Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

The silence that had swallowed the great hall lingered for what felt like an eternity, the echo of Lucas's final step before the throne still heavy in the air. Then, in a gesture that none had anticipated, the king rose, his gaze fixed unwaveringly upon the young man before him. For a heartbeat, no one knew what he might say or do. The atmosphere was so taut it felt as though one word might shatter it entirely.

Then came the sound of hands meeting together, slow at first, deliberate and resonant. The king was applauding. His palms struck with a force that carried through the chamber, not as one applauds a mere display of talent, but as one acknowledges the arrival of something extraordinary, something rare enough to alter the fate of nations. His face, so often hardened by the burdens of rule and the weight of endless intrigue, broke into a wide, almost boyish smile, and the glimmer in his eyes betrayed pure exhilaration.

The courtiers and council elders shifted uneasily in their seats, startled by the sight of their sovereign openly showing such marvel. They had laughed only moments ago, sneering at Lucas's audacity, but with the king's applause echoing like a verdict, they knew hesitation was no longer an option. One by one, reluctantly at first, then with growing urgency, the elders raised their hands and began to clap as well. Their expressions, however carefully schooled, could not fully mask the mixture of fear and awe that gripped them. They applauded because they had to. None of them dared to sit in silence against the king's will, and none of them dared to underestimate the youth who had just bent space to his command.

Nyx had not even tried to remain composed. Her face lit with unrestrained delight, her eyes gleaming like twin stars. She did not merely clap because protocol demanded it; she applauded with her whole heart, each strike of her hands resounding like an anthem of relief and hope. The despair that had shadowed her earlier was gone, replaced by a radiance so bright that even The Queen and Prince Darius turned to look at her in surprise. She was the happiest of them all, her heart swelling with pride and gratitude, she alone knew what this moment truly meant for her future.

The king's applause slowed and finally ceased, and with a single wave of his hand he silenced the entire hall. The echoes of clapping faded quickly into the vastness of the chamber. The king's gaze swept over the assembled council, his eyes sharp once more, no trace of the earlier excitement remaining. His face had hardened back into that of a ruler weighing more than mere spectacle.

"Enough," he said, his voice cutting through the silence like the strike of a blade. "I have seen what I needed to see."

The elders, who had only just begun to look comfortable with their forced applause, shifted uneasily in their seats once more. Some leaned forward as if hoping to hear more, others kept their eyes downcast, hiding whatever thoughts might betray them. The king's expression gave nothing away.

Then he spoke again, his words deliberate and final. "Council, you are dismissed."

The elders blinked in surprise, a ripple of murmurs running quietly through their ranks. It was rare, almost unheard of, for the king to dissolve a session so abruptly, and rarer still to do so at a moment such as this, when so many questions remained unanswered. Yet none dared to challenge the order. One by one, they rose, bowing low before turning to depart.

The king turned next to the seats where his family sat. His eyes rested on the queen, and though he said nothing more than the formal words, there was a firmness in his tone that brooked no refusal. "You may leave us."

The Queen's lips parted slightly as though she wished to object, but she thought better of it. She inclined her head gracefully, though her eyes lingered on Lucas a moment longer than on anyone else before she gathered her train and left the chamber, her ladies following in silence.

"Nyx," the king said, his voice gentler but no less commanding. The princess had been halfway out of her seat already, her body torn between staying near Lucas and obeying her father. For an instant her expression faltered, betraying her reluctance, but she schooled herself quickly and offered the king a short bow before departing. Prince Darius didn't even wait for the King to tell him what to do....he followed Nyx swiftly.

Only Henrietta remained with Lucas and The King, even Lira had left earlier.

The king clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes narrowing slightly as he finally addressed the matter in private. "Now," he said, his tone low, "we may speak plainly."

Henrietta rose gracefully from her seat, she came to stand at Lucas's side, her presence calm and resolute.

The king, now seated upon his throne, straightened his posture. Lucas stepped forward, bowing his head slightly before he spoke. His voice was steady, firm with conviction yet respectful, carrying clearly in the vast silence of the hall.

"My king," he began, "I had promised to bring something worthy, and I have shown you what I have achieved. Now, I must ask something of you. I hope you will allow me to pursue what I believe will bring us the greatest strength. I hope you will permit me to form an alliance with the Empire of Lechia."

The king's jaw tightened, and for a moment his stern face darkened. He had long expressed his distaste for the vixen empress of Lechia and her dangerous allure, and Lucas's bold request tested the limits of that patience. The silence stretched, and when he finally spoke, his tone was low, measured, but edged with displeasure.

"You know my stance, Xavier," the king said gravely. Lechia's empress is not a woman to be trusted. You would ask me to bind Valeria to that?"

"Henrietta," he said, "you know well the weight of what he proposes. You have always spoken wisely, and I value your counsel. What say you?"

Henrietta did not falter. She inclined her head respectfully, but when she spoke, her voice was clear and resolute, her words carrying no uncertainty. "Your Majesty, I have seen Xavier act when others doubted him, and he has proven himself time and again. He has never made a claim without a way to see it through. I trust his judgment in this matter as I have trusted it in all others. If he believes Lechia holds the key to our fight against the unseen enemies, then I believe it too."

The king studied her in silence, his eyes shifting between the two who stood before him. His sternness did not ease, but the tension in his brow loosened as the weight of her words sank in. Slowly, he gave a single nod, his voice low but tinged with reluctant respect.

"Xavier… you have proven yourself worthy and reliable in ways few ever could. Your feat today with spatial teleportation alone is a marvel that could change the very balance of our kingdom's fate. I cannot deny that you have earned my attention, and perhaps… my trust in this matter as well."

I will allow you to pursue this path and form an alliance with Lechia, but understand this, such an alliance will be made only on Valeria's terms, not theirs. If the vixen empress wishes to deal with us, she will do so from a position that benefits us, not one that places a collar around our necks."

The words sank into Lucas like a tide receding after a storm. A swell of relief washed over him, loosening the tension in his chest. He exhaled slowly, realizing how tightly he had been holding himself as he awaited the king's verdict. The opening he needed had been granted, and though the condition was clear, it was one he could work with. His shoulders straightened and his heart lifted with the knowledge that at least the king had not dismissed the idea outright. He bowed his head in gratitude, hiding for a moment the flicker of satisfaction that crossed his expression. Proposing spatial teleportation to Lechia should seal the alliance.

Yet before he could speak further, the king's voice came again, and this time it was iron rather than compromise. "But hear me, Xavier. I will not abandon what has already been set in motion with Rus. The emperor's arrival is expected today, and I will not insult him by breaking apart what has been carefully woven. Valeria cannot afford to shatter ties recklessly, nor can we stand as though we do not need what has already been offered. You may chase this path with Lechia, but I will not halt the alliance with Rus until I see what fruits your efforts can bear. Until then, both paths shall be pursued."

The air in the chamber seemed to shift in that instant. Lucas had felt the swell of relief just moments before, but now it was crushed beneath the weight of a declaration he had not expected. His countenance changed at once, his expression betraying the blow the king's words had dealt. His eyes hardened slightly, though he quickly lowered them to mask the storm within. The king's choice meant that Nyx's fate remained shackled, the alliance with Rus still carried the heavy price of her hand in marriage.

Lucas remained composed on the surface, but inwardly the pressure mounted once more. He had won a great victory, yet it was not complete, and the weight of what remained pressed upon him with merciless force.