Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

The emperor's eyes widened so much that the lines on his stern face seemed to deepen with disbelief. He had already been shaken when Lucas tore the air apart like fabric, but his heart nearly leapt from his chest when the boy stepped forward without hesitation and vanished into that tear. For a breathless moment the emperor wondered if Lucas had simply destroyed himself in his arrogance, but before the thought could fully form, the youth emerged at the far end of the palace gardens, his figure illuminated by the moonlight as though he had merely taken a stroll.

Gasps escaped from some of the emperor's attendants who stood further back, their voices hushed and filled with awe. The emperor's pulse thundered in his ears when, in the very next instant, Lucas calmly stepped back into the shimmering fissure and reappeared directly in front of him.

The emperor's finger shot out, trembling slightly though his voice tried to hold its usual power. "You… how did you manage to do that?" His words cracked, his disbelief so strong it almost sounded like anger. "This is not possible. Do you take me for a fool, boy? This must be some elaborate trick, some illusion meant to impress simple minds."

Lucas clasped his hands respectfully and bowed his head. His tone was measured, free of boastfulness, yet firm in its conviction. "Your Majesty, I understand your doubts. Anyone in your position would question what their eyes have seen. But I assure you, this is no illusion. Space itself can be bent and traversed. I have only touched the threshold of what is possible, and what you saw just now was not meant to deceive, but to demonstrate."

The emperor's gaze narrowed, his pride unwilling to concede so quickly. He turned sharply to the king and demanded, "Have you tested this for yourself? Have you walked into this tear and returned alive?"

The king, who had been quietly observing with folded hands, gave a small shake of his head. "No, I have not entered it myself. I have witnessed it and I do not doubt what it is, but I cannot claim to have stepped into it."

The emperor's brows furrowed deeply, and his shoulders stiffened with disappointment. He scoffed under his breath. "So, even you, a king who claims this youth has achieved wonders, have not dared to prove it with your own flesh. What kind of assurance do you expect me to take from this?"

Lucas met the emperor's sharp gaze without flinching. "Your Majesty, I never claimed it was safe for all. The path through space is not a road everyone can walk. It demands stability, precision, and an understanding of the forces at work. For those without it, yes, there can be danger. But impossible? No, it is not."

The emperor's lips curved in the faintest of smirks, half challenge and half disbelief. He lifted his hand and tugged at the heavy robe draped over his shoulders. "Then if it is not impossible, I will see it with my own eyes, not as a bystander but as one who steps into this so-called path of yours." He shrugged the robe free, his broad frame now visible in the simpler garments beneath. He handed the robe to one of his servants who rushed forward nervously.

The servant's eyes darted toward Lucas, uncertain, as though silently begging the youth to dissuade the emperor from this reckless choice. Lucas himself took a step forward, his expression grave, and spoke in a clear tone, "Your Majesty, if I may advise… the spatial tear is like a doorway, but unlike any built by man. It is not merely stepping through, it is stepping between realities. Without my guidance, you could lose balance within that void, and even a single misstep could cause harm. It is not a threat, but a truth of how the fabric of space resists intrusion."

The emperor waved his hand sharply, silencing the worried looks of his guards. "Do not lecture me about fear, boy. I have waded through battlefields, I have stood against death more times than I can count. If you say it is possible, then I will see for myself. I will not leave this garden thinking I was tricked by some light and shadow. If it is dangerous, then so be it. Danger has been my companion all my life."

The king interjected gently, his tone carrying weight. "Emperor, surely there is no need to risk yourself tonight. You have already seen what you doubted. Is that not enough proof?"

The emperor shook his head. "No, I cannot return to Rus with stories alone. My people would mock me for believing in a child's trick. I must know with my own flesh that this is real."

Lucas pressed his lips together and gave a slow nod, his eyes steady. "Very well, Your Majesty. If this is your will, then I will guide you through it. But I must warn you again. You cannot resist or hesitate once inside, could shatter the path. Trust me fully, and only then will you cross safely."

The emperor's expression hardened, but his eyes gleamed with something deeper, an unyielding pride mixed with the hunger of a man who had just glimpsed a power that could change empires. "Then guide me, boy. I am ready."

Lucas stepped forward until he was standing just an arm's length from the emperor, his expression composed but serious. His gaze met the older man's eyes, and his tone lowered so that only the emperor and the king could hear him. "Your Majesty, before I begin, you must understand this clearly. Once the tear is opened, the fabric of space will resist your presence. It is not like stepping through a door made of wood or stone. It will feel unnatural, as though the air itself wants to push you back. If you panic or attempt to move on your own, the tear may collapse, and the forces that hold space together will shred anything caught between. The void is merciless, and even your courage cannot defy it."

The emperor's jaw tightened. "So you are saying my life will rest entirely in your hands, boy."

Lucas bowed his head slightly. "That is correct, Your Majesty. I will do the work, you will do nothing but walk as I guide you. Keep your mind steady, do not resist, and do not act on your own impulse. If you remain calm, there will be no danger."

The emperor's eyes narrowed, and for a moment he said nothing, his pride wrestling with the thought of entrusting his life to one so young. Finally, he gave a single sharp nod. "Calm, you say? Hmph. Calm is something I have learned to carry, even when fire rains from the sky. Do not mistake my silence for fear, boy. My heart does not tremble so easily."

Lucas allowed himself a faint smile, but his voice remained respectful. "I never doubted your courage, Your Majesty. But even the bravest warrior may falter when faced with the unknown. That is why I must stress it again. Calmness is not only for your sake, it is for the sake of the stability of the path itself. This is not a foe you can cut down with steel. This is the foundation of existence itself, and if it rejects you, you'll be shredded to nothing."

The emperor gave a low chuckle, though it carried more weight than mirth. "You speak well for one so young. Perhaps that is why Your king trusts you. Very well, I will trust you also. Do not let my faith be misplaced, or you will find that even if I vanish into your void, my wrath will haunt you in your dreams."

Lucas met his words with steady eyes. "If I fail, there will be no dreams left to haunt, Your Majesty. But I do not intend to fail. When you step forward, let me lead you."

The emperor straightened his back, his hands clasped behind him, and inclined his head just a fraction. "Then get on with it. I am not a man who enjoys waiting, and I have no interest in letting my guards think I have grown hesitant in my old age."

Lucas turned his palm outward and focused his will. The air before them trembled, shimmering like water struck by wind. Slowly, deliberately, he pressed his hand forward as though peeling a hidden curtain, and the fabric of space tore open with a faint, resonant hum. The opening expanded until it stood tall enough for both of them, its edges rippling like a wound cut into the night. Within, there was no light, no darkness, only a swirling void that seemed both near and impossibly far.

The emperor's eyes widened despite himself, and though his features remained stern, his heart pounded with a thrill he had not felt since his youth. He could sense it, the raw power of something no mortal was meant to touch. He masked the unease perfectly, his voice steady as he muttered, "So this is the doorway between worlds. Hah. Fierce, cold, and hungry, just like the battlefield. I would be lying if I said it did not stir my blood."

Lucas glanced at him and replied softly, "It should stir your caution more than your blood, Your Majesty. But if excitement steadies you, then let it be so. Just remember...no hesitation."

The emperor gave a firm nod, his eyes fixed on the tear. "I hear you, boy. My life is in your hands. Lead me, and let us see if this void has teeth sharp enough to bite an emperor."

Lucas exhaled once, steadying the flow of Qi around him, and prepared to guide the most powerful man of Rus into the void.