Chapter 3 - The Demonologist
Evan slowly descended to the lowest floor of the building. Thanks to Trevor's memories, he knew several exits from the prison, but now he could just walk out the main entrance.
"It only takes one little impulse for people to start total chaos." Evan muttered quietly, watching the prison riot.
Abigail`s killing took Evan a long time. But there were still screams and sounds of battle everywhere.
Step. Step. Step
Evan paced quietly through the main square of the prison. There was constant fighting and killing all around him. The whole ground was drenched in blood. That day the prisoners made a living hell there, just because of one spark in the form of Evan.
Thunder.
At the end of the whole picture, there was a sudden heavy downpour with raging thunder and lightning.
Evan was in no hurry at all. He walked slowly toward the exit, not paying attention to what was going on around him. Evan was completely calm and didn't worry that the chaos around could affect him somehow.
He tried to make sense of the memories of two people at once and, also with what happened after Aron's murder.
<So many memories... By the way, what kind of Sin is the Pride?> Evan didn't understand how he had healed all his wounds in an instant. In addition, he had become strong enough to kill Aron with a single blow. Then he realized one simple thing.
<In my past life, I wasn't strong enough. I couldn't change the whole world because I was too weak... This time, I won't make the same mistake.>
Evan was one of the strongest people in his past world, but it wasn't enough. Eventually, many organizations had united and captured him, after which he was executed.
...
Evan left the prison through the main entrance and walked along the narrow, stone road.
He knew that very soon, special people would arrive at the prison and quickly put down the riot. By the time they did it, Evan would be long gone.
The closest town was Snowflower City, but it was run by Abigail's family. So it wasn't the best choice. If word got out what Evan had done, he wouldn't live long.
From Trevor's memories, Evan knew the location of another city, Aerilon.
Aerilon was much farther away than Snowflower City, but it was a safe and quiet place. It was just what Evan needed.
All the way Evan pondered his current situation and what he should do next.
He needed to rest and get his thoughts in order. Also activating the sigil of one of the 72 demons, required an enormous amount of energy and put a lot of strain on his entire body.
In his past life, Evan was the strongest dark magician, a demonologist to be exact. In his world, dark magic was strictly forbidden. Anyone who studied and used dark magic, was found and killed. There were no exceptions.
Naturally, there were strong enough dark magicians which was a very difficult task to kill. Unfortunately or fortunately, there were very few of them. Even fewer were those who were only slightly inferior to Evan in power.
He didn't know why, but his memories of dark magic were sketchy and inaccurate.
It was only when he was on the verge of death that he remembered being a Demonologist. So Evan was able to use the power of the 72nd demon, Count Andromalius, at the very last moment.
"All right, I think in time I'll understand everything, both about myself and about this world." Evan sighed and continued walking forward.
...
After about half a day, Evan reached Aerilon. It was a very small and poor town.
But for Evan, it was the best option of all. In the clothes of the warden he had killed not long ago, there were a few silver coins. Evan didn't know how much it was, but he figured it was enough for him.
Without thinking long, Evan headed for the nearest inn. During this day, he had experienced too many amazing events, as well as several dangerous battles. He needed rest and sleep.
To Evan's surprise, two silver coins was enough to rent an inn room for an entire week, including three meals a day.
<Sounds like the wardens make a pretty good living>. He realized that he was lucky that he decided to kill Aron, otherwise, he would have had to sleep outside in the pouring rain.
No one was surprised by Evan's appearance. It's just that no one simply knew that his clothes were the uniform of a prison warden.
After paying for his hotel, Evan walked slowly straight to his room. He was hungry and thirsty, but even more he wanted to sleep. He needed a long, restful sleep that would put his thoughts in order.
"Huh, I could say the last time I slept, was in my previous life." After these words, Evan collapsed on his bed and instantly fell asleep.
...
Evan slept for a very long time, only three days later he wake up.
"How long have I been sleeping?" He felt that it had been much more than a few hours. Evan's hunger was incredible, and his thirst was so intense that he was ready to drain an entire river.
After such a long nap, Evan felt just fine. His mind was clear and his body was rested.
No more excruciating headaches, no more confusion in his mind. Also all the consequences of the using sigil had completely passed.
In his past life, he could have used stronger spells without blinking an eye. But now he was not at the top, but at the bottom of the "food chain". What's more, he still didn't know how he should move up in this world.
If you were weak, you could simply die if you used dark magic. This often happened to the vast majority of novice and inexperienced dark mages.
<Damn, why am I so lucky to have been reborn into the body of a slave, who has seen nothing but bars and chains in his life>
Evan was already out of the prison, but Trevor just didn't know anything about the world outside the cage. Evan would have to find out for himself.
He ate a quick breakfast and got plenty to drink. Evan was about to leave, but just as he got to the door he heard the loud voice of some man.
"All men come out to the main square! I repeat, all men come out to the main square!" Someone kept shouting the same words.
Evan didn't understand what was going on. When he looked out the window, he saw a small detachment of soldiers in black and red armor. And in the very center of the troop was a man in crimson armor, riding a black horse.
Evan immediately realized what was going on. As he entered the city, he found it strange that he saw almost nothing but women, old men, and children. The few men he saw looked as if they had to go to the scaffold tomorrow.
Evan rejoiced, for this was his chance to learn more about this world, and to become stronger.
<The talented soldiers are always valued in any war. They get the best equipment and resources. Also, chances are that such promising people will be promoted by their superiors, providing them with information and the best training conditions.>
As soon as Evan saw what was going on, he was immediately determined, that he would join the squad. This would be his starting point. After all, it was in war that the most ordinary man could become significant and important in the shortest possible time.
But, there was one problem, and that was Evan's clothes. If anyone guessed, that he was connected to the prison riot and the murder of Abigail Whitehead, his life would not be long.
Evan bought the simplest clothes he could find from the innkeeper and threw the warden's suit as far away as possible.
Whoosh.
Evan quickly walked out of the building and stood next to the other men.
"All right, I guess that's all you can expect from this place. The speaker was a squad leader named Zak Hart.
Zak had a strong build, short gray hair, and deep brown eyes.
He looked carefully at each of the twenty men and said loudly.
"You, you, you, and you, step forward." Zak pointed his finger at four young men, each of whom was skinny and looked very weak. One of those four men turned out to be Evan.
The young men stepped forward, whereupon Zak gave a command to his subordinates.
"Give them your swords." Hearing his order, the four soldiers quickly handed their swords to the young men.
None of them understood what was going on, but Zak's next words made everything clear.
"Only one of you is worthy to come with us, the rest of you will just be the food for worms."
The three young men shuddered with fear. They could not have imagined that today they would have to fight for their lives.
Evan wasn't the least bit worried, on the contrary, his eyes were incredibly cold. Just a few seconds later, he killed the first man.
Evan simply chopped his head off, then stepped over his body and chopped the second man in two.
"No, please don't kill me! I beg you!" The last young man trembled in fear, begging Evan for mercy.
But, Evan didn't care at all. He swung his sword and pierced the young man's heart with a long, iron blade.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
When only Evan was left alive, Zak began clapping his hands and praising him, "Good boy. I didn't expect to meet such a capable young man in such a small town. What's your name?"
Zak was very pleased with Evan's actions.
The young man quickly replied, "My name is Evan Lynch."
"Fine, take your sword and let's go." Zak was about to leave the village, but Evan's words stopped him.
"Mr. Zak, I want his place!" Evan raised his sword and pointed at one of the soldiers. His eyes were incredibly dark, like the abyss itself. And the murderous intention that emanated from him was unthinkable for an ordinary skinny guy.
Zak was greatly surprised, but after a second, a wide smile appeared on his face.