The Marquis’s soft laugh startled Valeria out of her thoughts. She turned to him, her brow furrowing at the unexpected sound. He wasn’t one to laugh idly, especially not in situations like this. Yet there he was, a low chuckle escaping as he shook his head, a strange mix of amazement and disbelief flickering across his features.
“I thought he was a demon,” the Marquis murmured, his voice tinged with quiet humor. “When he sat at that table earlier, speaking with such cold precision, laying out that audacious plan… I truly believed he might be something inhuman.”
Valeria blinked, caught off guard by his admission. She had thought the same herself more than once. The way Lucavion spoke of war, of calculated risks and devastating consequences, had made her blood run cold. But now…
The Marquis gestured toward Lucavion with a slight tilt of his chin, his sharp eyes glinting with something between admiration and amusement. “And yet, look at him now. This man who spoke of razing sects, of challenging the entire status quo—here he is, coaxing an untamable horse like a patient gardener tending a fragile bloom.”
Valeria’s gaze returned to Lucavion. He was still there, calm and steady, his hand extended toward Aether. The flame in his palm burned steadily, and though his posture remained relaxed, there was an undeniable intensity to him—a quiet persistence that refused to waver.
The Marquis chuckled again, softer this time, almost to himself. “He’s unpredictable,” he said, his tone carrying a strange kind of approval. “One moment, he’s a reckless fool, the next, a cold strategist. And then… this. A man who seems to understand the world in ways even I cannot. It’s enough to make you question your judgment, isn’t it?”
Valeria stiffened slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line. “He’s infuriating,” she muttered, though the words felt half-hearted even as she spoke them.
The Marquis didn’t respond right away, his gaze lingering on Lucavion. “Perhaps,” he said finally, his tone contemplative. “But it’s that unpredictability that makes him dangerous—and valuable. You never know which version of him you’re going to get. And somehow, that always works to his advantage.”
Valeria let out a soft, frustrated sigh. “It’s reckless,” she said, though her voice lacked its usual edge. “What if it hadn’t worked? What if Aether had trampled him? Or worse?”
The Marquis smiled faintly, his expression still laced with amusement. “But it did work, didn’t it? That’s the thing about Lucavion—he walks the line between brilliance and disaster so finely, it’s impossible to tell which way he’ll fall. And yet… he always lands on his feet.”
Lucavion strode toward them, his smirk firmly back in place and his usual air of nonchalance restored. Behind him, Aether followed closely, her movements no longer brimming with the defiance that had marked her earlier. The glow of her eyes was softer now, her head held high, and her mane rippled with a tranquil grace.
“Well,” Lucavion said, his voice carrying its familiar playful edge as he stopped before the Marquis and Valeria. “How’s that? Did half an hour pass yet?” His smirk widened, his sharp gaze flicking between them.
The Marquis exhaled sharply, shaking his head in disbelief. “You really are something,” he said, his tone caught between exasperation and amusement. “I’ve seen many attempts at taming her, but I never thought I’d witness someone actually succeed.”
Lucavion raised an eyebrow, his smirk softening into a mockingly humble grin. “Oh, I don’t know if I’d call it ‘taming,’ Marquis. Let’s just say we’ve come to an understanding.”
The Marquis let out a soft chuckle, his gaze shifting to Aether. “An understanding,” he repeated, his tone faintly reverent. “Whatever you call it, you’ve done what no one else has. You’ve tamed this girl. Truly remarkable.”
Valeria crossed her arms, her lips pressing into a thin line as she studied the scene. Aether, the horse no one could control, now stood calmly beside Lucavion as though she had always belonged there. It was baffling.
The Marquis turned back to Lucavion, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly. “You do realize, though, that taming her is only the beginning. Preparing her for travel—gearing her—is an entirely different challenge. I trust you know how to handle that?”
Lucavion’s smirk didn’t waver. “Naturally,” he replied with a casual shrug. “I wouldn’t call myself a horse expert, but I know my way around a stable.”
The Marquis arched an eyebrow, skepticism flickering across his face. “Is that so?” he said dryly. “Well then, let’s see if your skills extend beyond coaxing her with fire and fancy words.”
Lucavion grinned, his confidence unshaken. “Just watch, Marquis. I’ll have her ready to go before you know it.” With that, he turned back toward Aether, his movements fluid and assured as he approached her.
Valeria watched in silence as Lucavion began to prepare the horse, his hands deft and practiced as he inspected her bridle and saddle. Despite her skepticism, she couldn’t deny his ease with the task. It was as though he had done this countless times before, each movement smooth and precise.
********
The stable was quiet except for the faint creak of leather and the soft snorts from Aether as Lucavion tightened the last strap of her saddle. His cloak, dark and lightly frayed at the edges, billowed faintly in the breeze as he adjusted it over his shoulders. Aether stood beneath him, her stance regal and composed, the very picture of a steed ready for battle—or adventure.
Nearby, Valeria, the Marquis, and Nadoka watched in silence. Nadoka’s lips pressed into a firm line, her healer’s instincts warring with her understanding of Lucavion’s resolve. She had spent hours tending to his injuries, patching him up after his recent bouts in the tournament, and while he had made remarkable progress, she knew he wasn’t fully healed. The strain of his endeavors still lingered in the faint tension around his eyes, the way he shifted his weight subtly to avoid aggravating his wounds.
“You shouldn’t be riding yet,” Nadoka finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was steady but carried a hint of concern. “Your injuries haven’t fully healed. Another day—maybe two—and you’ll be in far better condition.” Stay connected with empire
Lucavion glanced at her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I appreciate your concern, Miss Nadoka,” he said, his tone light but sincere. “Really, I do. But I can’t afford to waste any more time. There’s too much at stake.”
Nadoka’s frown deepened, her arms crossing over her chest. “Too much at stake or just another excuse for recklessness? You may not care, but your body does. If you push too hard now, you’ll only slow yourself down later.”
Lucavion chuckled softly, swinging himself into the saddle with practiced ease. Aether shifted slightly beneath him, her movements smooth and unbothered. “You worry too much,” he said with a teasing edge. “I’ve been through worse.”
“That’s not the reassurance you think it is,” Nadoka muttered, though her tone had softened.
Lucavion smirked, adjusting the reins with an easy confidence. “Sitting still doesn’t suit me, Marquis. There’s a whole world out there, and it’s not going to wait for me to recover.”
The Marquis chuckled softly, his sharp eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and respect. “This is youth, I suppose,” he said, his voice carrying a note of wistful approval. “Restless, reckless, and always charging ahead as if the world will fall apart if they stop for even a moment.”
Lucavion grinned, tipping his head slightly in acknowledgment. “You say it like it’s a bad thing, Marquis.”
The Marquis stepped forward, his posture composed as always, but there was a warmth to his expression that softened his usual sharpness. Extending his hand, he met Lucavion’s gaze squarely. “It was a pleasure meeting a young man like yourself. The world could use more of your kind… though perhaps with a touch more restraint.”
Lucavion took the offered hand, his grip firm, his smirk softening into something more genuine. “Likewise, Marquis. And don’t worry—I’ll work on that restraint. Eventually.”
The Marquis laughed quietly, releasing his hand. “See that you do. The next time we meet, I expect to see you in one piece. Not half-patched up by the likes of Nadoka here.”
Nadoka rolled her eyes, though there was a faint smile tugging at her lips. “He’d be lucky to find another healer as skilled as me,” she said dryly.
Lucavion glanced her way, his grin widening. “Truer words have never been spoken, Miss Nadoka. I’ll be sure to remember you fondly every time I’m not bleeding to death.”
“Let’s hope those times are more frequent,” she shot back, though her tone had lost its earlier edge.
“And let’s tone it down a little…..” As Marquis narrowed his eyes, Lucavion chuckled, turning his gaze to Valeria. For a moment, he studied her in silence, his sharp eyes searching hers. “Valeria,” he said, his voice softening. “Try not to miss me too much.”
Valeria scoffed, though her cheeks warmed faintly. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’ll be far too busy cleaning up whatever chaos you’ve left behind.”
Lucavion leaned slightly in the saddle, his smirk returning to full force. “Good to know you’ll be thinking of me.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Only in the context of how much trouble you’ve caused.”
The Marquis shook his head, stepping back with a wry smile. “And here I thought you two might part on civil terms. Youth indeed.”
Lucavion laughed, adjusting his cloak as he straightened in the saddle. Aether shifted beneath him, her powerful frame exuding calm readiness. He glanced at the three of them one last time, his smirk tempered by a flicker of something deeper—gratitude, perhaps, or respect.
“Well then,” he said, his voice light but carrying a weight that belied his usual nonchalance. “Until we meet again.”
With a gentle nudge of his heels, Aether moved forward, her gait smooth and assured. The stable doors opened to the fading light, and Lucavion rode out, his silhouette framed by the golden glow of the setting sun.
The stable fell into silence as the doors swung shut behind him, the hum of his presence lingering like an unspoken promise. The Marquis let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as he turned to Valeria and Nadoka.
“That young man,” he said, his tone contemplative, “will either change the world… or burn it to the ground.”
———————-
Volume 3 – Sword Demon – End.