A soft knock came at his door.
"Enter," he called quietly.
The door opened, and the scent of old books and spiced oils told him it was Lord Rufus.
"You're still awake," the old man said. "Trouble sleeping?"
"I find the night offers clarity," Lucian replied. "When others are asleep, their masks sometimes slip."
Lord Rufus chuckled, moving to sit in the chair opposite Lucian. "Indeed. Which is why I'm here. I think it's time we spoke honestly, you and I."
Lucian turned his face toward the Ether Sage. "I've been nothing but honest with you."
"Yes, but selective in your honesty," Lord Rufus countered. "As am I. Let's dispense with some of the games, shall we? You are not simply a baron's son."
"And you are not simply here out of concern for your grandson," Lucian replied.
Lord Rufus was silent for a moment, then laughed softly. "Touché. Very well. I'll begin. I've been investigating disappearances—noble children, talented commoners, half-breeds—for nearly two years now. When Damian vanished, it confirmed my suspicions that someone very powerful was behind it all."
"And you suspect the Merchant Council," Lucian said.
"I suspect many," Lord Rufus corrected. "The council, certain noble houses, even elements within the Imperial Court itself. The experiments you described match reports I've gathered from other survivors—though none as young as yourself."
"And what is your interest?" Lucian asked. "Beyond recovering your grandson?"
"I believe these experiments are part of a larger plot," Lord Rufus said seriously. "One that threatens the stability of the Empire itself. And possibly worse."
Lucian tilted his head. "Worse?"
"The barriers between our realms and others are not as impenetrable as most believe," Lord Rufus said, his voice dropping. "Blood magic along with the appropriate ritual—especially blood drawn from those with certain lineages—can weaken those barriers."
Lucian was silent, processing this information. It aligned with fragments he had overheard in the laboratory. Finally, he asked, "And what do you want from me?"
"Information, for now," Lord Rufus replied. "And perhaps alliance in the future. You are... unusual, Lucian Marcellus. Your aura, your composure, your insights—all suggest someone far beyond your years. And your... daughter, as you call her... is even more intriguing."
Lucian's face creased into a frown. He sensed Lord Rufus was hinting at something with his constant emphasis on "you and your daughter," and his expression turned cold. But Lord Rufus held up a hand.
"I have no interest in exposing either of you," the old man assured him. "I merely note that allies come in many forms, and often the most unexpected ones prove most valuable."
"What do you offer in return for this alliance?" Lucian asked.
"Protection. Resources. And perhaps most valuable of all—information," Lord Rufus said. "I am old, but my network is vast. Few secrets in the capital escape my notice for long."
Lucian considered for a long moment before replying. "I accept your proposal of alliance, Lord Rufus. Though I maintain certain... reservations."
"As any prudent man would," Lord Rufus agreed, rising to his feet. "We'll speak more when we meet again. For now, rest. I know you probably plan to leave early in the morning. I will have one of the carriages ready to take you to the Silverwood Province, since that's where your family resides."
With that parting revelation, Lord Rufus left, closing the door softly behind him.
A moment later, Aurora's "sleep" ended. She sat up, her eyes gleaming in the darkness. "Interesting," she said, her voice no longer childlike. "The old fox knows more than he's letting on."
"Of course he does," Lucian replied. "As do we all."
"Will you trust him?" Aurora asked.
"Trust is a luxury I can't afford," Lucian said with little expression on his face. "But I will use him, as he intends to use me. And in that mutual usage, perhaps we'll both get what we want."
Aurora slid from the bed and came to stand beside him at the window.
"The game begins in earnest, then," she said, a smile curving her lips.
"It never stopped," Lucian replied. "The board has merely expanded."
After saying that, he turned and went to bed, lying down. Aurora came on top of him and snuggled her head against his chest before dozing off while he just kept patting her hair.
---
The next morning arrived with a pale golden light filtering through the window. Lucian had been awake for hours, mentally preparing for the journey ahead. He sensed more than heard Aurora stirring beside him.
"Today we part from them," she murmured, her voice still thick with feigned sleep.
Lucian directed his gaze to her before answering with a simple, "Yes."
They dressed silently, Aurora humming a tuneless melody as she moved about the room. A soft knock at the door announced a servant with breakfast—fresh bread, fruit, and something that smelled like herbal tea.
"Lord Rufus requests your presence in the courtyard when you're ready, young master," the servant said with a bow before departing.
Lucian ate methodically, his mind already racing ahead to the challenges that awaited him. The Silverwood Province was at least a day's journey from their current location—closer to his supposed "home" than to the capital. It would serve as a reasonable waypoint.
After breakfast, they made their way to the courtyard where Lord Rufus waited beside a smaller, but still elegant carriage. Two guards in Rufus livery stood nearby, along with a driver.
"Ah, young Marcellus," Lord Rufus greeted him. "I trust you slept well?"
"Well enough," Lucian replied, inclining his head slightly.
Julia, Jake, and Aria stood to one side, their expressions a mixture of confusion and concern. Damian lurked nearby, unusually hesitant.
"Captain," Damian finally said, stepping forward. "I heard you're not heading to the capital with us."
"Our paths diverge for now," Lucian confirmed. "But they will cross again at the Academy."
"I... understand," Damian said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "I just wanted to say... thank you. For everything."
Lucian could sense the young noble struggling with genuine emotion—something that clearly didn't come naturally to him. He just nodded.
Jake approached next, looking uncomfortable in his new, fine clothes. "Boss," he said quietly, "are you sure about this? Going off alone?"
"I'm hardly alone," Lucian replied, gesturing to Aurora who was playing with a butterfly that had landed on her finger. "And this is necessary. I've got to go home for proper arrangements."
After saying that, he looked in Julia and Aria's direction, then said, "I need you to keep tabs on how things go with all of you, Julia."
Julia's expression softened slightly before she asked, "And what about Aria?"
"She knows her role, as do you," he replied.
Julia came close to him before asking in a low voice, "I've had this question for a while now, but I really want to know..." She looked at Lucian, and after a while she continued, "Do you only see people as tools to use?"
Lucian turned his gaze to her face without much expression before replying, "And what if I said I do?"
Julia, hearing this, bit her lips and squeezed her fists, probably out of anger. But after calming her emotions, she said, "It's okay. I understand. Thank you for clarifying things for me."
He just stared at her with no change of expression. After a while, he heard Lord Rufus clear his throat.
"The carriage is prepared. These guards will accompany you to the edge of Silverwood Province. From there, I presume you know your way home?"
"Not really, due to my condition," Lucian replied. "So I will have to trouble the guards to drop me off at Marcellus Manor, if that's okay with you."
"Well, I already thought of that," Lord Rufus said. "So they will drop you off at the manor."
Lucian nodded, then looked at all of them before saying softly, almost to himself, "I wonder, if I will ever see those around me as more than just pawns?"
Then he turned around.
"We shall meet again at the Academy," Lord Rufus said, extending his hand. As Lucian clasped it, the old man added in a near whisper, "Remember our discussion. The pieces are already moving."
Lady Rufus who just saw the whole episode of Lucian and Julia came to her side while asking." Does that mean you're gonna give up?
Julia looked at Lady Rufus before looking away while saying." I don't know what you're saying"
Lady Rufus looking at Julia expression Laughed before saying." yeah you don't, you don't need to know what am saying there's still chance for something you want than giving up some of us didn't have that privilage hope you understand." After saying that she turned around and left Julia looking at her tightened fist and looked towards Lucian leaving before muttering." Like hell I'll give up." After saying that she turned around and left to.
Lady Rufus who just turned back seeing the expression on Julia face she giggled while thinking." hehehe Sarah it seem you've got quite the competition." while also looking at Aria who was watching Lucian all the way till he got into the carriage.
After brief farewells to Lady Rufus and the others, Lucian and Aurora boarded the small carriage. The driver flicked the reins, and they were off, the inn and their companions receding into the distance.
Once they were well away, Aurora dropped her childlike demeanor, stretching like a cat on the plush seat.
"Finally," she sighed. "Playing the innocent child grows tedious."
Lucian looked at her before saying, "You perform the role admirably."