nearly tripping in the process.

Once he was alone, Lucien leaned back in the chair and sighed. His fist slammed on the counter as a curse escaped his lips.

"F*ck!"

He was too trusting, too naive. And here he thought he was being smart, yet he still got played like a fiddle.

"Tam."

The fairy suddenly appeared by his side.

"My lord."

"What do you think?"

"The little human was still hiding something."

"Yes, I thought so as well. I still can't believe I didn't sense anything was wrong the first time he came."