Chapter 77: A New Resolve
Chapter 77: A New Resolve
Lyra quietly sat beside Andras after taking the seat he had indicated.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
The soft glow of the mana lamps illuminated her flushed cheeks, while her fingers nervously twisted the edge of her skirt.
Andras glanced at her before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"I have to admit..."
"I find this rather amusing."
Lyra slowly looked up.
"You came here wearing such revealing clothes, prepared to offer yourself to me."
His voice remained calm, free of mockery.
"But it doesn’t really change anything."
He leaned back in his chair.
"The two of us have already shared that kind of intimacy."
"Although, at the time, it was as punishment."
His violet eyes rested on her.
"This time is different."
"You came here because you made that choice yourself."
"You wanted to tell me, without saying the words, that you wished to have a genuine relationship with me."
The moment those words reached her ears, Lyra’s face turned scarlet.
"W-Wait..."
Embarrassment overwhelmed her.
She immediately stood, too flustered to remain where she was.
"I..."
"I should leave..."
She had barely taken two steps before Andras’s calm voice stopped her.
"Stop there, Lyra."
She froze.
Without turning around, she nervously waited for him to continue.
A faint smile appeared on Andras’s face.
"Since we’re both of the same mind..."
"I accept."
Before Lyra could react, Andras gently lifted her into his arms.
A surprised gasp escaped her lips.
He carried her toward the bed, setting her down with unexpected care.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke another word.
He gently brushed a strand of silver hair away from her face before leaning forward.
Their lips met.
The candles burned quietly as the night deepened beyond the manor’s windows.
The world outside continued on, unaware of the promise silently formed within the room.
---
At the same time...
Inside Ravenhart Manor.
Romeo Ravenhart sat alone within his study.
The room was silent, save for the rhythmic tapping of his fingers against the wooden desk.
His expression was restless.
The previous night, the assassins had contacted him through a Crystal Communication Orb.
A Crystal Communication Orb was an enchanted artefact created by inscription mages. Two or more orbs could be linked together through identical mana signatures, allowing their owners to communicate across vast distances by transmitting both voices and images through mana resonance. The range depended on the quality of the enchantment, with high-grade orbs capable of maintaining conversations between distant provinces.
Before dawn, the assassins had informed him they had discovered the perfect opportunity.
Andras Darkmoor would be travelling to Nightfall City with only a small escort.
They intended to strike during the journey.
Since then...
Nothing.
No message.
No confirmation.
Only silence.
Romeo’s expression darkened.
"It’s already night..."
"If they succeeded, they should have contacted me by now."
An uneasy feeling settled in his chest.
He already suspected the truth.
The assassination had failed.
"What worried him even more was the possibility of the assassins being captured
If they were captured...
House Darkmoor would undoubtedly interrogate them.
There was always a chance—however small—that his identity would be exposed.
Romeo clenched his fists.
"I took too great a risk..."
Yet he quickly shook his head.
"No..."
"I had no choice."
As long as Andras Darkmoor remained alive...
Romeo could never have Seraphina.
His obsession had blinded him long before he realised it.
Now...
All he could do was pray.
Pray that every assassin had died.
Pray that none of them had revealed his name.
Morning arrived at Darkmoor Manor.
Golden sunlight streamed through the curtains as Andras slowly opened his eyes.
The room was quiet.
The space beside him was already empty.
A few moments later, the bedroom door opened.
Lyra entered carrying a neatly folded set of fresh clothes.
Compared to the previous evening, she appeared remarkably composed.
The shyness and awkwardness that had once filled her expression had faded, replaced by quiet confidence.
Without speaking, she respectfully assisted Andras as he changed into his usual attire.
Their movements felt natural.
Comfortable.
When everything was ready, Andras adjusted the cuffs of his coat.
"I’ll be heading to the training grounds."
"Yes, Young Master."
Lyra bowed with a gentle smile.
"I’ll prepare everything else."
With that, Andras left his room and made his way toward the manor’s training grounds.
After leaving his room, Andras made his way toward the manor’s training grounds.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and freshly cut grass. The steady rhythm of clashing steel echoed across the grounds as knights and soldiers continued their daily drills.
Standing near the centre of the field was Selene.
She wore her usual black training attire, a wooden practice sword resting casually upon her shoulder as she watched several younger knights spar.
The moment she noticed Andras approaching, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"Andras."
Andras gave a slight nod.
"Good morning, general Selene."
Without wasting any time, the two stepped onto the open practice field.
"As always?" Selene asked.
"As always."
The spar began.
Unlike their previous sessions, Selene did not attack immediately.
Instead, she demonstrated a subtle movement with her sword.
"Watch carefully."
She stepped forward with what appeared to be a normal overhead slash.
Yet, at the very last moment, her wrist twisted almost imperceptibly.
The blade changed its trajectory halfway through the swing, transforming into a diagonal strike aimed at an entirely different opening.
Andras’s eyes narrowed.
"A feint?"
Selene shook her head.
"Not exactly."
"A feint is meant to deceive."
"This is called a Flowing Transition."
She demonstrated it again.
"The purpose isn’t simply to trick your opponent."
"It’s to ensure that if your first attack is read or blocked, your body naturally shifts into another angle without losing momentum."
She looked directly at him.
"Never become committed to a single strike."
"A good swordsman attacks."
"A great swordsman is prepared for his attack to fail."
Understanding flashed across Andras’s eyes.
"I see."
For the next hour, Selene patiently corrected every movement.
Again.
And again.
Until Andras finally grasped the underlying principle rather than merely copying the motion.
Only then did she raise her practice sword.
"Now."
"Let’s see if you’ve actually learned something."
A faint smile appeared on Andras’s face.
He drew his own practice sword.
The spar resumed.
Wood collided with wood.
Sharp cracks echoed across the training ground.
Andras carefully incorporated the new technique into his attacks.
His strikes flowed more naturally than before, forcing Selene to adjust her defence several times.
Then...
He attempted to chain the newly learned transition into a second variation before fully mastering the first.
His footing shifted a fraction too far.
His balance broke.
Selene’s practice sword stopped less than an inch from his throat.
The training ground fell silent.
Andras looked down before letting out a quiet laugh.
"I overextended."
Selene lowered her sword.
"You did."
Her expression became serious.
"Remember this, Andras."
"Never bring a newly learned technique onto a real battlefield until you’ve practised it enough for your body to perform it instinctively."
She met his gaze.
"A mistake as small as that..."
"...is enough to get you killed."
Andras nodded.
"I understand."
"And thank you for the advice."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"But there’s no need to worry."
"I would never use a technique I’ve only just learned in an actual battle."
"I only tested it because this is training."
Selene studied him for a moment before the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
"Good."
"It’s reassuring to know you have the sense to separate practice from combat."
Andras simply laughed.
"I’d rather learn from a harmless mistake here than make a fatal one elsewhere."
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
The morning breeze swept gently across the training grounds.
Then Andras looked at Selene.
"By the way..."
"Are you free this afternoon?"
Selene raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you ask?"
A faint smile appeared on Andras’s face.
"Would you like to have lunch with me?"
The unexpected invitation caught even Selene slightly off guard.