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 absorb him completely, and a deep hum ran through his arm all the way to his chest.
The blade slowly changed color, shifting from silver to black. It was not a shadow that covered it, but something denser, more absolute, as if light simply ceased to exist around it. The air around them turned cold, charged with a strange pressure.
In front of him, the obstacle was solid stone, heavy and dense, something that should not yield to anything ordinary. However, Lusian did not prepare more than necessary. He did not need to.
He raised the sword and executed a single slash—short, precise, with no visible effort.
The blade passed through the stone as if it did not exist. 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 stopped, a clean opening remained, its edges dark, as if something had erased the matter instead of cutting it. The mana disappeared from the blade, and it returned to its normal state, silent, harmless once again.
Lusian watched it in silence.
"...What a sword."
Lusian lowered the sword and let the sweat dry on his forehead. Dainslein rested in his hand, still vibrating with a faint energy that seemed to react to his pulse. He wiped himself with a towel and turned toward the courtyard gate, surprised to see a servant running toward him in hurried steps.
—Lord Lusian —the man panted—, Lady Emily Carter has arrived.
Lusian frowned, caught between surprise and slight irritation. Emily? Again? He carefully stored the sword, as if afraid that any carelessness would break the delicate connection he was already beginning to feel with it. His muscles still vibrated from training, and a knot formed in his stomach at the idea of seeing her.
When he entered the main hall, he found her talking with Sophia. Emily laughed naturally, without the stiffness Lusian remembered from their first meeting. Sophia, elegant and serene, seemed to enjoy the scene, while Lusian advanced with measured steps, trying to hide his confusion.
—What are you doing here? —he finally asked, disbelief threading his voice.
Sophia looked at him calmly, as someone who knows every emotion running through her son.—I invited her —she said, softening the sentence—. The city center is near the mansion. 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 keep a firm tone, though his voice betrayed a slight 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, resigned. He knew any attempt to escape would be useless. Perhaps Sophia saw something of her own past in Emily, or simply trusted that the girl could help Lusian open up a little to the world now in front of him. Either way, the decision had already been made.
Shortly after, both went outside. Two knights from Count Carter's house, William and Alejandro, waited beside the carriage, their expressions serious and formal. Sophia left no room for discussion:—Lady Carter's safety will be under the protection of the Douglas Duchy.
The knights stepped back, respecting the duchess's authority. Lusian cast a quick glance at Emily, who returned a light smile, as if she understood the tension contained in every one of his gestures. He approached the carriage, adjusting his jacket 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 encounter, 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 moment, Lusian wanted to forget all his worries.