The night was quiet, but Lucien knew that silence never meant peace.
His duel against Alric had set events into motion—some visible, others buried beneath the surface. Noble society was watching him closely now, wary of his capabilities, questioning how far his true power extended.
And when power begins to draw attention, it inevitably draws enemies.
---
### The Hidden Message
Days after the duel, Lucien received a letter—hand-delivered, sealed with no insignia.
A warning.
Not public, not an official challenge—but a silent threat from someone who understood the art of deception well enough to operate in the shadows.
"You move too fast, too boldly. Nobles do not tolerate anomalies, no matter how gifted they appear.
Take this warning or ignore it—either way, the next move will not be yours."
Lucien smiled.
This wasn't fear.
This was someone testing him.
And tests were meant to be passed—or rewritten entirely.
---
### The Nature of the Threat
Lyra had already begun watching him more closely, but even she had no insight into where this new danger had emerged from.
She pressed for answers as they walked the noble gardens, moonlight casting sharp shadows across the marble pathways.
"You're being warned," she murmured, arms crossed, expression unreadable. "That's the first sign of true danger. Someone wants you to know they're watching."
Valerian's smirk was subtle, calculated. "Then they made their first mistake."
Lyra narrowed her eyes. "And why is that?"
"Because they've revealed their presence to me," he said smoothly, turning to meet her gaze directly. "The moment you acknowledge a shadow, it can no longer operate unseen."
She exhaled slowly, studying him. Then—she shook her head, a faint smirk playing at her lips.
"You really do enjoy playing this game, don't you?"
Lucien did not answer.
Because the game was no longer just strategy—it was survival.
And soon, whoever had sent the warning would realize that Lucien Silver Star did not play to lose.
---
### The Next Move
The unseen enemy had revealed just enough to be identified—but not enough to be eliminated outright.
Lucien had two choices.
1. Track them first—use his influence, his growing web of connections, to uncover their identity before making a move.
2. Lure them into action—bait them into exposing themselves through false vulnerabilities, forcing them to strike first.
Either way, this opponent would no longer remain in the shadows for long.
Because if noble society wanted a battle, Lucien would ensure it was fought on his terms.
And this time, even the unseen forces would learn what true control meant.