Chapter 58: A dangerous game
Lucas had seen the worst of humanity in the name of glory, conquest, revenge. He knew what war truly was. And he hated it. The future he came from had shown him too many wars, blood-stained politics and endless graves.
His breath left him slow and deliberate. "This is bad... very bad," he thought.
The fragile peace that had given him a chance to rebuild himself, to grow stronger, was now under threat. And if the King had declared war with no solid proof... retaliation was certain. Blood would spill. Borders would shift. And the people, the innocents, they would suffer most.
Lucas looked at Princess Nyx beside him, her silver gown shimmering softly under the fading golden light of the garden. Her eyes were fixed on the ground too. She wasn’t smiling anymore.
They had continued to walk slowly, servants remained a respectful distance behind them.
"I need to get stronger," Lucas thought. Faster than I planned. This changes everything.
Thankfully, he had already strengthened his dantian and his meridians. His foundation was now solid enough to carry the weight of rapid advancement. But that was only one piece of what he needed. Strategy, knowledge, and influence would matter just as much in the storms ahead.
Their slow stroll was broken by hurried footsteps approaching. One of the royal servants bowed quickly before Lucas.
"My Lord Alden," the servant said with a lowered gaze. "The Seer has requested your presence... at once."
Lucas blinked. Again?
His first instinct was to decline, not out of disrespect, but he was deep in conversation with Princess Nyx, and it felt wrong to just leave. He turned toward her, about to say he’d attend to it after their walk.