The following morning Lu Shen woke up early, as was his habit. As soon as he moved, the pain reminded him of what had happened the day before—and that Zeyang was sleeping on his sofa. He got up slowly so as not to disturb him and went into the living room.
The detective was already awake and texting on his phone. "Good morning," he said, standing up and walking toward him. "How do you feel?"
"Fine, thanks." Then, seeing the way he was looking at him, he asked, "What is it?"
"Your magic is more stable."
"You… see that about me?"
Zeyang smiled at him. "I'm a seeker, remember? It's hard to ignore your magic, usually," he continued with a smile.
Lu Shen frowned. "What do you mean?"
"That you have a very strong, vibrant light, as if it were alive. I've never seen anything like it."
The other fell silent. He had never reflected on how Zeyang saw him.
"Sit down, I'll make you some tea," the detective told him, reaching him and brushing his shoulder, then he moved to the kitchen area and put the kettle on.
Lu Shen sat down. "I hope you weren't too uncomfortable and that you managed to sleep."
"Your sofa is cozy and I slept like a log, thanks. Did you rest?"
The other nodded as Zeyang set a steaming cup of tea in front of him.
After a few sips, the policeman resumed speaking. "I was texting my boss: the guild expelled the sorcerer and said it won't defend him, publicly condemning his actions."
Lu Shen raised his eyes. "Really?" It seemed strange to him. The guild never took such harsh and official positions against one of its own members.
"They were under pressure: they couldn't stall any longer waiting for an official conviction."
"Pressure from whom?" Lu Shen felt a chill in his limbs.
"Lombardi, my boss, was also urged to clarify what happened yesterday as soon as possible and arrest the culprits."
The sorcerer fixed his gaze on him. "It came from General Lu."
Zeyang nodded.
"I'm sorry…"
"And for what? It's a good thing the guild no longer protects the culprit: we'll be able to catch them and stop them before they do whatever they have in mind."
The other did not speak. He looked at him in silence, rigid.
Zeyang reached out and touched the sweatshirt where he had seen the scar the night before. "Were you in the army because of him?"
Lu Shen's eyes widened at that touch and, when the hand moved away, he placed his own over it as if to hide that mark.
"I was too young and weak to oppose his will. But then I left and chose my own path. Even during missions, in any case, I always took care of protecting…"
"Shen," Zeyang stopped him. He removed his hand from his chest and smiled at him. "I don't care who your father is, and I know who you are."
He leaned back against the chair, reflecting on the fact that the general had pressured the guild and the police, yet had not even made a call to his son to see how he was. From what little he knew, he already did not like that man.
"Now I understand where your sense of order comes from," he added lightly.
Lu Shen managed a faint smile.