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Chapter 235: They are yours

Lucavion approached the two children slowly, each step careful, as if he were approaching something fragile.

Riken and Sena, still breathing heavily, turned their heads towards him. Their faces, twisted in rage and grief, seemed frozen in that expression as if they had forgotten how to be anything else.

But Lucavion didn't flinch; instead, he stepped closer, his hand reaching out, and he lifted it gently to rest on their heads, his touch light, almost cautious.

"You did well," he murmured, his voice steady, calm. "Now everything is fine."

Both children flinched at the unexpected gentleness of his touch, unused to anything but the roughness and control of others. Riken's gaze flicked away, uncertain, while Sena blinked rapidly, her breathing quickening. For a moment, the room was still, the only sounds were their ragged breaths and the faint crackle of Lucavion's calm, grounding words.

Finally, Sena looked up at him, her face etched with confusion and vulnerability. "What… what do we do now?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a fragile thread. "Our people… Mother, Father…"

Her gaze fell, her shoulders slumping as the weight of everything settled on her small frame.

Lucavion's hand didn't move from her head. Instead, he let his fingers settle, softly tousling her hair as he shifted to pat Riken's head as well. His gaze was as calm as his words, holding an odd warmth as he looked down at them. "What else?" he said quietly. "You are going to live, of course."

Sena looked up at him, her expression flickering between doubt and a faint, unsteady hope.

"At the very least," he continued, his tone gentle, "isn't that what your mother and father would want for you? And the people of your village, just like how you were fighting for them—don't you think they'd want to fight for you too?"

The words hung in the air, sinking into the silence of the room, filling the void left by the chaos that had erupted only moments before. Riken's lips parted, his gaze lifting to meet Lucavion's as if seeking reassurance. The anger in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something softer, something uncertain.

They stayed like that, both children silent, absorbing his words, trying to understand the world anew in the wake of their vengeance.

The two children remained silent, Lucavion's words settling over them like a thin blanket of hope they weren't sure they could trust. Sena's gaze dropped to her bloodied hands, her brows knitting together as if struggling to piece together a new path forward.

Finally, Riken spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "But… how?" His words trembled with both longing and doubt. "How are we supposed to live? How do we… do any of this?"

Lucavion was silent for a moment, his gaze softening as he watched them. Then, without a word, he extended his hand, his fingers steady and open, as if inviting them into something beyond the walls of this dark, bloodstained room.

"Follow me," he said, his voice as calm as ever but with a new warmth in it, a quiet promise.

Sena and Riken looked at his outstretched hand, hesitating. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with both the remnants of anger and the faint flicker of something they hadn't allowed themselves to feel in a long time: hope.

Lucavion's smile was gentle, his voice low but steady. "It's the adults' job to teach the young," he murmured. "And I'll bring you to one who can help you learn."

"Really?"

"….Really…."

Hearing that, the two's gazes were softened a little.

For what reason, they did not know.

But for one, they could feel like this person before them was trustworthy. He was not here to take advantage of them.

He was here to help them instead.

And that was…..

The final point.

Their hands finally reached out to grasp his. Their fingers, small and hesitant, clasped around his in a moment that felt fragile yet strangely resolute. For the first time, they allowed themselves to trust, if only just enough to take the first step.

*******

Mariel moved methodically around the inn, wiping down tables and rearranging chairs, though her mind was far from the mundane tasks.

Being the owner of one of the most popular inns in the city, she had a steady stream of patrons who shared stories and rumors alike.

Through years of listening and observing, she had woven a network of information that stretched to the farthest reaches of the city. If something was happening, she usually knew about it.

And recently, her ears had been catching wind of troubling whispers. Whispers of violence, of children orphaned by merciless hands, of hidden powers surfacing where they shouldn't.

Mariel's instincts, honed from her years as a formidable adventurer, pricked with an uneasy awareness that the city was on the edge of something dark.

Also, there was the case with the Lucavion.

Mariel's lips pressed into a thin line as she continued her work, thoughts of Lucavion lingering in the back of her mind. His recent actions hadn't gone unnoticed. The name "Phantom Blade" had started circulating through the city, whispered with both admiration and disdain. She found the moniker a little cringe-worthy, but she couldn't deny that it suited the mysterious aura he carried. The name had weight now, especially after he had dared to stir up trouble with the Cloud Heavens Sect.

It was a bold move—almost reckless. Lucavion was in this city alone, and yet he had walked right into conflict with one of the most powerful sects in the region. His confidence had seemed like mere bravado at first, but now, as she pieced together the implications of his actions, she began to understand the calculated risk he'd taken. This was no idle provocation. He had come to her not just for casual conversation or a reminder of his master's legacy; he had come seeking something only she could offer: protection.

'If he planned to go after the Cloud Heavens Sect from the beginning, then coming to me makes perfect sense,'

she thought, her brows furrowing.

'He knew they wouldn't take his interference lightly. He needed someone strong enough to keep them at bay.'

The Cloud Heavens Sect, while undoubtedly powerful, had limited forces stationed in the city. Most of their primary members were likely occupied elsewhere, which meant that, at most, they would send an elder to deal with him—a figure around Mariel's own level. If it came to that, she was more than capable of protecting Lucavion, though it would mean facing potential retaliation from the sect.

She tightened her grip on the cloth in her hand, the weight of that thought settling heavily over her. Taking on the Cloud Heavens Sect, even indirectly, was no small matter. She had worked hard to maintain her position here in Andelheim, keeping her reputation balanced between respect and neutrality. But siding with Lucavion would risk pulling her into a feud she had no personal stake in—except, of course, for her connection to him as Gerald's disciple.

Her gaze drifted to the entrance of the inn, her mind racing through the possibilities. She had no intention of turning a blind eye to Lucavion's troubles, but she needed to be clear on the risks involved. Going up against the Cloud Heavens Sect, even subtly, would mean treading a dangerous line.

'If they send an elder… well, I can handle that,'

she thought, her resolve hardening. She knew her own strength, and she trusted in her abilities. But a confrontation, however inevitable it might be, would come at a cost.

With a steadying breath, she set the cloth down, her decision made. If Lucavion's plans indeed drew the ire of the Cloud Heavens Sect, she would stand by him. Whatever consequences came her way, she was prepared to face them. After all, the Iron Matron wasn't one to back down.

She had already sensed the presence of the people approaching.

The girl named Valeria, Lucavion, and two more.

'Beastkin?'

CREAK!

Just then, suddenly the door opened.

Mariel looked up at the sound of the creaking door, her gaze sharp and expectant. Just as she had sensed, Lucavion was there at the entrance, but he wasn't alone. Beside him stood two young figures—a pair of beastkin, their postures tense yet visibly worn, and just behind them was Valeria, her expression one of silent vigilance.

Mariel's eyes flickered over the new arrivals, noting their ragged clothes, and the traces of dirt and dried blood on their hands. They looked both frightened and defiant, their eyes darting around the room as if half-expecting danger even in this supposed haven.

Lucavion met Mariel's gaze with a familiar smirk, though his voice carried a weight beneath its usual playfulness.

"I've brought some people for you to take care of."

Chapter 236: They are yours (2)

"I've brought some people for you to take care of," Lucavion said, his tone casual but underlined with something more solemn.

Mariel's gaze narrowed slightly, studying the young beastkin who clung to each other, as if even standing beside Lucavion was a tentative act of trust. She could see the fatigue in their eyes, the kind of weariness that went beyond physical exhaustion. There was a story in those looks, a depth of loss and resilience that she recognized all too well.

Without a word, she approached them, her expression softening as she turned to Lucavion. "I take it these two are under your protection now?" she asked, her voice steady, though a glint of understanding flashed in her eyes.

Lucavion's gaze drifted from Mariel to the two young beastkin, his expression unreadable, a flicker of something close to regret crossing his face. "My protection… I doubt that," he murmured, his voice softened, almost distant. "I'm not exactly someone who can protect… you must already know this." His words were spoken quietly, as though more to himself than to her, but there was a steady resolve in his tone.

He looked down at Riken and Sena, his hand resting lightly on the boy's shoulder. "These ones… they're just a bunch of lost little lambs," he said, the faintest trace of sadness in his voice. It was as if he recognized their plight all too well, and perhaps even saw a part of himself reflected in their frightened, weary eyes.

Mariel felt a pang of understanding as his words sank in. She had seen it before, countless times. Children were left to fend for themselves in the crossfire of a world where wars and grudges tore through innocent lives like wildfire. They weren't common, but they weren't rare either—young souls caught in battles they had no part in, scarred by the choices of others, wandering lost with nowhere to go.

It was the brutal reality of their world, one she knew all too well. "I understand," she said softly, a hint of sorrow touching her voice. Her gaze lingered on the children, taking in the way they clung to each other, the haunted look in their eyes that betrayed too much pain for ones so young.

'Also, these ones…..they are not that bad.'

Maybe a rough life, something that was most likely not easy.

Though they didn't seem to cross too many lines for now.

"Lost little lambs, indeed," she murmured, her voice steadying as her resolve hardened. She looked back at Lucavion, her gaze unwavering. "You may not think of yourself as someone who can protect, Lucavion. But you've brought them here. That says more than you realize."

Lucavion gave a faint, knowing smile, his eyes glinting with a mixture of gratitude and acknowledgment. "Then I'll leave them in your capable hands, Iron Matron."

Mariel's gaze shifted from the children back to Lucavion, her expression contemplative. "What do you want for them, then?" she asked, her voice low but steady. "Do you want them to be raised for the future? To be prepared for what lies ahead for you?"

Lucavion's eyes met hers, and a flicker of something unreadable passed across his face. For a moment, he said nothing, then shook his head, a faint smile tinged with irony playing on his lips. "What, do you think I've fallen so low that I need a bunch of kids to help me fight my battles?" he replied, his tone light but his words carrying a quiet edge. He gave a small, dismissive wave of his hand as if brushing the thought away.

"No, that's not what I want for them," he continued, his voice softening as he looked at Riken and Sena. "I just want them to live like… normal children would. Or at least, as close to it as possible. Even if they'll never be like other kids, even if that innocence has been stolen from them… I want them to have something that resembles a normal life."

Mariel watched him, her expression softening slightly. She could sense the sincerity in his words, the genuine desire to give these children something more than the life they'd been thrust into. It was a rarity in their world—an aspiration that often went unfulfilled, crushed under the weight of survival and ambition.

"Well," she said, her voice thoughtful, "that may not be an easy task. But if that's what you want for them, I'll do my best to give them a chance."

Lucavion's expression lightened, his usual smirk returning. "Good. I knew you'd understand," he said, his voice tinged with a faint gratitude. "They deserve a place where they don't have to be soldiers or pawns. Just children, for as long as they can be."

Mariel nodded, her gaze shifting back to the two young beastkin. "I will try."

"Just do what you want. No one is perfect from the start."

"Heh….Here I thought, I would never get to have children."

"Well, I guess this covers your lack of getting courtship."

"..."

"Ahaha…..My bad, my bad….I guess I was not supposed to say that."

Mariel shot Lucavion a deadpan look, her lips pressing together in a mock frown, though there was a faint glint of amusement in her eyes. "You're lucky I'm too tired to throw you out for that remark," she muttered, crossing her arms as she glanced back at the children, who looked between them with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

Lucavion chuckled, raising his hands in a playful gesture of surrender. "My apologies, Iron Matron," he said, though the mischievous glimmer in his eyes hadn't faded. "I didn't mean to overstep. Just trying to lighten the mood."

Mariel rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Well, if these two are any indication," she said, nodding toward the children, "I'll have my hands full without having to worry about… courtship."

Lucavion grinned, leaning casually against the wall, clearly enjoying the rare moment of banter. "Maybe that's for the best," he replied with a shrug. "I can't picture anyone keeping up with the Iron Matron's standards, anyway."

Mariel gave him a final, skeptical look, but her expression softened as she turned her attention back to Riken and Sena, her resolve reaffirmed. "For what it's worth," she said quietly, more to herself than to Lucavion, "I'll give them what they need."

"Of that, I have no doubt," Lucavion replied, his tone softer this time, carrying a note of genuine respect.

For a moment, they stood in silence, a shared understanding passing between them. Then, with a final nod to Mariel, Lucavion straightened and gave a small wave to the children. "You're in good hands, little ones," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that belied his usual aloof demeanor.

Mariel watched him and the pink-haired girl go, her thoughts lingering on the challenge ahead.

Raising these two wouldn't be easy, but something about the task felt right. As the door closed behind Lucavion, she looked down at the children, her gaze steady, and gave them a reassuring smile.

Her warm yet determined gaze softened as she looked down at the two young beastkin, both watching her warily yet clinging to each other as if they feared letting go might send them adrift. Riken's hand trembled faintly as if the toll of recent events was just beginning to register. Sena, though small and weary, kept her chin raised, meeting Mariel's gaze with a fragile defiance.

"Let's clean you up first," Mariel said gently, her voice filled with a kind of quiet assurance that seemed to settle over them like a balm. She reached out, a steadying hand extended in the invitation, but made no move to rush them. It was clear she understood the caution in their eyes, the remnants of a trust broken too many times to count.

Riken's gaze flickered over her hand, uncertain, but at last, he released his sister and took a tentative step forward. Sena followed, her eyes darting around the inn as though she still expected danger to lurk in every shadow. Mariel only waited, patient, until they stood beside her, exhausted yet resolute.

"There's a lot we'll need to work on together," Mariel murmured, her voice steady but understanding. "It'll take time—learning to feel safe again, to know there's a place here for you. But you don't need to be ready all at once. Just know, you're welcome here, both of you."

Sena glanced up at her, a hint of surprise in her wide, tired eyes, and for a moment, a flicker of hope softened her gaze.

With a final reassuring smile, Mariel led them toward the back of the inn. The Iron Matron's inn was always a place of transition, a stopover for travelers and wanderers, but this time felt different. Mariel had seen countless people come and go, each one carrying their own burdens, yet there was something about these two, about the fragility they hid behind those worn faces, that called to her in a way she hadn't felt in years.

Chapter 237: How to exert power

Lucavion and Valeria continued walking through the soft-lit streets of Andelheim, silence settling between them. Valeria's thoughts shifted repeatedly to Lucavion's expression back at the inn, the momentary flicker of regret he'd shown when he'd brought Riken and Sena to Mariel. She had seen many faces of Lucavion—mischievous, dismissive, exasperatingly carefree—but this one felt different, like a glimpse through the armor he always wore.

'Why did he look at them that way?'

she pondered, her steps steady but her mind swimming with the image. Lucavion's face had been so brief, that passing regret gone as quickly as it appeared, yet it lingered with her. The way his hand had rested lightly on Riken's shoulder, how he'd referred to them as "lost little lambs"… it was a softness he usually masked with sarcasm or indifference. But she wouldn't bring it up. She wouldn't dig.

Instead, she kept her gaze forward, her posture composed as her mind turned the question over. The lights of the city cast an amber glow on the cobbled streets, and Lucavion walked with his usual ease beside her, seeming almost oblivious to her introspection. Finally, he spoke, his voice pulling her from her thoughts.

"So, still worrying about Mariel's new charges?" he asked, voice casual but with that ever-present hint of knowing.

Valeria looked ahead, her voice measured. "I'm not worried about them. Miss Mariel's capable. They'll be in better hands with her than they would with anyone else." She paused, her tone quieter. "But… you looked almost regretful."

Lucavion didn't respond immediately, instead glancing at her with a faint, knowing smirk. He shrugged, tucking his hands into his pockets. "They're not the first kids I've seen who had their world taken apart," he said lightly, though there was an edge beneath the words. "But that's just life, isn't it? Not everyone gets to keep what they care about."

Valeria's lips tightened, a restrained retort ready, but she swallowed it down. Instead, she simply nodded, keeping her voice steady. "That may be true, but… it's not nothing, what you did today."

Lucavion's smirk softened, his gaze flickering with a momentary warmth. "It is not nothing….. I guess that is true." He mumbled to himself.

They continued in silence, their steps echoing softly on the cobblestone streets, and Valeria felt a quiet shift within herself, like the stirring of a question she could not ignore. Seeing Lucavion—a man who often dismissed the world's woes with a smirk or a shrug—show even a faint glimmer of realization affected her. She was reminded of the countless times she had thrown herself into her own path, fixated on her family's expectations, her desire to prove herself, and her ambitions. But for all her focus, had she ever truly taken in the lives around her?

'

If this path is just about my own glory, am I no better than the adventurers I dismissed for chasing coin and fame?'

she wondered. It wasn't an unfamiliar thought, but it weighed on her differently tonight. If her knighthood was for something larger, shouldn't that "something" extend beyond her own honor?

Her gaze drifted to Lucavion again, lingering in brief, almost unconscious glances. There was something unsettling about him—his carelessness, the way he defied every rule and lived without the bounds of duty. Yet, here he was, taking these two children to Mariel, offering them a sliver of hope he might deny he even believed in himself.

A flicker of understanding crossed his face as if he sensed her scrutiny. He tilted his head with a bemused expression. "What's that look, Valeria?" he asked, his tone teasing, though a trace of genuine curiosity hid beneath.

Caught off-guard, she looked away, a faint flush warming her cheeks. "Nothing," she said, but the denial felt hollow. She let out a slow breath, then ventured, "It's just… you've been full of surprises lately."

Lucavion's gaze sharpened, his usual smirk fading as he regarded her with genuine curiosity. "Surprises?" he echoed, the word lingering with unexpected interest. "What do you mean?"

Valeria hesitated, glancing away briefly, feeling a bit exposed under the weight of his attention. Still, she felt compelled to answer. "I didn't expect you to be… this kind of person," she admitted, the words falling quietly. "You always struck me as someone different."

Lucavion's brows lifted, intrigued. "Different how?"

She thought carefully, choosing her words as her gaze traced the ground between them. "Someone spoiled," she began, then paused, risking a glance at him, "…and someone who doesn't care about anything in this world."

At the word

spoiled

, she saw a faint, almost imperceptible change in his expression. It was subtle—a flicker in his eyes, a slight tightening of his jaw, gone as quickly as it appeared. But Valeria noticed, and a curious thought took root in her mind.

Lucavion's smirk returned, this time carrying a trace of irony. "And that's exactly what I am," he said, his voice smooth, offering no protest or denial.

Valeria studied him closely, catching the hint of something buried deeper within his words, though he cloaked it well. There was more to his reaction than he was letting on. But instead of pressing further, she merely nodded, absorbing the insight for herself.

"Well, if that's the case," she murmured, "then maybe I've misjudged you."

He shrugged, the faint smirk lingering as he turned his gaze forward. "Maybe you have," he said lightly, though there was a glimmer of something unreadable in his eyes. "After all, this wouldn't be the first time that you have done so."

Valeria's thoughts drifted back to the first time she had met Lucavion in Rackenshore. She had been sent there with a specific purpose: to find Korvan, a powerful bandit leader whose defeat would bring her much-needed credit and recognition. Yet, upon arriving, she was greeted not by the infamous Korvan but by the unexpected news that he had already been bested—and by Lucavion, of all people.

At the time, she had refused to believe it. Lucavion's easy confidence, the smirk he wore as if he owned the world, made her think he was nothing but a fraud. She'd even challenged him on it, demanding proof that he was the one responsible. But he had met her suspicion with the same ironic smile and a calm assurance that soon left her without a doubt—Lucavion was the real deal.

And here they were, weeks later. The road they had traveled together since Rackenshore was a strange one, full of clashes, surprising moments, and insights she'd never expected. She'd learned more from him than she had in an entire year as a knight, from the power of unorthodox methods to the value of embracing uncertainty.

Her gaze lingered on him, reflecting on the unlikely partnership that had emerged. Lucavion noticed her look, an amused eyebrow-raising. "Lost in thought? I'd hate to think I'm boring you already," he teased, though his tone was gentler than usual.

"Far from it," she replied, her voice soft. "I was just… remembering how we met."

Lucavion chuckled. "Ah, Rackenshore. You looked so convinced I was bluffing about Korvan. I'd never seen someone draw their sword so fast," he said, his smirk widening.

Valeria gave him a sidelong look, a small, reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "In my defense, you didn't look like much of a knight. But I suppose I've learned not to judge a book by its cover," she murmured, her tone thoughtful. She glanced down the street, her mind sifting through all the moments they'd shared, all the unexpected things she had witnessed.

"Surprising, isn't it?" Lucavion said, his gaze drifting forward. "How paths cross in ways you don't plan for."

Valeria nodded, feeling the truth of his words as they continued through the dim streets. And though she knew her journey was far from over, she found a strange comfort in the fact that, for now, her path was entwined with his.

'Really…'

she mused, casting another glance Lucavion's way. Why was that? She couldn't understand it—how his presence had become such a constant, so natural. She'd once found his attitude insufferable, yet now the idea of him not being there felt strange, hollow even. Ridiculous. As if being without him would somehow make her path… dull.

'No, absolutely not,'

she thought firmly, brushing the notion aside. There was nothing "natural" about wanting his company—her pride couldn't allow it. She was a knight, and he was, well… Lucavion. Unpredictable, insufferably smug, a man who bent rules as if they were suggestions. She had no business even entertaining the idea that she'd miss him. He was merely a distraction, someone she'd never take seriously.

But as she stole another fleeting look at him, her thoughts quieted, though her heart felt oddly heavy.

Just like that the two returned to their rooms, only to witness a scene that they were not expecting.

Or rather, Valeria was not expecting would be much more true.

"From now on, we can not welcome you here."

Since the innkeeper of the inn that they were staying in refused to let the two of them stay in the same place.

Chapter 238: How to exert power (2)

The moment they stepped into the inn, a tense silence greeted Lucavion and Valeria, and she immediately sensed something amiss. Around them, men gathered in the shadows, their gazes flickering with a subtle hostility that made her spine stiffen. Valeria's brow furrowed—what was this about? Had she or Lucavion done something to provoke them?

Before she could speak, the innkeeper stepped forward, her face devoid of the usual warmth, her gaze hard as she addressed them directly. "From now on, we cannot welcome you here. Your stay at this inn has been canceled."

Valeria blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "What do you mean our stay here is canceled?" she demanded, her tone sharp as her frustration flared. "We paid for these rooms in advance. You can't simply turn us away!"

Without hesitation, the innkeeper pulled a small pouch from her apron, tossing it toward Valeria. "Here's the coin you paid." She then tossed another coin to Lucavion, though this time she did it in a more condescending way. "Here is yours too. Take it and leave."

Valeria caught the pouch, the slight jingle of the returned payment doing nothing to ease her anger. The innkeeper's hand rose in a dismissive wave, shooing them away as though they were a nuisance. "Go on. There's no place for you here."

The injustice of it made Valeria's jaw clench, and she took a step forward, her voice rising with her frustration. "What gives you the right to turn us out like this?" she demanded, her furious gaze flicking to the men surrounding them as if daring them to answer.

But instead of explanations, the men shifted, forming a tighter circle, their expressions darkening as one of them sneered, "You two have brought trouble to this inn. That's all the reason we need."

Valeria's eyes narrowed. "What trouble?" she shot back, her hand instinctively moving toward the hilt of her sword. "We've done nothing to deserve this treatment."

Lucavion, however, remained unfazed, his eyes flickering with his usual glint of amusement. He let out a quiet chuckle, catching Valeria's angry gaze. "Let it go," he murmured to her, his tone soft but knowing. "This isn't a fight worth starting."

But Valeria's blood boiled at the sight of the smug faces around them, the casual dismissal that came so easily to these men. "No," she bit out. "I want to know why."

One of the men laughed under his breath. "You want to know why? This bastard here seems to know this already," he said, his gaze locking with Lucavion's, a cold smirk stretching across his lips.

Lucavion's eyes darkened, his smirk sharpening as he met the man's sneer with a gaze that could cut through steel. He took a slow, deliberate step closer, his voice low but laced with a subtle menace. "I'd suggest you watch your mouth," he murmured, his tone calm but dangerous. "The Cloud Heavens Sect won't be in Andelheim forever. And when they're gone, well… someone might just come looking for you."

The man's expression barely flickered. Instead, he leaned in with a mocking grin, his voice dripping with condescension. "By then, anyone who'd come for me will have been dealt with," he said confidently. "So don't worry about it."

Lucavion's smirk widened as he shook his head, a glint of disdain in his eyes. "If that's what you wish," he replied smoothly, his tone light and dismissive. "Far be it from me to change your mind."

He turned to Valeria, his expression softening slightly as he reached for her arm. "Come on," he said quietly, tugging her gently but firmly. "Let's get out of here."

Valeria's mouth opened in protest, fury sparking in her eyes, but his steady grip and calm gaze silenced her. She allowed herself to be pulled from the inn, though her glare lingered on the men behind them. Once they stepped out into the cool night air, she wrenched her arm free, her voice tight with frustration. "You let them get away with that? After the way they treated us?"

Lucavion merely chuckled, glancing at her with a knowing smile. "Let's talk after we leave."

Valeria's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp as she studied Lucavion's face. This wasn't like him—Lucavion was reckless, a man who would mock a threat openly rather than leave quietly. Yet tonight, he was holding back, choosing restraint over his usual cavalier defiance. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that there was more to this than he was letting on.

Without a word, she followed him as he led them away from the inn, her mind racing with questions. When they were far enough down the street, she finally stopped, her eyes hard as she turned to face him. "Alright, enough," she said firmly, her gaze locked on his. "What's going on, Lucavion? Why did the innkeeper suddenly turn us away? And why are you… acting like this?"

Lucavion met her gaze, his expression unreadable, though a hint of resignation flickered in his eyes.

"What do you think?"

"If I knew, would I ask you about this?"

"Just because you don't know, doesn't mean that you won't be able to find out once you think. So, turn those gears on and think."

"Gears? What is that?"

"Ah….I mean, turn your brain on and think."

Valeria's eyes narrowed, clearly unamused by his evasion. Her mind turned over the scene at the inn, her frustration mounting with each moment Lucavion dodged giving her a straight answer.

"Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms and meeting his gaze with a steely resolve. "You want me to think? Alright, I'll think."

Her mind went back to the hostility in the innkeeper's voice, the way those men had looked at Lucavion as if he were some sort of criminal. And then there was the man's offhand comment about Lucavion already knowing the reason behind the treatment. Her thoughts quickly turned to the Cloud Heavens Sect, the only ones who had taken issue with Lucavion since they'd arrived in Andelheim.

"Is it the Cloud Heavens Sect?" she asked, her voice quieter, a dangerous edge beneath it. "Are they the ones behind this?"

Lucavion's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile. "There you go," he said, his voice carrying an approving tone. "Didn't take that long, did it?"

Valeria's brows furrowed, her gaze piercing as she demanded, "But how? How is the Cloud Heavens Sect tied to the innkeeper?"

Lucavion simply gave her an expectant look. "Think it through," he said, his tone light but challenging.

She let out a frustrated sigh, her mind running through every detail of the innkeeper's cold dismissal. She replayed the innkeeper's words, her hostile demeanor, the men's mocking gazes. But the reason behind it remained elusive.

Lucavion watched her struggle for a few moments before speaking again. "Here's a hint: check the pouch she threw at you."

Valeria blinked, surprised by the suggestion, but she did as he asked, retrieving the pouch from her belt and opening it. Inside was the exact amount she had paid for their stay, nothing more, nothing less.

She frowned, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. "It's exactly what I paid," she said, glancing up at him, puzzled. "Isn't that how it's supposed to be?"

Lucavion tilted his head with a small, knowing smile. "Sure, that's how it's supposed to be. But tell me, Valeria, if you were running an inn and wanted to kick a customer out, what would you do?"

She paused, brow furrowing further as she considered the question. "Well, I wouldn't kick a paying customer out," she replied firmly. "If they've paid, I'd keep my end of the deal."

Lucavion's smile widened slightly. "Of course you would. But let's say, hypothetically, you had a reason to kick them out. Maybe they were making too much noise or violating the inn's rules."

Valeria's eyes narrowed as the pieces began to fall into place. "If that were the case… then I wouldn't just give their money back," she said slowly, realization dawning. "I'd charge them a fee or keep a portion for the trouble they caused." She glanced back down at the pouch in her hand, her jaw tightening. "But she didn't keep any of it."

Lucavion nodded, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Exactly. She gave you every coin back. Why would that be? A hint. What would you have done if you were not paid accordingly?"

Valeria's brow furrowed as she processed his question. "If I hadn't been refunded fully," she murmured, thinking aloud, "I could have raised a complaint. I am a noble, after all—I'd have grounds to make trouble for her."

She paused, her gaze hardening as understanding dawned. "But with the full amount returned, there's no proof. It's as if the transaction never happened. Any complaint I make would just look like an overreaction or a misunderstanding."

Lucavion nodded, a faint smile of approval curving his lips. "Exactly. They've made sure that if you speak up, it lacks credibility. It's neat, isn't it?" He tilted his head, a glint of irony in his eyes. "But tell me, what did the innkeeper gain from all this? She returned every coin we paid her. So what does she get?"

Valeria's mind turned over the facts, and the answer soon became clear. "She's lost money," she said slowly, frowning. "She rented us those rooms and, by refunding us, basically let us stay for free. That means… someone must have compensated her."

Lucavion's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with approval. "There you go. If the Cloud Heavens Sect wanted her cooperation, they wouldn't leave her empty-handed. Money talks, Valeria. They likely paid her off to make sure she'd refuse us and do so quietly."

Valeria's gaze grew steely as she looked down at the pouch, the weight of understanding settling over her. "So they're using money to control everyone they can," she murmured, anger simmering beneath her calm tone. "Not with open threats, but with subtle bribes and incentives, enough to sway anyone who isn't willing to risk opposing them."

Lucavion gave a slight nod, his expression turning serious. "Money becomes a form of power, and it's more insidious than a sword at the throat. Everyone has their price."

Hearing that she remembered how Lucavion somehow passed the line even before her at that time.