Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

The feast had already stretched long into the evening. Cups were being filled again, laughter rolled across the hall, and music from the court's players lingered under the chatter of nobles and the harsh, booming voices of the Rus men. The king had smiled, spoken politely, and kept his dignity, but he had been weighing carefully when to bring the night's formalities to an end. At last he rose from his seat, lifting his hand slightly so that attention shifted toward him.

"My lord emperor," he said, his tone steady yet respectful, "this night has been generous. The wine has been poured without end, and the tables have carried weight enough to feed a hundred more. I believe it is a good moment to allow you to take your rest after such a long and grueling journey. Tomorrow, when you are refreshed, we shall speak of matters that carry the weight of kingdoms."

The emperor of Rus leaned back, his thick hand clutching the stem of his goblet. He gave a short laugh, but there was little mirth in it. "Rest? When the purpose of my coming here still sits unsaid?" His voice was deep, carrying easily across the hall. He leaned forward, fixing his sharp eyes on the king. "I have ridden long, yes. But I do not cross mountains and rivers only to sleep while important words wait until morning. I am not a man who allows time to be wasted with delays."

The hall fell quiet for a moment. A few of the Valerion nobles lowered their eyes, uncomfortable at the emperor's bluntness.

The king did not bristle. His face remained calm, his voice even. "I see that you are eager, and I will not say you are wrong to be so. Yet these halls are filled with ears and eyes. The words we must speak are not for a feast. If you truly wish to hear my thoughts tonight, then come with me. Let us leave the noise behind and speak where silence will give space to our words."

The emperor studied him for a long moment, then pushed his chair back with a heavy scrape. "Very well," he said. "Let us walk."

They left the table together, the sound of music and laughter fading as they passed through the great doors. Lanterns lit the path into the palace gardens, where the night air was cool and carried the faint scent of roses. For a time neither spoke, the crunch of gravel beneath their boots filling the silence.

At last, the king slowed his pace and turned slightly toward his guest. "You came for an alliance," he began, his voice firm, "and I do not deny that Valerion seeks the same. But the terms have shifted. I must speak plainly with you."

The emperor's thick brows drew together. "Shifted? I was given certain assurances before ever setting foot in your halls. Do not tell me now that Valerion plays with words as easily as it plays with music at its banquets."

The king's gaze did not falter. "I play with nothing, my lord emperor. I give you truth. If you can accept the new terms, then this alliance will be strong and lasting. If you cannot, then we will bind it with the first agreement, which is the hand of my daughter in marriage."

The emperor stopped walking, his cloak falling still against the night breeze. His eyes narrowed.

The king met his stare without flinching. "I speak as a ruler who must guard his people, not as a father who barters his child. If you will not hear me out, then we may return to the first accord. But if you will allow me, I will speak of what Valerion truly needs, and of what Rus may gain."

The emperor's displeasure was clear. His jaw tightened, and his eyes glinted like steel catching the moonlight. Yet after a long silence, he lifted one hand slightly. "Carry on then," he said, his tone clipped and cold.

The King clasped his hands behind his back as they continued through the garden paths, the lanterns casting long shadows across the gravel. "In recent days, Valerion has witnessed a development unlike any we have seen in generations. It came from one of our young and promising alchemists. He has done something so profound that even our greatest masters were forced to admit they could not match it."

The emperor's steps slowed. He turned his head, a flicker of surprise crossing his stern features. "A young alchemist, you say?" His voice carried both disbelief and interest. "Not an old master, but a boy? And you expect me to believe his hands have touched something beyond the reach of ours?"

The king nodded without hesitation. "Yes, emperor. I do not speak in jest, what I tell you is truth, and that is why I bring it before you now."

The emperor stroked his heavy beard, his expression darkening in thought. "Then tell me," he said after a moment, "what could this youth have done that is so important, that you would stand here in the night air and speak with such confidence? I have alchemists in my empire, men of skill, women of vision. What has your youth accomplished that makes you think Valerion holds something Rus should covet?"

The king's eyes sharpened, though his tone remained level. "It is better you see it with your own eyes than hear it from my lips, when you witness it, there will be no doubt. This is not the work of chance or of trickery. It is a true breakthrough, one that neither Rus nor any neighboring empire has yet managed to reach. And it was achieved here, by one of mine."

The emperor tilted his head, his curiosity rising despite himself. "So you would not name it outright. You would have me witness it instead. You choose mystery over clarity." He gave a short, thoughtful grunt. "Perhaps you are right, King of Valerion. Words often carry less weight than proof. Show me, then. Let me see this wonder with my own eyes."

The king inclined his head slightly, his voice steady as stone. "You shall. It is better that you witness it."

The King's voice cut through the stillness of the night garden, steady and commanding as he gestured toward one of the servants who lingered by the hedges, watching the two rulers from a respectful distance. "Go to Xavier's chamber," the King ordered, his eyes never leaving the Rus Emperor's sharp gaze. "Bring him to me at once."

The servant bowed deeply. "At once, Your Majesty." He turned swiftly and disappeared into the torchlit corridors of the palace.

The servant finally reached the long hallway that led to Lucas's chamber. He stepped up to the heavy doors of the chamber, tapped twice, and then pushed them open slightly. Inside, the air was calm, dimly lit by a single lantern.

Lucas sat cross-legged on a woven mat in the center of the room, his posture straight, his breathing measured. His eyes were closed, and faint threads of silvery energy, the delicate signature of Yin Qi, shimmered around him, flowing in quiet streams that pulsed gently toward his body. The atmosphere was heavy with cultivation energy, serene yet powerful, as though the room itself bent slightly to his presence.

The servant hesitated for a moment, reluctant to break such concentration. Still, the King's orders weighed heavily on him. Clearing his throat quietly, he stepped in and bowed low. "My lord Xavier," he said with deep respect, "His Majesty, the King, requests your presence in the palace gardens immediately. He says it is not a matter to delay."

Lucas's eyes opened slowly, calm but sharp, his focus shifting from cultivation to the servant's words. His expression revealed little, but his voice carried authority even in its softness. "The King sent you personally?"

"Yes, my lord," the servant replied quickly, lowering his head even further. "The King was with the Emperor of Rus when he gave the order. He wishes you brought straight to them."

Lucas rested his palms on his knees, taking in a slow breath before speaking again. "Very well. Lead the way."

The servant bowed once more, turned to the exit and Lucas followed him.