Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Lucas entered under the faint glow of lanterns strung between the hedges. His composure was calm, neither hurried nor hesitant, though he felt the weight of eyes upon him.

The King stood a little straighter, his stern face softening with the faintest smile. "Xavier," he said, his tone warm yet commanding, "come forward."

Lucas moved closer, and when he reached the proper distance, he stopped and bowed deeply, first to his sovereign. "Your Majesty." Then he turned his bow to the visiting monarch. "Your Imperial Majesty." His voice was clear, his posture respectful but not groveling, carrying the balance of loyalty and dignity.

The Emperor of Rus's brow lifted ever so slightly. He had expected someone different. Instead, before him stood a young man with an unassuming aura, his frame neither frail nor imposing, his expression calm, almost serene. If not for his strikingly sharp features and the clear intelligence in his eyes, he could have been dismissed as just another court youth. The emperor's gaze lingered, and for the first time that evening, he allowed surprise to touch his tone.

"This is the one you spoke of?" the emperor asked, turning slightly toward the King, though his eyes never left Lucas. "This young boy?"

The King smiled faintly and gestured toward Lucas with his open hand. "The very same. Do not let his youth deceive you, Emperor. In this boy lies more promise than men his age. His talent is not hearsay but proven fact."

The emperor folded his arms, studying Lucas closely. "Interesting. When His Majesty here spoke of a remarkable feat, I expected to meet a figure of awe, yet you stand before me, boy, with no such oppressive aura. You look ordinary, save for a handsome face and a certain calmness in your eyes. Where, then, is the weight of your achievement?"

Lucas lowered his head slightly in deference, his tone even and respectful. "I am indeed ordinary in many ways, and I make no claim to greatness by birth or blood. If there is any weight to my name at all, it is because I was given the chance to study, to practice, and to learn under the protection of this kingdom." He turned briefly toward the King, his voice softening. "If I have achieved anything worth mention, it is because of the resources His Majesty entrusted to me and the trust he has placed upon me."

The emperor's eyes narrowed, not in hostility but in consideration. He tilted his head slightly. "You attribute your success to your King?"

Lucas nodded. "I do, Your Majesty. The path of an alchemist, or any cultivator for that matter, cannot be walked without guidance, without materials, and without the safety to experiment without fear of destruction. It was under these conditions, fostered by His Majesty's wisdom, that I was able to work toward what I have achieved. Whatever merit I hold reflects upon this throne before me."

The King's lips curved in approval, pleased at both Lucas's humility and the subtle loyalty carried in his words. The emperor, however, was silent for a time, his eyes flickering as though weighing the truth behind Lucas's calm demeanor. Finally, he let out a low hmmm, neither approving nor dismissive.

"So you say," the emperor murmured, clasping his hands behind his back as he continued to appraise the young man. "Yet if your King insists that you have done something extraordinary, then I will judge it not by words but by what I see."

The King folded his hands together as he had been waiting for this precise moment. His voice was calm but expectant when he turned to Lucas. "Now, my boy, explain to His Imperial Majesty what it is you have been working on. Speak clearly, and let him understand the magnitude of what you have uncovered."

Lucas inclined his head, bowing once again before he raised his eyes toward the emperor. "Your Majesty," he began with a respectful tone, "what I have pursued is not the creation of some mere pill or tonic, nor the forging of a blade or talisman. It is the study of space itself. Specifically, the manipulation of its fabric to permit instantaneous travel from one point to another. In simpler words, spatial teleportation."

The emperor's eyes widened faintly, and then narrowed. For a moment there was silence. Then the emperor let out a deep, booming laugh that echoed through the hedges.

"Teleportation?" he repeated with amusement thick in his voice. "Boy, do you know how many centuries great sages and cultivators of space have toiled upon such a dream? Do you know how many mountains of resources have been consumed by men who declared they were on the brink of unraveling such a mystery? And yet, here you stand, hardly more than a youth, and you speak of manipulating space as though it were the weaving of thread?" He scoffed loudly, glancing at the King with disbelief. "Your Majesty, are you truly presenting me a child who makes claims that even the most ancient of space cultivators could not achieve?"

Lucas did not flinch beneath the emperor's mocking tone. His voice remained calm, his gaze steady. "I am aware of the weight of what I claim, Your Majesty. I understand well enough that many before me have tried and failed. That is why I would not dare speak of it if I did not have some proof to show. I would not waste the King's time, nor yours, with mere fantasies."

The emperor's smile faded, replaced with a colder stare. He leaned slightly forward, his tone still skeptical but tinged with curiosity. "You are serious, then?"

Lucas placed his hand against his chest and bowed his head once more. "I am. I would not jest about a matter of this scale."

The emperor grunted, tilting his head toward the King as if to gauge his reaction, but the King only smiled knowingly. The emperor clicked his tongue and returned his gaze to Lucas. "So be it. If your words are not merely smoke, then show me. I will not be swayed by empty promises or grand theories. You claim you can bend space itself? Then prove it before my eyes."

The King interjected softly, his tone filled with quiet triumph. "That is precisely what I was hoping you would say, Emperor. Watch closely. This may be the beginning of something far greater than either of our kingdoms have ever seen."

The emperor folded his arms across his chest, his fierce gaze never leaving Lucas. "Then let us see, boy. Do not waste my time further. Show me this impossible thing you claim."

Lucas inclined his head in acknowledgment of the emperor's demand, his expression calm and unwavering. He did not waste words or try to rouse expectation; instead, he lifted his arm with slow grace, his palm extending outward as he let his Qi surge quietly through the air. The garden around them seemed to fall into silence, as if even the night air and rustling leaves were holding their breath.

Then, with a precise twist of his fingers, he grasped at the invisible threads of reality itself. The air trembled, ripples forming in the space before him. A faint vibration coursed through the ground under their feet, and before the emperor's astonished gaze, a dark fissure split open in the air. It was no mere illusion, no parlor trick, but a rift in reality itself. The tear widened slowly, its edges glowing faintly with the distortion of light, the fabric of space itself unraveling under Lucas's command.

Unlike before when he had struggled with instability, this tear did not flicker or crack violently. It was smooth, steady, and controlled. The strange sound the spatial tear emitted was not chaotic but deep and resonant, commanding respect from all who watched. Lucas held it firmly, neither straining nor faltering, this unnatural act of bending reality was as natural to him as breathing.

The emperor's mouth parted slightly, his fierce and skeptical eyes widening in disbelief. His lips quivered as though he wanted to form words, but nothing came out. He simply stared, frozen in the face of the impossible. His hand, which had been folded sternly across his chest, dropped slightly to his side without him realizing it. The mighty emperor of Rus, a man known for his unshakable composure, was left utterly speechless.

The King, who was also watching, allowed a faint smile to play across his lips, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. He had expected nothing less from Lucas. Yet even he had not anticipated the sheer stability of the tear this time, it looked more refined than what he had seen in the council chamber. His heart swelled with a mixture of pride and relief.

Lucas remained calm as he stood before the emperor and the gaping tear in space. He did not boast, nor did he seek approval in words. The demonstration itself was louder than any claim he could make.