Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

The journey didn't take long, just a few hours by royal carriage through the heartland of Valerion. The kingdom's internal roads were well-maintained, winding past lush farmlands, dense thickets, and the occasional trade town with stone walls and bustling marketplaces. The guards rode ahead and behind in silence, their armor polished and gleaming under the late morning sun. Lucas didn't speak for most of the ride. He spent his time quietly thinking, occasionally glancing out the small carriage window as he mentally prepared himself for the next few days.

Eventually, the distant outline of a large establishment came into view, a wide, stone-built inn marked by a hanging banner that bore the sigil of the Royal Alchemic Assembly. This wasn't a regular roadside tavern. It had been prepared and reserved specifically for those participating in the coming alchemic trials and meetings. The inn itself sat on elevated ground, flanked by well-trimmed gardens and bordered by a shallow moat that reflected the golden evening light. Several other royal and noble carriages were already parked in the front courtyard. From the looks of it, most of the guests had arrived earlier in the day.

When the carriage came to a stop, Lucas stepped out calmly, adjusted his robe, and walked toward the entrance. One of the royal guards quickly followed behind, taking the lead to handle the lodging arrangements. Lucas stood at the steps, silently surveying the scene while the guard spoke to the innkeeper. In less than ten minutes, a key was handed over, and Lucas was guided up a stone staircase to a spacious, well-furnished room on the second floor.

He dropped his satchel lightly on the wooden table, scanned the space once more, then turned back around and descended the stairs. The day's official requirements were minimal, just name registration and alchemic rank declaration. Lucas instructed another guard to handle that on his behalf. The man bowed respectfully and departed, leaving Lucas to his own thoughts.

As the sun dipped, lanterns were lit across the courtyard and in the main hall of the inn. The once-quiet space transformed into a vibrant gathering of alchemists from across the kingdom. The air was filled with the thick scent of rum, ale and cooked meats, and the occasional spark of strange incense some alchemist thought appropriate to burn in public. Tables were packed, drinks were flowing freely, and hearty laughter echoed through the large hall.

Lucas walked in, choosing not to draw unnecessary attention to himself. He wasn't in the mood for introductions or hollow conversations. Instead, he found a spot in the middle of the room, close enough to observe but distant enough to avoid being approached. He sank into the sturdy wooden chair, ordered a simple meal, grilled venison, spiced bread, and boiled greens, and a single mug of ale.

As he ate, he watched the room unfold before him.

Veteran alchemists with gray streaks in their beards exchanged stories about past concoctions and near-fatal mistakes. Some younger ones, probably arrogant talents from noble families, flaunted their theories about flame ratios and pill purity like they were already grandmasters. There were whispers about who might get promoted in rank this year, and speculations about what kind of tests the Grand Elder had prepared for the event.

Lucas said nothing. He simply ate and listened, letting the din of chatter and laughter wash over him while quietly measuring the people around him. He wasn't here for the fanfare. He was here to watch and learn. Tomorrow, when it counted, he would let his actions speak for him.

He took another sip of his ale, leaned back into his seat, and kept his eyes sharp.

He took another slow sip of ale, savoring the mild bitterness that lingered in his mouth, when the atmosphere in the hall shifted. It wasn't loud or sudden, but it was palpable, like a ripple of invisible energy moving through still water. Conversation slowed, the laughter thinned out. Some cups stopped midway to their owners' lips. Every pair of eyes began to drift toward the entrance, where the main door of the inn creaked open with a deliberate slowness that made heads turn.

She stepped in.

At first, Lucas thought the sudden stillness in the room was exaggerated, but when his eyes landed on her, he understood immediately. She was striking. No, she was breathtaking in the kind of way that seized attention effortlessly, without trying. Tall and regal in her bearing, she walked like she owned the space, her robes clinging to a flawless, curvaceous body that had every masculine eye in the hall magnetized.

Her hips swayed with confidence, and her waist, impossibly narrow, accentuated the generous curve of her hips and full chest. Her gown, a deep violet trimmed with silver, moved like liquid around her frame, highlighting the unmistakable figure-eight silhouette that was enough to draw breath from lungs and thought from minds.

But what truly struck Lucas wasn't just her body. It was her face.

She was older than him, that much was clear to anyone who looked closely. But her face...damn, her face...held the kind of ageless beauty that only years of profound cultivation and powerful alchemy could grant. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, glowing with a vitality that seemed both natural and mystically enhanced. Her full lips were the shade of soft rose petals, and her almond-shaped eyes, framed by long lashes, scanned the room with indifference, ignoring the wave of hunger and awe rippling toward her.

Lucas watched calmly, intently, like a hunter recognizing another predator.

The room had fallen into an almost reverent silence, It didn't take long before murmurs stirred from one side of the hall to the other, spreading through the tables like the early signs of a storm.

"That must be her… the new one."

"The one they said would be joining the conclave…"

"A woman Alchemist? After so long?"

"Look at her. Even if she weren't an Alchemist, she could make any man forget his name."

Lucas heard them all, but he kept his face impassive. The woman continued to walk deeper into the inn, heading toward the upper floor with neither hesitation nor need for acknowledgment. She hadn't spared anyone a glance, and yet everyone had given her their undivided attention.

Lucas remained seated, relaxed, one hand loosely curled around the mug on the table. He noted the reactions of the other Alchemic masters, how they ogled her with lewd grins and unhidden lust, how some lowered their gazes in awe, and others straightened their backs as though to make themselves appear more worthy.

But, he just observed quietly and thoughtfully.

Earlier that evening, two new names had appeared on the registry of attendees. Hers, and his. But no one had connected the second name to him. After all, Lucas hadn't flaunted anything. He hadn't spoken loudly or introduced himself as an Alchemist or a participant in the coming tests. Most had assumed he was just a noble youth or one of the many who had come along for exposure or errands. It wasn't only Alchemists who had access to the inn, after all.

They had overlooked him, and he was content with that.