Lucas remained in that seated position for four full days. Not a word. Not a twitch. His posture didn't falter, his breathing steady and faint like a statue carved into quiet existence. He was in complete sync with the flow of energy inside his body, letting the refined potion work its way through every fiber of his cultivation system. Time, hunger, noise, none of it reached him.
Lira stayed by his side the entire time, except for brief moments when she had to fetch food or water. Even then, she returned as quickly as possible, sometimes skipping meals just to ensure she didn't miss a single second of his progress. She would sit on a stool near him, her hands folded on her lap, keeping watch. And every now and then, she'd glance at his face, calm, composed, and powerful. There was something majestic about it.
On the second day, a servant from the outer court arrived with a sealed letter. It was addressed directly to Xavier Alden. The servant handed it to Lira, as Lucas was still deep in cultivation. She held onto it carefully, tucking it in her robe. She didn't even read the name of the sender. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. Nothing could interrupt this moment.
And then… at the crack of dawn on the fifth day, Lucas's breathing changed. His chest rose deeper. A faint pulse of Qi radiated outward and then withdrew. Slowly, his eyes opened, calm and sharp.
He blinked slowly and looked around the room. The light from the morning sun streamed through the windows, casting golden beams across the floor. For a moment, everything was still.
Lira gasped softly and rushed to him.
"Master… you're awake."
Lucas didn't speak immediately. He just sat there, taking in the feeling. His entire body felt light, not weak, but balanced, alive. There was no stiffness in his joints, no ache in his bones. For the first time since he opened his eyes in this body, his mind was clear… peaceful even.
He smiled faintly. "I feel… refreshed. Like I've been cleansed from the inside."
Lira quickly helped him up, supporting his back as he stood.
"You were cultivating for… four days, Master."
Lucas turned sharply. "Four days?"
She nodded. "Yes. I stayed with you… except when I had to go eat."
Lucas stared at her for a long second. "You didn't have to stay here the whole time."
"I wanted to," she said simply, and her voice carried no hesitation.
There was something in her tone, loyalty, maybe something deeper, but Lucas didn't press on it. He nodded and stretched his arms, working out the slight stiffness from being still for so long.
Then suddenly, Lira's eyes widened.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, quickly reaching into her robe. "A letter came for you. It was delivered two days ago. I kept it safe."
She handed it to him, sealed and neat.
Lucas took the letter, his eyes narrowing a bit as he turned it over in his hand.
Lucas studied the seal on the envelope, a deep blue wax imprint, the unmistakable sigil of the royal family. His brows creased.
"The royal seal?" he muttered.
Lira stepped closer, peeking curiously at the letter in his hands. "From the palace?" she asked, already sensing his confusion.
Lucas didn't answer. He carefully broke the wax and unfolded the thick parchment. The handwriting was elegant, calligraphic, likely penned by a royal scribe. He scanned the contents, eyes narrowing with every line.
It was an official invitation… to Prince Darius's birthday celebration.
A slow, cold exhale escaped his nose. "Darius… of all people."
His gaze remained fixed on the letter, even after he finished reading. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, not from exhaustion, but from confusion.
Why would he send this?
Lucas knew he wasn't on good terms with Prince Darius, not in the memories of this body, he had personally experienced it too. The prince had always been hostile to him. There was no reason to invite someone like Xavier Alden to a royal gathering.
Unless it wasn't the prince who sent it.
He flipped the paper again, scanning for a second signature. Nothing. Just the official seal and a notice that the event was to take place one week from now in the inner palace courtyard.
Lucas scoffed and folded the letter.
He didn't like the idea of attending. Crowds, politics, prying eyes, it wasn't his style. Especially now that he was growing more powerful by the day. He didn't need the spotlight. Not yet.
But he knew the truth: he couldn't afford not to go.
Skipping a royal invitation was as good as spitting on the royal family's face. Even if it was a trap, he had no choice but to play along, for now.
He tucked the letter into his sleeve and turned to Lira, who was still watching his expression.
"We'll deal with that later," he said with a tired sigh. "Right now, I need food."
She blinked, surprised by the shift in tone.
"I haven't eaten in days."
"You haven't," she smiled faintly. "You were too busy transcending."
Lucas chuckled under his breath. "Well, it's time to descend into the kitchens."
He moved to grab his boots and cloak. Lira followed, already tying her outer robe tightly as she stepped into her sandals.
As they exited the room, sunlight washed over them through the academy's narrow hallway windows. His stomach growled loudly, and he raised a brow. "Let's go get something hot, something heavy."
"Yes, Master," Lira grinned, falling in step beside him.
As they walked off, Lucas quietly muttered to himself, "Royal invitation or not… I'll go. But I'll be watching every move."
They reached the academy's central eating courtyard, a wide-open space where students, staff, and servants mingled freely, the scent of grilled meats and steaming stews thick in the air.
Lucas and Lira found a small table near the edge, under the partial shade of a tree draped with flowering vines. As they sat, a young server hurried over, slightly breathless at the sight of Lucas, word of his duel with Princess Nyx and the incident with Rodeo had already made him the subject of a hundred hushed conversations. But Lucas waved the attention away casually and ordered something simple, spiced rice, thick broth, and roasted fowl. Lira chose the same.
When the food arrived, hot and generously portioned, Lira's eyes lit up. She murmured a quick "thank you" before diving in with such speed and enthusiasm that Lucas could only chuckle. He watched her in silence for a moment, letting her be herself.
She was tearing through her food, cheeks puffed full with rice and meat, pausing only to sip at her water. The contrast between her demure personality and the way she was devouring the meal was oddly charming.
Lucas raised a brow, smirking as he leaned back slightly, his own plate only half-touched. "You know," he began, voice dry with amusement, "if I didn't know better, I'd think you were storing all that food in your cheeks like a little hamster."
Lira froze mid-bite, her spoon still hovering near her mouth.
Her eyes flicked up at him, wide and caught off guard. Then slowly, she lowered her spoon, swallowed what was in her mouth, and wiped the corners of her lips with a napkin. Her face flushed a light pink.
"I... I'm sorry, Master," she said quickly, trying to compose herself, "I didn't mean to eat like that. I was just really hungry and..."
"Hey," Lucas cut in, still grinning, "I'm not complaining. It suits you."
Lira blinked, unsure whether he was teasing or sincere.
"Besides," he added, leaning forward and pointing his spoon toward her plate, "you haven't eaten properly since I started that long-ass cultivation. Of course you'd be hungry."
She gave a soft, embarrassed smile, lowering her eyes and continuing more slowly now. "I just didn't want to seem… improper."
Lucas shook his head, still watching her with a kind of quiet admiration. He liked this side of her, real, unfiltered. Away from the layers of etiquette and servitude.
"You don't need to be perfect around me, Lira," he said, his voice softer now. "Just be you."
That made her glance up again. Their eyes met for a moment.
Lucas liked her innocence. It wasn't naive, not entirely, but there was a genuine purity to her presence. The way she was loyal without expecting anything in return. The way she stayed by his side during his four-day cultivation without a single complaint. The way she now sat across from him, cheeks still pink, trying not to smile too much but failing.
He returned to his food without saying more, but the warmth in his chest lingered.