Selene tapped her fingers against the table, irritation clear on her face. She was watching Lucas from a distance, her gaze narrowing as she saw him casually interacting with that maid again. Lira. That girl was always by his side, always looking up at him with those stupid, adoring eyes.
"Why does he always have that stupid maid with him everywhere he goes?" Selene muttered, not even hiding the bitterness in her voice.
Across from her, Nana raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, swirling her drink lazily in her cup. "She's just a maid, Selene. Don't overthink it."
Selene scoffed. "Just a maid? Then why does he look at her like that? Why is she always the one he's talking to?" She clenched her fists under the table, frustration bubbling inside her.
Nana sighed, flipping her long, wavy blonde hair over her shoulder. She was nearly as beautiful as Selene—maybe even equal in some ways. Her sharp blue eyes always held a teasing glint, and her full lips were curved into their usual playful smirk. Nana's body was nothing to scoff at either. With a slim waist, wide hips, and a pair of large, round breasts that often attracted more attention than she cared for, she was the type of woman who could turn heads without even trying.
"You're overreacting," Nana said, stretching out lazily. "If you still want him, why don't you go all in? Spice things up a little. Make it... I don't know, more erotic? Maybe then he'll come around."
Selene narrowed her eyes. "You mean... have sex with him?"
"Yes." Nana grinned, swirling her drink again. "Why not? He's a man. A very fine man, if I might add."
Selene didn't respond immediately. She leaned back, lost in thought. The idea was tempting, but Lucas wasn't acting like the Xavier she used to know. Before, he would have done anything just to be close to her. Now? He didn't even seem to care.
"I'll see him tomorrow" Selene finally said, her voice firm with decision.
Nana didn't reply at first. She was staring off into space, her lips slightly parted, looking dazed. Then, slowly, she sucked on her lower lip in a way that was far too suggestive.
Selene narrowed her eyes. "You stupid bitch," she snapped, smacking Nana lightly on the back of the head. "Are you seriously fantasizing about my boyfriend?"
"Eh? Eh?" Nana rubbed her head, grinning mischievously. "I mean, who wouldn't? Have you seen him lately? He's gotten way more handsome… and that aura around him? So masculine, so dominant." She let out an exaggerated sigh, fanning herself dramatically.
Selene rolled her eyes, though deep down, she couldn't disagree. Lucas had changed. He wasn't the weak, desperate boy she once toyed with. He was stronger now. More confident. More... desirable.
And she wasn't about to let some maid steal what was hers.
Lucas carried the last of his purchases in a cloth bag slung over his shoulder as he and Lira made their way back to the estate. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow over the streets, making the air feel calm and peaceful. Despite the quiet evening, his mind was anything but still.
Selene's unexpected appearance earlier had stirred something in him—not emotions, but memories. He now had confirmation that the prince was behind Xavier's coma, and that meant retaliation was inevitable. But he wasn't going to rush things. Strength came first.
Lira walked slightly behind him, carrying a small package of her own. Lucas had bought her a gift—a simple yet elegant hairpin with a delicate silver lotus design. She hadn't expected it and had been flustered when he handed it to her, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. Even now, she occasionally glanced at him, touching the pin in her hair, as if making sure it was real.
"Thank you again, Master," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas glanced at her and smirked. "I told you to stop calling me 'Master.' You're my apprentice now."
"But… you're still my master in my heart," she said shyly.
Lucas sighed, shaking his head with amusement but didn't argue further. They soon arrived at the estate, the guards at the entrance bowing slightly as he passed through. Once inside, Lucas wasted no time. He needed to cultivate again, and this time, he wanted Lira to cultivate alongside him.
He settled into his meditation posture on the floor, gesturing for Lira to do the same. She obeyed immediately, sitting across from him with her legs tucked neatly beneath her.
"Close your eyes," he instructed. "Focus on the energy inside you. Can you feel it moving?"
Lira nodded, her brows slightly furrowing. "Yes… but it's not stable. It feels like it's overflowing."
Lucas smirked. "That's because of last night. The yin energy in your body surged after our cultivation session. You need to refine it properly, or you'll lose a lot of that energy."
Lira took a deep breath, following his guidance. Meanwhile, Lucas closed his own eyes and began to circulate his qi. The energy from his previous dual cultivation session had already strengthened him immensely, but he wasn't satisfied. He could push further, but he had to be careful not to overdo it.
As the night deepened, the room grew silent, save for the occasional sound of their steady breathing. Their energies intertwined subtly, flowing between them in a way that felt almost natural.
Lucas exhaled slowly, feeling the power within him stabilize.
The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from a single flickering candle on the wooden desk. Midnight had long passed, yet the estate was silent except for the occasional crackling of burning wax.
Lucas let out a quiet sigh as he stretched his arms, feeling the soreness from hours of cultivation. Lira was still sitting cross-legged on the floor, her body radiating a faint glow as she focused on absorbing Qi. She was lost in her meditation, completely unaware of his movements.
Shaking off the stiffness in his limbs, Lucas stood up and walked over to his makeshift alchemy station. He had gathered everything he needed earlier from the market—various herbs, powdered minerals, and a few rare ingredients he had been lucky to find. He carefully laid them out in front of him, his fingers lightly tracing over each component.
"I don't even need to attend this stupid academy," he muttered to himself, rolling his shoulders as he began to grind a handful of dried crimson leaves into a fine powder. "But I've got no choice... I have to blend in, act the part."
The thought irritated him. He wasn't like these nobles, spoiled by wealth and status. He had lived through hardship, suffered through death, and now, with this second chance, he wasn't about to waste time playing by their rules. But he knew he had to be careful. If he showed too much too soon, he would attract attention from the wrong people. No, he needed to play smart.
His hands moved with practiced ease as he poured a mixture of crushed herbs into a small cauldron, adding a measured amount of spirit water to enhance the potency. The liquid inside began to simmer, releasing a faint, earthy aroma.
He had serious ambitions—far greater than what this academy or even this kingdom could offer. He wasn't just aiming for power; he wanted dominance. Wealth, influence, strength—he would claim it all. And unlike the privileged fools born into power, he would earn it through intelligence and discipline.
"With my knowledge from the future, I have an advantage no one else does," he thought, stirring the potion as it thickened. "If I use it wisely, I can create things that don't even exist in this world yet."
Weapons, formations, advanced cultivation techniques—his mind was already brimming with ideas. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't just be another talented cultivator; he would be a force no one could ignore.
The potion finally reached its peak, the once-cloudy liquid turning into a rich golden hue. Satisfied, he poured it into a small glass vial, swirling it slightly as he examined its consistency. This would help stabilize his recent breakthroughs, ensuring he didn't suffer from the common flaws of rapid cultivation.
Taking a sip, he felt a warm sensation spread through his meridians, reinforcing his foundation. He exhaled slowly, feeling a renewed sense of energy settle within him.
As he placed the empty vial back on the desk, his gaze shifted toward Lira. Even in her deep meditation, he could feel the waves of Yin energy emanating from her. It was strange—she was supposed to be drained for a while, yet her energy still seemed abundant.
"That's oddly strange," he murmured, narrowing his eyes. He would need to look into that later...he was extremely curious.
For now, he focused on his next move. This was only the beginning, and there was still much to do.