LUCIUS.
The walk back to the house felt longer than usual, even though I took the exact same route, at the same pace.
Obviously, I had a lot on my mind: the Nmanas, Goodman, and the Wraiths...
For the first time, I was glad Rartar had left. The alliance he led was at least occupying one of the disasters we're facing — the corrupted beasts.
The others? I don't even know where to begin.
My priority is still the same — gaining strength, breaking through A-rank, reaching S-rank. But... these last two days confirmed something I never thought I'd admit:
Mental burden is heavier — far heavier — than physical burden.
I've carried boulders on my back, uprooted trees, just to toss them aside like toys.
But the weight of these missions, these secrets...
It's exhausting.
It makes me want to act like a maniac — scream, yell, tear my hair out like some insane idiot.
Or maybe I already am insane.
I genuinely questioned my mental state right there on the road.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go.
I was supposed to live a carefree life alongside my friends and family — nothing too grand, nothing too burdensome.
I wanted peace.
A laid-back life where I didn't have to act like some damned hero, ready to sacrifice myself for the empire and its worthless citizens.
I do want to protect a few — those close to me, the ones who actually matter.
The rest? They can rot in hell for all I care.
Not my problem.
But deep down, I knew.
If even one of those disasters brewing under the surface becomes reality, my loved ones would be pulled into it... and collateral damage always strikes the innocent first. Always.
As for the ones responsible... the real architects of these nightmares?
'I hope you bastards pray to your gods — pray that the Nmanas or Wraiths aren't your doing...
Because if you somehow survive them, I'll personally send you straight to hell myself.'
A promise. One I intend to keep.
As I approached my home, a stray thought clicked into place:
'Wait... weren't Adrianna and Lady Rebecca supposed to leave by this week?'
I tried to recall — Sia was doing much better now, and Rebecca wanted to spend more time with her family.
They were supposed to evacuate soon, I hope.
Not that I minded Rebecca — she's actually fun to be around these days, especially now that her beef with my mentor finally ended.
Good riddance, honestly.
With so much to think about, so much to act upon, and barely a fist's worth of time to spare...
I made my first move toward the future.
I went to bed.
My body was still too exhausted, and my short nap on Buck earlier was laughably short.
Even as I let sleep pull me under, I knew deep down:
Tonight, not even dreams could offer me an escape.
***
"...Good morning, love," I murmured, my voice rough with sleep, as her fingers threaded gently through my hair. My eyes hadn't even opened yet, but I could already feel her—warm, real, mine.
When I finally looked up, Sia was sitting beside me, half-leaning into the bed, her cheeks blooming with that telltale blush she always tried—and failed—to hide. She quickly lifted the back of her hand to cover her mouth and little nose, her gaze darting away as if the air itself had suddenly become too heavy to breathe.
"Since you're here," I said, reaching lazily for her arm still tangled in my hair, "I'm guessing Rebecca and that doctor of ours are out? Shopping, or something else?"
Her soft hum of confirmation made me smile. They had gone to the orphanage and the hospital together, errands Sia herself was supposed to attend. But she'd made some excuse, bending her responsibilities just to stay here, just to be with me.
We both knew it.
Finally, some privacy. Some stolen, sacred time. Her eyes said the same, conveying a secret only the two of us understood.
Sia wore my favourite black top, the one that clung to her in all the right places, the one I could never tear my eyes from. She gave me a mischievous look, that sly sparkle in her eye driving a teasing dagger straight through my patience.
I opened my arms wide in invitation.
She stayed where she was, smug, trembling slightly from the effort to suppress her smile, her lips quivering with unspoken laughter.
"...I swear to God, love, don't test me—"
I didn't even get to finish before she lunged forward, crashing into my chest as I caught her in a fierce embrace.
Our heartbeats spiked, each frantic pulse pressing through skin and cloth as if trying to sync together. There was an urgency in how we clung to each other, like the world itself might tear us apart if we dared loosen our grip for even a second.
God, I loved this woman.
That was the last coherent thought in my mind before Sia captured my mouth in a desperate kiss. Then another. And another.
The rest of the world bled away—its noise, its wars, its duties.
There was only her.
Later, as we lay entangled on the bed, her body draped over mine, she lifted her chin to rest on my chest, her sharp, observing eyes boring into me.
"Your eyes," she said quietly, "they've changed. Slightly."
She tilted her head, studying me with that same careful intensity she used when studying enemies on the battlefield.
"Darker, maybe."
The words were almost a whisper, but the way she said them made my heart squeeze painfully in my chest.
Arcane had told me the same thing—either yesterday or the day before; time was becoming a blur. But hearing it from Sia... it made it real.
More real than I was ready for.
"You think? Must be true then," I muttered, half-smiling. Her judgment carried more weight than the whole damned world.
She glanced around the room—our room, for these fleeting mornings. Still simple. Still organised. Still ours, in a way few things in this world could ever be.
Reality, heavy and unwelcome, stirred again inside me.
"I have to leave," I said, breaking the fragile peace.
"Lav... and someone else," I added, a little too quickly.
At the mention of someone else, Sia's body stiffened slightly before she rolled off me, her back half-turned, her voice clipped.
"You mean Sara?"
There was a sharp edge hidden in her question.
"No," I answered immediately.
Even now, even to myself, I didn't know who exactly it was Arcane wanted me to find. Only that she was important.
Important enough to drag me away from the only place I truly wanted to be right now—here, with her.
We freshened up side-by-side, like some old, half-forgotten habit. She stood behind me, combing my hair slowly as I dried my face.
It was such a small thing. Such an old thing. But it nearly broke me.
"This woman... why are you visiting her?"
Her voice was quieter this time, almost careful.
I tilted my head back against her hand.
"Arcane's orders. She's my only lead right now," I explained.
But Sia said nothing more, accepting it, even if she didn't like it.
She moved on. Practical as always.
"By the way, visit Dargan today. He has news for you—specifically for you."
"Oh great," I grumbled. "Any heads-up? Should I be ready for Goodman trying to 'accidentally' run into me?"
Even mentioning that bastard left a bitter taste in my mouth.
"No," she said flatly. "Dargan asked for you. Jhansi might be there too, she's handling some guild matters."
That, at least, was a relief. Arcane's shadow still shielded me, but it never hurt to have a few trustworthy blades nearby.
Especially with Goodman lurking around like a rabid dog sniffing after scraps he'd never earn.
"Any news for Goodman?" I teased, flashing her a wicked grin.
Her reply was immediate.
"Give him my best regards," she said, voice dripping disdain.
"Sure thing," I smirked. "I'll show him both my middle fingers."
We laughed—just for a second. But even that second mattered more than I could admit.
Still, a heavy knot sat in my gut. What the hell did Dargan want? My plate was already overflowing. And now this?
I left quickly, just as Rebecca and Adrianna were returning. Adrianna gave us a look—one of those long, suspicious stares she probably thought was subtle.
Sia's hair was damp. Mine too.
The same smell clung to both of us.
I leaned in close as I passed Adrianna, my voice a low growl meant just for her.
"Mind your own fucking business."
I didn't bother looking back. She wasn't my concern. Not today.
Sia stayed behind, chatting easily with Rebecca as if nothing had happened.
She was good at that. So damn good it almost scared me.
I pulled my hood up against the sun as I headed into the streets, unsure which way to go first—the guild association, or my friends.
Both urgent. Both waiting.
Shit... I sighed inwardly, shoving my hands into my pockets.
Where the hell do I even start?