NOVEL NEXT Chapter 103: Lucian's Weakness!
[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
Lucian's cold demeanor was exactly what Link had expected.
A man whose beloved had been taken by a devil, tormented endlessly by hatred and rage—there was no way he would be warm or welcoming.
Especially when the devil who had taken his love was one who thrived on manipulating hearts, reveling in the misery, pain, hatred, and anger of others.
This was Thresh, the Chain Warden.
To avoid giving Thresh any advantage, Lucian had to seal off his heart, becoming cold, resolute, and unyielding.
Every year, just before the Harrowing, Lucian would appear in Bilgewater.
Sometimes he would take the fight to the Shadow Isles; other times, he would wait in Bilgewater for Thresh to come to him.
This man would hunt Thresh to the ends of the earth, either until his beloved was freed or until he himself perished.
Pulling his hood lower, Lucian showed no desire to converse and turned to leave.
Link, still holding Neeko's hand, called out to Lucian's retreating figure, "Hey, cool guy, you're not going to find a ship to the Shadow Isles right now."
Lucian paused, then turned around, his hood falling back to reveal a face filled with unspoken emotions.
Seeing Lucian stop, Link hoisted Neeko onto his shoulders. Once settled, Neeko began fidgeting, standing on Link's shoulders and using his head for balance, looking quite pleased with herself.
"Who's not afraid of Neeko now?"
Link let Neeko have her fun, focusing instead on Lucian.
"I've heard of you, Lucian."
"A Demacian, son of Urias, a Sentinel of Light. A man who fights devils to save his beloved."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
"Just a passing scientist," Link said with a shrug, stepping closer and extending his hand. "Link Star Ferros, from the twin cities."
Lucian glanced at Link's outstretched hand but made no move to shake it. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on Link's face.
Seeing Lucian's standoffishness, Link shook his head slightly. "Sometimes, accepting help from others can be a good thing."
"I have my own mission," Lucian replied coldly, turning to leave once more.
Link watched his retreating figure and clicked his tongue.
"Lucian, do you really think you can save your beloved with just those two relic weapons?"
Lucian's steps didn't falter. His mind was consumed by his hunt for Thresh and his desire to free his beloved. There was no room for anything else.
Such people were difficult to deal with because of their unwavering resolve.
But at the same time, they were also the easiest to manipulate, because their resolve was their greatest weakness.
"Senna... can still return to the living world."
The moment Link spoke those words, Lucian froze. He turned sharply, his coat flaring to reveal the hilts of his guns. His eyes burned with an intensity that was almost frightening.
"What did you say?"
"If you don't mind, let's talk somewhere else," Link suggested, unfazed by Lucian's reaction.
Senna was Lucian's weakness, his Achilles' heel.
Anything related to Senna or Thresh would send this man into a frenzy, stripping away his calm.
Lucian stared at Link across the distance, his chest rising and falling rapidly. Finally, he lowered his hand and muttered, "You'd better have answers."
"Of course," Link said with a shrug.
The two left the docks and found a small tavern.
Most taverns in Bilgewater catered to sailors and dockworkers, serving the cheapest yet strongest alcohol and the heartiest meals.
The interior was dim and damp, filled with the salty stench of the sea and the ever-present foul odor of the city.
Link and Lucian sat across from each other, while Neeko perched on a stool, her eyes darting around curiously.
Everything here was new and fascinating to her, and her curiosity was piqued.
Meanwhile, the other patrons whispered among themselves, casting glances at the trio.
Ignoring the murmurs, Link leaned forward and asked, "What do you know about the Black Mist?"
"A calamity for the living, a carnival for the dead, a festering wound that can never be healed," Lucian replied.
"No, no—" Link shook his head. "I mean the essence of the Black Mist."
"The essence?" Lucian frowned. As a Sentinel of Light, he had dedicated his life to fighting the Black Mist and the shadows that plagued the mortal world.
Since the Black Mist's emergence, the Sentinels had been working to protect those threatened by it.
Of course, they had also been studying the nature and origins of the Black Mist.
But to understand its source, one would have to venture into the heart of the Shadow Isles—a forbidden land of death where no living soul could guarantee their safe return.
Not to mention the countless spirits and monstrous creatures that inhabited the isles.
"Exactly, the essence," Link said, tapping the greasy table. "How did the Black Mist come to be? Why does it erupt at specific times every year? And why does it grow more frenzied after being repelled, rather than retreating?"
"Don't you find it strange?" Link leaned closer. "The Black Mist invades the mortal world every year, driving the undead to attack the living, over and over in an endless cycle."
"Are you saying—" Lucian's eyes seemed to flicker with flame, "the Black Mist is searching for something?"
"Exactly," Link nodded. "That's the reason for its eruptions."
"But what does this have to do with my beloved?" Lucian asked, his brow furrowed. He had come here because Link claimed to know a way to bring Senna back.
"My goddess once told me—" Link recalled the lore of the Ruination, the Harrowing, and the Shadow Isles. "The Black Mist emerged thousands of years ago, spreading from the Shadow Isles to plague all of Runeterra."
"But the Black Mist isn't just a magical phenomenon. It's intelligent, instinctive, and purposeful."
"And your beloved, Senna," Link said with a cryptic smile, "is someone the Black Mist covets."
Lucian's expression shifted, and his hand moved to the hilt of his relic weapon. "Who are you? How do you know all this?"
Link noticed Lucian's grip tightening on his gun and spoke calmly, "Relax, Lucian."
"I'm here to help you."
"And to help myself, of course."
"So, control your anger and rage. Stay calm and rational."
"What do you want?" Lucian's hand moved away from his weapon, and Link glanced at Neeko before answering, "What I want is simple: a signed contract, an accepted sponsorship, and—you."
Link's eyes gleamed with ambition. The legacy of the Sentinels of Light and their relic weapons were things he coveted deeply.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 150 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 290 power stones I will publish the next chapter.