The sun was setting over the smoldering remnants of the bandit camp. The once-thriving hideout of Korvan’s men now lay in ruins, their ranks scattered and broken. Some of the surviving bandits fled into the wilderness, their resolve shattered by the deaths of their leaders, while others surrendered, hoping for mercy that would never come. The expedition team had done its job. The bandits were no more.
Lucavion stood beside Roderick, his arms crossed as they both watched the last of the stragglers disappear into the forest. The tension from the battle had faded, leaving behind a strange calm in the aftermath of the chaos.
“Well,” Roderick said, his voice breaking the silence. “It seems we’ve done it. Ron is safe, and the bandits… well, they won’t be troubling anyone again.” He glanced at Lucavion, his eyes narrowing slightly. “But Korvan… did you really kill him?”
Lucavion’s gaze remained on the horizon for a moment longer before he turned to face Roderick. His expression was unreadable, his eyes glinting with the remnants of battle-hardened focus. “Yes,” he said calmly. “Korvan is dead. Along with the rest of his lieutenants.”
Roderick raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “And you’re sure of that?”
Lucavion smirked faintly. “If you want proof, I can show it to you.”
Without waiting for a response, Lucavion reached into his spatial pouch, his hand disappearing into the small, enchanted space. A moment later, he pulled out a gruesome collection: the heads of those he had slain. One by one, he laid them out on the ground in front of Roderick.
Lothar. Loren. Alric. Korvan. Sorn.
Each head, though lifeless and cold, still bore the distinct features of the once-powerful lieutenants and their leader. Their expressions were frozen in the final moments of their lives, some twisted with pain, others with shock. The sight was both grisly and undeniable.
“I brought these with me,” Lucavion said casually as if discussing something far more mundane. “Just to ensure that no one else would dare to claim the bounties on them. After all, I did the work.”
Roderick stared at the severed heads for another moment, the sheer weight of the scene still sinking in. “You really went all out,” he muttered, a mixture of awe and discomfort lingering in his tone. Lucavion’s calm, methodical demeanor only made the sight more unsettling.
Lucavion gave a slight shrug, his voice cold and pragmatic. “A job’s a job. And I don’t leave things unfinished.”
Roderick nodded, his gaze flicking back to Lucavion with a newfound respect. “Well… I don’t think anyone will doubt your claims now. You’ve earned every bit of that bounty, that’s for sure.” He glanced up, catching Lucavion’s eyes. “The baron will want to hear of this. You’ll be well rewarded.”
Lucavion nodded, unfazed by the thought of his reward. “Of course,” he said, his tone flat. “I wouldn’t expect any less.” Then, after a moment of silence, he turned his gaze fully to Roderick, his expression hardening slightly. “But speaking of rewards, are the things I requested from you ready?”
Roderick blinked, momentarily taken aback by the shift in conversation. He frowned slightly as he recalled what Lucavion was referring to–his request for official citizenship in the Arcanis Empire and an introduction to the Adventurers’ Guild through Roderick’s own status as a knight. These weren’t trivial matters, especially in the political landscape of the Empire.
“Ah… about that,” Roderick began, scratching the back of his head awkwardly. “Everything happened too fast. Korvan’s ambush, the boy’s disappearance–it’s been chaos. It’s not easy to secure something like that overnight. These things take time.”
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. “I understand,” he said quietly, his voice calm, though there was an unmistakable edge to it. “But make sure you’re not thinking of going back on your word.” His gaze sharpened, and for a brief moment, the air around him grew heavy with a menacing pressure. His bloodthirst leaked out, subtle but suffocating. “You know the consequences if you do.”
Roderick felt the weight of Lucavion’s presence bearing down on him, but instead of flinching, he let out a low, rumbling laugh. “I’m not a man who goes back on his word, Lucavion. You’ll get what I promised you. I just need time to make it happen. But don’t worry,” he added with a grin. “I’ll see to it myself.”
Lucavion held Roderick’s gaze for a moment longer before finally nodding, his bloodthirst receding. “Good. I’ll hold you to that.” He turned away, casting one last glance at the battlefield littered with corpses. “Time is the only thing you have for now.”
Roderick let out a chuckle, waving his hand dismissively. “You shouldn’t be so fierce all the time, Lucavion. You’ll scare off potential allies with that attitude.”
Lucavion, for the first time since their conversation began, allowed a small smile to tug at the corner of his lips. “There are times when I’m fierce,” he said with a shrug. “And there are times when I’m not.”
“Sure, sure,” Roderick said with a smirk, waving his hand again. But inwardly, his thoughts were more serious. ‘This guy… he’s not someone you want to mess with. Stronger than anyone I’ve ever seen–and with that cold, calculated approach to battle, he’s even more dangerous.’
He eyed Lucavion carefully as they stood together, the tension of the battle fading but the understanding of who Lucavion truly was settling in. “Let’s get the official side of things done soon,” Roderick said, his tone casual but his respect for Lucavion clear. “I’d rather have you as an ally than anything else.”
Lucavion’s eyes gleamed with a hint of amusement, but he simply nodded. “I’ll look forward to it.”
********
Lucavion walked through the streets of Rackenshore, his steps measured but purposeful. The cool evening air brushed against his face, and the distant sounds of the city winding down filled the background. His mind, however, was elsewhere–on the events that had unfolded over the past few days.
The mission had been completed, and he had done exactly as Harlan requested: dealt with the bandits without breaking his sword.
The weight of the estoc at his side was a familiar one, though it wasn’t quite the same as when he had first set out. His fingers brushed over the hilt, feeling the slight roughness where the once-smooth metal had begun to show signs of wear. There were cracks along the blade, faint but visible, and a few nicks along the edges where it had collided with the weapons of the bandits.
But despite all that, it had held. It hadn’t broken.
Vitaliara’s voice echoed softly in his mind, breaking the silence. [You seem quite satisfied with yourself, Lucavion.]
He smirked, his lips twitching upward at her teasing tone. “I am,” he admitted. “I didn’t break it. Harlan can’t say I didn’t follow through on his conditions.”
[True, though I imagine he’ll have something to say about the state of your weapon.] She purred, shifting slightly on his shoulder. [But the job’s done, and you’re still in one piece. That’s what matters, isn’t it?]
“That’s the part I’m most satisfied with,” Lucavion replied, casting a glance down at his sword once again. “Could’ve been worse. A lot worse.”
He reached the entrance to the smithy, the familiar building standing just as nondescript as before, tucked away at the edge of town. The faded sign hung above the door, barely visible in the dim light. The rhythmic clang of metal being worked inside was quieter this time, more methodical. It seemed Harlan was at it again, his never-ending work of crafting weapons continuing as it always had.
Lucavion paused for a moment before pushing the door open. The familiar warmth of the forge enveloped him as he stepped inside, the glow of the embers casting long shadows across the room. The racks of old weapons, tools, and artifacts lined the walls just as before, though this time, Lucavion’s attention was focused solely on the man at the back of the room.
Harlan stood by the forge, hammering away at a glowing piece of metal, his concentration unwavering. He didn’t immediately acknowledge Lucavion’s arrival, but it was clear he knew. The old man’s senses were too sharp to miss anything, even in the depths of his work.
Lucavion took a breath, walking further into the smithy. “I’m back,” he called out, his voice carrying over the steady clang of Harlan’s hammer. “And I didn’t break the sword.”
Harlan’s hammer paused mid-swing, hovering above the metal for a brief moment before he set it down with practiced ease. Slowly, he turned to face Lucavion, his gaze falling first on the estoc at his side, then drifting upward to meet his eyes.
The old man’s expression was unreadable at first, his eyes narrowing as they took in the sight of Lucavion and the weapon he carried. After a long pause, he nodded, though there was no smile on his face. “Let’s see it, then,” he said gruffly, motioning for Lucavion to hand over the weapon.
Lucavion drew the estoc from its sheath and held it out, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light of the forge. The cracks and marks on the weapon were more visible now, the nicks and scuffs telling the story of the battles it had seen. Harlan took it without a word, turning it over in his hands with the same critical eye he had shown before.
For a moment, there was silence as Harlan inspected the blade, his fingers running along the cracks, his eyes narrowing at the damage. Lucavion could feel his heart beating in his chest, though he kept his expression calm. He had done what was asked of him, and now it was time to see if it was enough.
Harlan finally let out a long, low grunt, handing the sword back to Lucavion. “You didn’t break it,” he said, his tone neutral. “But it’s seen better days.”
Lucavion took the estoc, sliding it back into its sheath with a soft click. “It held when it needed to,” he replied. “Got the job done.”
Harlan’s eyes flicked back to Lucavion, studying him for a moment before he spoke again. “Aye, that it did.” There was a pause, then the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Harlan’s mouth. “You’ve done well, lad. Better than I expected.”
Lucavion had finally proved himself in front of the old man.
“…..”
And he could not help but smile at that.
———————–
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