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The air around him still crackled with the remnants of his power, but for the first time in days, Lucavion allowed himself to truly breathe.

His legs trembled slightly as he stood, the fatigue from the past week creeping up on him. His body was aching—not from the breakthroughs themselves, but from the relentless pace he\'d set for himself. First the battles in Morrowind\'s Vault, the intense process of reaching the 4-star realm on his first core and reaching the 3-star realm on his second core.

There had been no time to rest, no moment to stop and take stock. Every moment had been spent pushing forward and now that it was over, his body screamed for respite.

Lucavion\'s hand instinctively moved to his side, where the frost from absorbing too much death energy had left lingering stiffness in his limbs. The cold hadn\'t fully faded, but with the balance now struck between life and death, it was more manageable. Still, exhaustion weighed heavy on his bones.

Vitaliara, standing near the lakeside, noticed his weariness. Her sharp eyes softened, a rare moment of concern flickering in her gaze. She had also absorbed a tremendous amount of life energy from Tiax, but her recovery was smoother, and her ancient nature allowed her to balance the energy more naturally.

[You should rest,] Vitaliara\'s voice was soft in his mind, the concern undeniable. [You\'ve pushed yourself too far.]

Lucavion grunted in response, stretching his stiff limbs. "No time for that," he replied, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness. The exhaustion had dulled his edges, and he knew she was right. He needed rest—proper rest. His mind was still sharp, but his body... it was nearing its limit.

His eyes drifted toward the tranquil lake, now still after the chaos of the energy transfer. The flowers, though slightly wilted, still held some life, and the soft ripple of water echoed the peace that now settled over the area. The Nyxaliths had given him their final gift, and their essence lingered within him, strengthening his [Flame of Equinox] beyond what he had imagined.

Vitaliara moved closer, her feline grace undisturbed by the fatigue that weighed on Lucavion. [You may have achieved another breakthrough, but your body isn\'t made of steel. You\'ll be no use if you collapse.]

Lucavion chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I\'m aware."

Even though he said that he knew for proper rest, he would need to take a carriage.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp air around him. It was peaceful, serene even—something he hadn\'t had the luxury of enjoying in what felt like ages.

Looking out across the lake, Lucavion allowed himself to relax, if only for a moment.

He sat down near the edge of the lake, resting his back against a nearby rock. The cool surface felt good against his tired body, and he closed his eyes, feeling the gentle rhythm of his core—the intertwining energies of life and death—steadily circulating within him.

It was a strange comfort, knowing that he had come so far, yet realizing how much farther he still had to go.

"Sigh….."

And then he stood, exhaling a long, tired sigh. Despite the brief moment of respite, the weight of his responsibilities quickly resurfaced. He knew he couldn\'t afford to rest, not when there was so much still ahead of him. The tournament in Andelheim wasn\'t going to wait, to be there in time he needed to move.

His eyes scanned the quiet surroundings, the calmness of the lake a stark contrast to the urgency now building within him.

Vitaliara, lying beside him, sensed his shift in energy. She lifted her head, her feline eyes meeting his. [You\'re not going to rest, are you?] she asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.

Lucavion chuckled softly. "I wish I could, but I\'ve spent too much time here already," he replied, stretching his limbs and rolling his shoulders. The ache from the week of non-stop travel and cultivation still lingered, but he pushed it aside. His goals came first.

[The tournament in Andelheim,] Vitaliara murmured thoughtfully. [You\'ll need to make good time if you plan to reach it in time. How far is it from here?]

"Far enough," Lucavion responded, glancing toward the path that would lead him out of the forest. He had left his horse in the nearest village and he needed to go there first.

"It\'s a long ride from there to Andelheim, but if I move quickly, I should make it in time."

He could feel the urgency settling into his bones, a familiar tension that drove him forward. There wasn\'t time to rest properly, not if he wanted to compete and prove himself in the tournament. Every second mattered now, and Lucavion wasn\'t one to waste time.

Pushing himself away from the rock, he began making his way toward the edge of the forest. The path would take him back to the village where he had left his horse. From there, he would have to ride hard to reach Andelheim before the tournament began.

Vitaliara leaped gracefully to his side, matching his pace as they moved through the trees. [You\'re going to need to be careful. You\'ve pushed your body far this past week, and even with the breakthroughs, you\'re not invincible.]

Indeed, as she had said, even though he had broken through, he had yet to stabilize himself and make himself comfortable.

He still needed to get used to his own power and his newly strengthened body.

He nodded, acknowledging her concern but brushing it aside. "I know," he said quietly, his voice steady. "But the tournament is a chance I can\'t miss. I\'ll manage."

His mind was already racing ahead, planning his next steps. The journey to Andelheim would be long and the competition would be fierce, but Lucavion had something the others didn\'t—his mastery over life and death energy, a power he was still learning to control, but one that could give him the edge he needed.

As they neared the edge of the forest, the faint sounds of the village in the distance reached his ears. His horse was waiting for him there, and once he mounted up, the real race would begin.

"Let\'s not waste any more time," Lucavion muttered to himself, picking up his pace.

********

The night air was cool, and the streets were silent as Valeria quietly made her way through the dimly lit alleyways leading out of the inn. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her steps were measured and deliberate. She had made her decision.

Her knights were fast asleep, unaware of her departure, and it had taken careful planning to ensure that no one would suspect anything until morning. She had even gone as far as to purchase a horse earlier that day under the pretense of securing provisions for their upcoming journey.

Now, with only the moon and stars to light her path, Valeria mounted the horse and took one last look at the inn behind her. There was a pang of guilt, a fleeting thought of what her knights would think when they woke and found her gone. But she quickly pushed it away.

\'I must do this,\' she reminded herself. \'I need to face this alone.\'

The horse\'s hooves clacked softly against the cobblestone streets as she rode into the night, her destination clear in her mind—Andelheim.

********

On the other side, a carriage rolled to a slow stop, the steady rhythm of hooves clattering on cobblestone fading as it reached the gates of Rackenshore.

The rain had lessened, now a fine drizzle, but the town\'s streets were still slick and glistening under the dull light of the overcast sky.

The girl with the clear black hair and her maid stepped out of the carriage, their feet touching the cobbled ground with soft, measured steps. Rackenshore was not a large city, but it was respectable for its position at the border of the Arcanis Empire. The stone buildings were modest yet sturdy, reflecting the town\'s strategic importance.

People moved about their business with a certain briskness, their clothes damp from the weather, but no one seemed to pay much attention to the new arrivals.

The girl pulled her hood over her head, hiding her dark hair from view, though a few strands clung to her face from the earlier rain. Her eyes scanned the streets, sharp and calculating. The town had a quiet energy, a borderland calm.

She didn\'t have time to dwell on the scenery.

Her maid stood beside her, quietly attentive. "We should find an inn, my lady. We are in an unknown territory right now."

The girl cast a lingering glance over the city before giving a firm nod. Although her mind was set on dealing with the matter swiftly, she understood the importance of securing a place to stay for the night. The maid\'s suggestion was practical, especially in an unfamiliar town like Rackenshore.

"Fine," she said quietly, her voice edged with the same impatience she had been holding back. "We\'ll find an inn first."

Together, they stepped into the town, the wet cobblestones glistening underfoot. The girl kept her hood low, concealing most of her face, while her maid, ever attentive, took the lead. As they passed a few locals gathered under the shelter of a shop awning, the maid approached them.

"Excuse me," the maid asked politely, "could you tell us if there is an inn nearby?"

The bystanders, a mix of workers and townsfolk, looked the two women up and down, noting their fine attire despite the wet travel conditions. One of them, a middle-aged man with a worn cap, nodded and pointed toward a street just a short distance away.

"That\'d be the Verdant Heart Inn, just down that way," he said, his voice gruff but helpful.

The maid thanked him, and the two set off toward the inn. The streets were quieter now, with the occasional sound of dripping rain and distant conversations breaking the silence.

Just as they were about to enter the inn, a commotion erupted from nearby. A group of knights clad in armor bearing the insignia of a noble house surrounded a young girl who looked frightened and cornered. One of the knights stepped forward, his tone sharp but restrained.

"Are you sure you haven\'t seen our lady today?" he asked, his voice leaving little room for deflection.

The girl shook her head, her eyes wide with fear. "I… I haven\'t seen her, sir. I promise," she stammered.

The knights exchanged glances, clearly agitated but unwilling to cause a scene. The girl with the black hair and her maid paused, observing the situation. The tension in the air was palpable, and though the maid glanced at her lady with concern, the girl shook her head.

"It is none of our concern."

With that, they entered the inn.