CHAPTER 224: WHAT LIES AHEAD

For now, he would keep his space power to himself.

He smiled faintly to himself as he stepped out of the palace courtyard into the cool evening air.

"Perhaps," he murmured, half to himself, "the right time hasn’t come... but when it does, she’ll know exactly what I’m capable of."

As soon as Lucas stepped out into the courtyard, the faint scent of night jasmine greeted him. The palace lanterns had already been lit, casting a warm amber glow across the polished stone floor. Waiting for him by the edge of the lotus pond were Lira, Selene, and Nyx...each dressed in soft silks provided by the Lechian attendants. They looked at him expectantly the moment he appeared.

Lira was the first to speak, her tone carrying a mix of curiosity and concern. "You’ve been gone a while," she said, taking a small step toward him. "So? How did the meeting with the Empress go?"

Lucas gave a tired smile as he loosened the collar of his robe. "It went... as expected, I suppose," he said after a pause. "She’s sharp, far sharper than I anticipated. She asked directly what I had to offer, and I told her about the teleportation, the knowledge, and the proposal for an alliance."

Nyx’s eyes lit up slightly. "And?" she asked quickly, stepping closer. "Did she accept it? What did she say?"

Lucas shook his head slowly, his expression calm but faintly grim. "No alliance," he replied quietly. "She said forming one would only strengthen the enemy. According to her, Lechia, Valerion, and even Rus and many more kingdoms have already been infiltrated. Any alliance now would only serve to feed the wrong people with more information."

The air seemed to grow heavier after he said it. The gentle sound of the pond’s ripples filled the silence that followed.

Lira frowned, lowering her gaze. "So that’s it? No alliance at all?" she asked softly. "After everything that’s happening?"

Lucas nodded slightly. "For now, yes. She believes the corruption runs deeper than we think, that whoever is behind all this has planned everything so carefully that even their own people don’t know who they truly serve."

Nyx folded her arms, her brow furrowing. "That’s... frightening," she muttered. "If that’s true, then no one can be trusted."

Selene, who had been quiet until then, tilted her head and spoke in a softer voice. "Still, she’s not wrong. An alliance that’s already compromised would be useless. It’s better to fight from the shadows until the real enemy shows itself."

Lucas glanced at her and nodded in agreement. "Exactly. It’s not what I wanted to hear, but I can’t say she’s wrong. The Empress sees further than most. She knows that rushing into unity without certainty is like opening your gates to the enemy yourself."

Lira sighed and brushed her hair behind her ear, her expression thoughtful. "I suppose she has a point. Still... it’s disappointing. I hoped Lechia would be our strongest ally."

Lucas’s expression softened. He looked at each of them in turn, their faces touched by the golden light of the lanterns. "So did I," he said quietly. "But maybe this is for the best. If even the Empress is uncertain who she can trust, then we need to be careful about who we rely on. For now, all we have is ourselves...."

The girls exchanged glances, nodding in silent understanding. The mood shifted slightly....less disappointment now, more quiet resolve.

Lira took a small step closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then we trust you," she said simply. "No matter what comes next."

Lucas smiled faintly, his gaze steady. "And I trust all of you," he replied. "Whatever’s coming, we’ll face it together."

Later that night, after his quiet talk with the girls by the pond, Lucas returned to his quarters with the girls. The moonlight streamed through the tall arched windows, bathing the room in a pale silver glow. The girls had long gone asleep, yet his mind refused to settle. He sat at the edge of the ornate desk the palace attendants had prepared for him, staring at the parchment and inkstone before him.

He exhaled deeply, his thoughts heavy. "There’s no point delaying," he muttered to himself. "The king must be informed."

He took up the quill and began to write. His hand moved with firm, deliberate strokes as he addressed the letter to the King of Valerion. Every word was chosen with precision, carrying both the weight of duty and the sting of disappointment.

*Your Majesty,

As per your command, I have met with Her Imperial Majesty of Lechia. The discussions were brief but revealing. She has declined the offer of alliance, not out of pride or hostility, but from foresight.

According to her, the corruption and infiltration we fear have already taken root within our lands, within Rus, and even within her own empire. She believes that uniting now would only give our unseen enemies a clearer path to destroy us from within.

Though her words may sound harsh, I find reason in them. She has agreed to test my worth personally, and if I survive this test, perhaps she may reconsider her stance in the future. For now, however, I fear that pressing the alliance further will do us more harm than good.

I await further instructions, but I will remain in Lechia until the Empress’s test concludes.*

He sealed the letter with Valerion’s crimson crest, pressing his ring into the wax until it hardened. Then, stepping out onto the balcony, he lifted his gaze to the star-filled sky.

A single black raven perched on the railing, its eyes gleaming like twin obsidian stones. Lucas tied the sealed letter to the creature’s leg and whispered, "To the king. Fly swiftly."

The raven gave a low caw, spread its wings, and soared into the night sky, disappearing into the distance as its silhouette blended with the darkness.

Lucas remained there for a long moment, his hands resting on the cold railing. His thoughts lingered on the Empress’s words, on the growing corruption she had spoken of, and on the uncertain test that awaited him.

"An alliance that feeds the enemy..." he murmured under his breath. "If she’s right, then even Valerion may not be as safe as we believe."

He turned back into the chamber, extinguished the lanterns, and lay down, though he knew sleep would not come easily. The night outside was still, but within his heart, the storm of doubt had only begun to stir.

Days slipped by quietly after the raven’s departure. The palace had resumed its usual rhythm. Yet Lucas remained detached from it all. He spent most of his time behind closed doors, sitting cross-legged within his chamber, the faint glow of Qi energy swirling faintly around his form. His breathing was steady, his focus unwavering.

Each day he refined his control over his Qi and strengthened his connection with the power of space. The quiet of cultivation helped him steady his thoughts, but his mind often drifted to the Empress and her mysterious words. He wondered what kind of test she had spoken of, and why she had not summoned him again. Perhaps she had forgotten, or perhaps the test was already in motion, unfolding in ways he could not yet see.

By the seventh day, his energy had grown more refined. He could now feel subtle currents of spatial energy even when he was still, sensing fluctuations around him like ripples across a calm lake. When the sun dipped below the horizon that evening, casting the palace in hues of amber and violet, a soft knock came at his door.

"Enter," he said, his voice calm but expectant.

A palace maid stepped in and bowed deeply. "Lord Alden, Her Imperial Majesty requests your presence at once. You are to meet her in the Hall of Silent Clouds."

Lucas rose to his feet immediately, his curiosity sharpening. "Did she say why?"

The maid shook her head quickly. "Only that you are to come prepared, my lord."

He gave a slight nod, tightened the sash around his robe, and followed her through the long winding halls of the palace. The corridors were quiet, lit only by paper lanterns that swayed faintly in the evening breeze. He passed through marble archways and climbed a short flight of stairs until he reached the grand doors of the hall.

Two imperial guards stood at attention, their spears crossed. One of them recognized him and bowed slightly. "You may enter. Her Majesty awaits."

Lucas stepped forward, and as the great doors opened, he was once again struck by the vastness of the chamber. The Empress was seated near the center, but this time not on her throne. She stood beside a wide table that was covered in old maps, scrolls, and a crystal orb that pulsed faintly with light.

"Your Majesty," Lucas greeted, bowing deeply.

The Empress glanced up from the map, her eyes calm but sharp. "You have kept yourself occupied these past few days, haven’t you?"

"I have," he replied respectfully. "I needed to focus and gather my thoughts."

"Good," she said, moving closer. "You’ll need that clarity for what lies ahead."

Lucas looked at her in mild confusion. "For what lies ahead?"

The Empress folded her arms and regarded him silently for a moment before speaking. "Do you remember what I said about testing you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I have not forgotten."

"Then listen carefully," she continued. "A powerful artifact has resurfaced beyond the northern borders close...in between Lechia and Rus. Its presence has already drawn attention from forces we do not yet understand. I intend to retrieve it before it falls into the wrong hands."

Lucas’s brows furrowed slightly. "And you want me to go with you?"

The Empress nodded slowly, her tone steady and deliberate. "You will accompany me. This is not merely a test of strength but of judgment and loyalty. The path ahead will not be easy. Many have tried to seek this artifact before and never returned."

Lucas straightened, the weight of her words settling on him. "May I ask what kind of artifact it is?"

"You will see it soon enough," she said, turning back to the table. "What matters now is that you are prepared. At dawn we leave for the north."

Lucas gave a short bow, his voice firm. "Then I shall be ready, Your Majesty."

The Empress looked at him again, her gaze thoughtful but unreadable. "I hope so, Xavier For your sake, and for ours."

She dismissed him with a slight wave of her hand, and Lucas turned to leave.