Night had fallen.
At the Grand Marshal's estate, in the guest hall
"Still not back yet?"
Lux sat on a bench in the corner, her eyes fixed anxiously on the front doors, waiting for Duke's return. But as the minutes ticked by, the figure she longed to see never appeared.
Her restlessness grew. She could feel her magic stirring inside her like an overheated furnace, sparks slipping out uncontrollably.
"Why isn't Duke back yet?"
Unable to sit still, Lux rose from her seat, pushed open the door, and peered outside, hoping to catch sight of his familiar white silhouette.
But beneath the heavy night, everything was shrouded in darkness.
She channeled magic into her eyes, scanning beyond the statues, down the avenue, past the archway… but no matter how far she looked, there was still no trace of Duke.
"Is he busy with something, or… has something happened?"
She craned her neck toward the archway, waiting, but nothing stirred.
Step by step, Lux drifted from the hall toward the gates. Even after amplifying her sight with magic, she couldn't shake the gnawing unease in her chest.
In this vast, sprawling capital, it felt as if only Duke could give her peace of mind.
"Guard, big brother, have you seen my teacher?"
She approached one of the sentries at the gate. Through the slit of his helm, the man gave her a respectful glance and shook his head.
"My apologies, Lady Lux. Duke-sama hasn't returned yet."
"Sorry to trouble you."
"Serving you is my honor, Lady Lux."
"Good night."
After politely excusing herself, Lux walked back along the tree-lined path toward the hall.
Suddenly, her ears twitched. From afar, the steady beat of hooves drew closer. She turned and saw her aunt Tiana's carriage entering through the arch.
The driver spotted Lux and immediately slowed the horses, halting the carriage beside her.
The door swung open. Tiana's voice was cool, stripped of emotion.
"Get in."
"Yes, Auntie."
Though puzzled, Lux obediently climbed aboard and sat opposite her.
"What have you been learning from Duke lately?"
Tiana's face was obscured in the shadows of the unlit carriage. Though there was a lamp, she hadn't bothered to light it.
Despite her doubts, Lux answered honestly. "I've been self-studying Hextech. Whenever I run into trouble, Duke explains it to me."
"Hextech, is it…" Tiana murmured, then asked, "And what about exoskeletons? Have you studied those?"
"I did, back when he first taught me clockwork tech. He said the current exoskeletons on the market are based on his old designs. Even though they were only released a year ago, they're already outdated compared to his latest advancements."
"You mean he's holding something better?"
Tiana's brow arched as a suspicion formed.
Lux nodded earnestly. "Yes. Duke says the real path forward is toward omnipotent armor! Clockwork technology for the muscles, alchemical fluids as the blood, Hextech as the core."
"And what's the difference?"
"It's huge! He says real armor shouldn't just boost strength, it should let humans do things they could never do on their own. Clockwork exoskeletons are just the basics. His magitek armor can amplify every aspect of a person's power. Flying through the skies, diving into the seas, it's effortless!"
Lux's eyes shone with unfiltered admiration. "Duke's creations could even destroy a nation."
Tiana's heart skipped. "Destroy… a nation? Are you certain?"
"I saw it myself, back in Fosbarrow. When demons attacked, Duke unleashed Pride. Alone, he held back eighty percent of the Nightmare's shadows. Didn't my father tell you about it?"
"…I'll be sure to discuss this with my brother." Tiana's voice hardened. "Get some rest, Lux."
The carriage stopped at the hall's entrance. As Lux stepped down, she gathered her courage. "Auntie… have you seen my teacher?"
"He hasn't returned yet. Likely off tending to his own affairs. He's a craftsman with his own ideas, after all. A genius is never like anyone else."
Her tone was steady, unconcerned. Duke's arrogance had already forced her to treat him seriously. A man without confidence could never have spoken as he did.
"You should rest as well."
With that, Tiana ended the conversation and walked inside. Lux followed, but later, lying in her bed, sleep refused to come. Her thoughts circled endlessly around Duke.
"No… I have to find him. Not knowing where he is… it's unbearable!"
She sprang up, changed into her traveling clothes, and retrieved the staff Duke had made for her. Holding it in both hands, she felt her courage steadier.
"I can't just march out openly."
Slipping through the estate, she evaded servants and guards until she reached the stables. This place, meant for warhorses and carriages, now housed a very unusual resident.
"Anger!"
From the shadows, the two-headed beast slowly lumbered out. Both heads fixed their eyes on Lux, then calmly approached the carriage, harnessing itself as though it already knew her intent.
Lux looked around to make sure no one was watching, then climbed onto the driver's seat. "Do you know where my teacher is?"
"Uruu?"
The brown eye tilted in confusion, but the blue head butted it aside and nodded toward her.
Duke's magical imprint lingered in their minds. His scent was etched into their memory. For them, finding him was child's play.
"Take me to him! But quietly, don't alert anyone."
The blue eye rolled, while the brown head nearly charged off impatiently. Soon, Anger carried the carriage out of the Marshal's estate.
At Vayne's residence,
"I didn't think I'd find such fresh craylobsters at the market!"
With one swift stroke, Duke split open the still-snapping crustacean, deftly peeling the meat and dropping it into a boiling pot.
"This city is coastal. Fresh seafood arrives every day," Vayne remarked, though her gaze lingered more on Duke than the food.
"Craylobster meat is tender and sweet. Ten seconds in the pot, and it's perfect."
He timed it precisely, then cracked open the massive claws, each as thick as a man's arm. With a few cuts, he freed the succulent meat and added it to the bubbling broth.
The rich aroma filled the room.
"You're full of surprises," Vayne said with a faint smile, watching him work. "Not just a scientist, but a decent cook too."
"I had to teach myself everything. Survive by my own hands."
He lifted a ball of steaming lobster meat from the broth and placed it into her bowl.
"Try it first."
Just as he was about to serve himself, a knock came at the door.
"This late? Who'd be visiting now?"
Duke frowned.
"I haven't had guests here in a long time," Vayne said, already reaching for her crossbow.
They exchanged a glance, then moved toward the door, Duke in front, Vayne behind, weapon ready.
Outside, Lux shifted nervously, knocking again. This house looked abandoned. Was Duke really here?
She glanced back at Anger, whose two heads were squabbling as always. Her unease settled.
"If Anger brought me here, then it has to be right."
Moments later, the door creaked open.
Duke appeared, and Lux's face lit up. "Duke!"
But then she noticed the woman behind him. Vayne quickly hid her crossbow and smiled at Lux.
"You're the lady from the arena!"
Lux blinked between them. "Teacher… what are you doing together?"
Duke looked at Lux, then at Vayne.
Uh-oh. This just got complicated.
End of chapter....
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