CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75: SHOULD I RAISE MY SWORD, LUCINE WILL FALL

At the far end, Morrigan waited, posture composed, staff in hand. His gaze swept the courtyard and settled on Meical, appraising.

"Governor Meical.." Morrigan said smoothly, voice calm but sharp, "your arrival is...unexpected."

Meical inclined his head slightly. "I was sent by my king.." he replied evenly. "He wished for me to oversee certain matters... and to discuss cooperation between our kingdoms."

Morrigan’s lips curved in a faint, polite smile. "Of course. The King of Aldoria’s instructions carry weight. Though, as always, the castle must operate on its own terms."

A shadow shifted behind Morrigan. Luke appeared, his steps deliberate, eyes immediately on Meical. There was no warmth in the greeting, only measured curiosity and authority. He stopped a few paces away, studying the governor carefully.

"You carry your king’s instructions." Luke said evenly. "And yet... you move with caution, as if you carry other matters too."

Meical’s expression remained unreadable. "The king trusts that our interests are aligned.." he said. "I am here to ensure that his concerns are met, and that our correspondence is maintained."

Morrigan’s gaze lingered on Meical a moment longer, noting the subtle tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes never rested in one place for too long. "And I am sure you will act with all the care your office demands."

Luke inclined his head slightly, still silent but watchful. Every inch of the courtyard seemed charged, every soldier aware of the delicate balance.

Meical stepped forward, slow, deliberate, keeping his voice calm. "I will conduct my duties without interference. But I trust your castle will not impede the will of Aldoria."

Luke’s eyes narrowed fractionally, assessing, weighing. Morrigan’s small smile remained polite, but sharp, aware that Meical was more than he appeared.

"Very well.." Luke said finally, voice steady. "Walk with us. There is much to discuss... and little is left to chance in this castle."

The garden had a calm atmosphere , the kind cultivated to soothe even the most restless minds, hedges clipped with perfectly, fountains murmuring in rhythmic patterns, and the distant glint of sunlight off silver trays waiting on a marble table.

Meical followed silently, his boots brushing softly against the stone path. Luke walked ahead of them while Morrigan stayed two steps behind him.

Morrigan hovered near the fountain, his hands folded loosely, staff resting against his side, his posture perfectly composed.

Luke gestured toward the table, then paused, voice even but sharp. "Governor Meical... tell me. Why have you truly come?"

Meical’s lips pressed into a thin line. Nothing annoyed him now that coming to Lucine. If he did not come here, he would have been on his way to Kaizar. "You know why.." he said calmly, taking a seat without invitation, letting his eyes sweep through the garden. "But I will speak plainly. Your... experiments cannot continue. Not on my people. Not in this manner."

The wind stirred lightly, carrying the scent of jasmine, but no one smiled. Morrigan tilted his head slightly, as if amused but the glint in his eyes was all predator, not humor.

"Your magic does not frighten me.." Meical continued. "And make no mistake, if this persists, war will follow. Full-blown, unrestrained war. I will not stand by while innocents are butchered for your... curiosities."

Morrigan’s composure tightened, his calm was now edged with ice. "We have done nothing.m" he said smoothly, voice deceptively soft, almost teasing. "This is... a serious accusation, Governor. Where is your proof?"

Meical leaned back slightly, hands resting on the arms of his chair, eyes unflinching. "The kingdom of Lucine alone dabbles in such thingsmm" he said evenly, letting each word land like steel.

"No other kingdom has reason to harvest bodies, to take organs for potions or... whatever it is you call your craft. I do not care what you do within your walls, what spells you cast or what rituals you maintain. But you do not touch my people."

Luke’s lips pressed into a thin line, silence stretching as he studied Meical. Morrigan’s fingers brushed the edge of his staff, subtle, controlled, the smallest movement hinting at tension beneath the calm.

"If you think I speak in jest.." Meical said, leaning forward now, voice sharpening, "then you do not understand the consequences. Should I come with war, Lucine will discover that your magic, your so-called power, cannot save you. Not from the will of Meical Vukasin, should i raise my sword, you all will die.."

The garden seemed to shrink around them, not a single leaf dared to tremble, not a single servant dared enter the garden.

Morrigan’s smile, when it came, was barelt a line on his lips without any warmth. "A bold statement.." he murmured. "And reckless at that. You accuse without proof, yet you wield threats as if they were weapons."

Meical’s gaze did not waver. "I wield no lies.." he said simply. "And I will not need proof when the bodies continue to disappear. Stop. Or face the consequences."

Luke’s eyes were unreadable, cool and calculating. Morrigan’s hands flexed faintly on the staff. The air in the garden was taut, every word a measured blade, every glance a silent calculation.

Luke’s lips curved into the faintest smirk, the kind that carried calm menace beneath civility. "I heard," he began slowly, voice measured, "that your... wife is a man. Do you ever think of having children? What if I told you that the potion we were working on could make that possible?"

He leaned back slightly, letting the words settle, letting the pause stretch long enough for their weight to press against Meical’s chest. "Would the lives you claim were taken still matter then? If you could get your wife pregnant.."

Meical laughed, low and deliberate, shaking his head. The sound carried in the garden, cold but not without amusement. "I’ve never cared about having children.." he said lightly. "And I know it’s impossible with my wife. But I could always adopt. No need to kill hundreds of people for a single potion."

He doubted Kaizar was the type that even liked children.

Luke’s smirk deepened, but Meical did not break. He continued, voice sharper now, eyes flashing with calculated mockery. "Besides... you have seven wives who could give you children. Why on earth would you need a potion to make a man pregnant?"

He turned slowly to Morrigan, letting the laugh carry across the space between them. It wasn’t warm, wasn’t lighthearted. It was deliberate. "Unless..."

Meical stood up, he had said what he needed to say, he’d come back tomorrow to finalise it.

"I do like my wife. No, I love him. Sacrificing hundreds of people just to have a child with him, yes I could do that. But then we’d have to live our lives with innocent blood on our hands and I don’t want. I’ll be back tomorrow, I will listen to your plans on how to making up for the lives you’ve stolen.."

"You speak with conviction, Governor." Luke said slowly, voice even, deceptively calm.

"Yet you threaten what you cannot yet prove. Bold, certainly... but reckless. You do realize, do you not, that in this garden, your words carry as much weight as your sword?"

Meical’s gaze remained steady, unwavering, and his tone cut through the calm like a hammer on stone.

"I wield neither lies nor illusions. I do not need proof when the pattern is already clear. I will not see my people sacrificed for curiosities. Stop this now, or the consequences will fall squarely on your heads. Because I do not forgive."

Meical gave them a short bow and left the garden.

He wanted to end his dealings in Lucine fast so he could search for Kaizar and bring him home.

Like sighed, he hoped Meical would not be the one sent, because he was a tough nut to crack.

"What shall we do? We don’t essentially need to take more people from Aldoria. The potion is almost complete.."

Luke stood up, turning to Morrigan. "Prepare something to soothe him when he comes tomorrow.."

-_-

Morrigan’s lips twitched, just what exactly was he going to prepare that could replace hundreds of lives?

Still he bowed and replying with a "Yes.."

When Meical returned to the carriage. Sebastian was still there waiting for him.

"How did it go?"

Meical nodded as Sebastian opened the carriage doors.

"How do you think it went? Let’s find somewhere to eat.."

The carriage rumbled throuh roads until they reached a well-appointed restaurant favored by travelers of distinction. Inside, the dining room was already warm with the chatter of men, the clatter of silverware, and the smell of spiced wine.

Five of Meical’s men had arrived ahead of him and were already claiming the seats closest to the table.

It was popular spot for travellers.