Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

They had spent what seemed like five full minutes inside that chaotic, beautiful void. Five minutes in which Lucas had spoken at length, patiently describing the mechanics of anchoring one's will to coordinates, of fixing the resonance of a chosen point, of holding the path together with sheer control of Qi. The emperor had asked questions and even allowed himself moments of wonder, gazing at the shifting lights of the void as though staring into a boundless ocean.

But when they returned, the world outside had hardly noticed their absence. The servants waiting by the garden's edge, the guards keeping their careful watch, even the faint sounds of music and laughter from the distant feast, all of it had continued without pause. In truth, only a handful of seconds had ticked by since they vanished from sight.

Lucas did not announce this immediately, but it showed in his calm demeanor as he observed the emperor's astonishment. Then, in that same steady tone he had been using within the void, he finally explained. "Your Majesty, you may believe we have been gone for minutes, yet in truth, less than five heartbeats passed here in the gardens. That is the nature of the void we stepped into. It is not merely space that bends there, but time itself."

The emperor's brows rose sharply, his eyes narrowing as he processed what he had just heard. "You mean to tell me… that what I felt in there lasted longer for me than it did for them watching from here?"

Lucas inclined his head slightly, his gaze unwavering. "Exactly so. Time moves differently in that realm. At my current understanding of it, the ratio stands at nearly three hundred to one. Five minutes to us within the void becomes only five seconds here in the world of men. The more I learn of its laws, the more the scales tip. If I can continue my study and mastery, then perhaps days or weeks in there may pass while only moments slip by here."

The emperor was silent, his expression unreadable for a while as he weighed the implications of what Lucas had just told him. His mind, sharp and accustomed to matters of war and power, quickly leapt to possibilities. Extended campaigns planned within the void while the enemy outside experienced only moments. Training and study compressed into hours of reality but weeks within that strange space. Secret conversations shielded from the eyes and ears of the world, drawn out as long as needed without risk of interruption.

Lucas, watching the emperor's shifting countenance, pressed on softly. "It is the effect of time dilation, Your Majesty. The deeper one treads into the mysteries of space, the greater the distortion becomes. It is dangerous, yes, and unstable if one's will falters, but it offers potential no nation has ever held in its grasp."

The emperor finally let out a low breath, neither a laugh nor a sigh, but something caught between disbelief and awe. His eyes lingered on Lucas, this young man who appeared no older than his own generals' sons, yet who spoke of time and space as though he were peeling back the veils of the heavens themselves.

For the emperor of Rus, it was no longer a question of whether Lucas had talent. The question now was how far such a man could ascend, and whether the empire of Rus could afford not to stand beside him.

Lucas opened another tear, his movements now smooth. The emperor followed him without hesitation this time, and in the blink of an eye they both emerged back into the garden, only a few paces away from the King. The tear sealed itself behind them with a faint shimmer that vanished into nothing, leaving no trace of its existence.

The King immediately noticed the expression on the emperor's face. His Majesty of Rus, usually stern and rarely given to outward displays of wonder, now bore a look that betrayed his inner astonishment. His eyes still held the distant gleam of someone who had witnessed the impossible, and though his lips pressed together in an effort to remain composed, the faint tremor of excitement in his voice gave him away when he finally spoke.

"King Highmoor," the emperor said, "your boy has shown me a realm of existence I could never have imagined. In all my years I have seen powerful cultivators, I have seen artifacts of great value, and I have seen alchemists bend the laws of nature, but this...this is something that eclipses them all. You must be proud beyond words."

The King's chest swelled slightly with pride, though he remained composed before his imperial guest. "Indeed," he said, his voice calm and regal, "Xavier has exceeded even my own expectations. To watch him grow has been both a joy and a revelation. What you see, Your Majesty, is but the beginning of what he may one day achieve."

The emperor turned fully toward Lucas then, his expression softening. "Young man, I give you my sincerest praise. What you displayed today is beyond rare...it is unprecedented. Never in my reign have I seen someone grasp the mysteries of space with such clarity and confidence. I swear upon my crown that if there is ever anything you require, you must speak it plainly, for the Highmoor King would be doing his people a disservice if he denied you the means to further your research." He looked back at the King, his tone turning firm. "I will say this openly: do not allow his requests to be delayed, and do not deny him any resource. What he may achieve in the future is not for himself alone but for the world. There is greatness in him that will shake the heavens and leave the earth speechless."

The King inclined his head respectfully, answering with quiet satisfaction, "Your Majesty's words honor Xavier. Rest assured, I will never stand in his way. Whatever Xavier needs to continue on this path will be granted....just as I've always granted it to him."

The emperor smiled faintly, then shifted his attention back to Lucas with a curious look. "But tell me this," he said, lowering his voice slightly as though prying into a mystery he had long pondered, "space is one matter, but I have also heard of your skill in alchemy. The two paths are as different as night and day. Alchemy requires patience, flame, precision, and endless repetition, while space demands daring, sharp instincts, and an iron will. How have you managed to walk both roads when most men fail to master even one?"

There was a brief silence before Lucas answered. His eyes, calm and steady, met the emperor's with a trace of mischief, as though he enjoyed holding back truths others sought desperately to uncover. Then, with a small shrug and the hint of a smile tugging at his lips, he replied simply, "I suppose I am a boy of many talents."

The emperor stared at him for a long moment, then released a deep laugh that echoed across the garden. The King's lips curved into a proud smile, and the servants standing nearby exchanged glances of astonishment.