Lusian pushed mana into the sword, and Dainslein responded immediately, without the slightest resistance, as if it had been waiting for this from the very beginning. He felt it being fully absorbed, and a deep hum ran from his arm all the way to his chest.
The blade slowly shifted in color, fading from silver to black. It wasn't a shadow covering it, but something denser, more absolute, as if light itself ceased to exist around it. The air grew cold, charged with an unfamiliar pressure.
In front of him, the obstacle was solid stone—dense, heavy, something that should not yield to anything ordinary. And yet Lusian didn't prepare more than necessary. He didn't need to.
He raised the sword and made a single cut—short, precise, effortless.
The blade passed through the stone as if it weren't there. There was no resistance, no sound, not even the sensation of breaking; it simply gave way, splitting in two with absurd ease.
When the sword came to a stop, a clean opening remained, its edges dark, as if something had erased the matter rather than cut through it. The mana faded from the blade, and it returned to its normal state—silent, harmless once more.
Lusian stared at it in silence.
"…What a sword."
Lusian lowered his sword and let the sweat dry on his forehead. Dainslein rested in his hand, still vibrating with a faint energy that seemed to respond to his pulse. He wiped himself with a towel and turned toward the courtyard gate, surprised to see a servant running toward him in a hurry.
—Lord Lusian —the man gasped—, Lady Emily Carter has arrived.
Lusian frowned, caught between surprise and a slight irritation. Emily? Again? He carefully sheathed his sword, as if afraid that any careless movement might break the delicate connection he was only just beginning to feel with it. His muscles still trembled from training, and a knot formed in his stomach at the thought of seeing her.
When he entered the main hall, he found her talking with Sophia. Emily was laughing naturally, without the stiffness Lusian remembered from their first meeting. Sophia, elegant and serene, seemed to be enjoying the scene, while Lusian approached with measured steps, trying to hide his confusion.
—What are you doing here? —he finally asked, a thread of disbelief in his voice.
Sophia looked at him calmly, like someone who knew all too well every emotion running through her son.—I invited her —she said softly—. Near the mansion is the city center. It would be a good day for you both to take a walk.
—Wouldn't it be better if you went with her, Mother? —Lusian replied, trying to sound firm, though his voice carried a faint tremor.
Sophia let out a small laugh, warm and convincing.—I have matters to attend to, Lusian. Besides, there is no better company for you than your fiancée.
The duchess's smile was final. Lusian sighed in resignation. He knew any attempt to escape would be useless. Perhaps Sophia saw something of her own past in Emily, or perhaps she simply believed the girl could help Lusian open up to the world before him. Either way, the decision had already been made.
Shortly after, they went outside. Two knights of Count Carter, William and Alejandro, were waiting beside the carriage, their expressions serious and formal. Sophia left no room for discussion:
—Lady Carter's safety will be under the protection of House Douglas.
The knights stepped back, respecting the duchess's authority. Lusian gave Emily a quick glance; she returned a light smile, as if she understood the tension contained in every one of his gestures. He approached the carriage, adjusting his coat with a mix of nervousness and determination.
Each step toward her reminded him that his life had changed. He could no longer hide behind the comfort of routine. Every meeting, every word, every glance was part of this new world he had to learn to face.
—So… ready for the walk? —he asked, trying to make his voice sound calmer than he felt inside.
Emily nodded, and for a brief moment, Lusian wanted to forget all his worries.