Chapter 47: Little Hamster.
Lucas remained in that seated position for four full days. Not a word. Not a twitch. His posture didn’t falter, his breathing steady and faint like a statue carved into quiet existence. He was in complete sync with the flow of energy inside his body, letting the refined potion work its way through every fiber of his cultivation system. Time, hunger, noise, none of it reached him.
Lira stayed by his side the entire time, except for brief moments when she had to fetch food or water. Even then, she returned as quickly as possible, sometimes skipping meals just to ensure she didn’t miss a single second of his progress. She would sit on a stool near him, her hands folded on her lap, keeping watch. And every now and then, she’d glance at his face, calm, composed, and powerful. There was something majestic about it.
On the second day, a servant from the outer court arrived with a sealed letter. It was addressed directly to Xavier Alden. The servant handed it to Lira, as Lucas was still deep in cultivation. She held onto it carefully, tucking it in her robe. She didn’t even read the name of the sender. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. Nothing could interrupt this moment.
And then... at the crack of dawn on the fifth day, Lucas’s breathing changed. His chest rose deeper. A faint pulse of Qi radiated outward and then withdrew. Slowly, his eyes opened, calm and sharp.
He blinked slowly and looked around the room. The light from the morning sun streamed through the windows, casting golden beams across the floor. For a moment, everything was still.
Lira gasped softly and rushed to him.
"Master... you’re awake."
Lucas didn’t speak immediately. He just sat there, taking in the feeling. His entire body felt light, not weak, but balanced, alive. There was no stiffness in his joints, no ache in his bones. For the first time since he opened his eyes in this body, his mind was clear... peaceful even.
He smiled faintly. "I feel... refreshed. Like I’ve been cleansed from the inside."
Lira quickly helped him up, supporting his back as he stood.
"You were cultivating for... four days, Master."