Chapter 128
The afternoon sun hung low above the Hidden City, stretching long shadows across the streets as Lucas made his way toward the Lotus Clan estate.
The conversation with Elijah still lingered in his thoughts like poison that refused to leave his system.
Lucas pushed the thoughts aside.
Thinking about Elijah too much was dangerous. The man had a way of occupying space inside someone's mind even after he was gone, and Lucas refused to let that happen.
The Lotus Clan estate soon came into view.
Ancient walls surrounded the enormous property, their pale stone covered in creeping vines and flowering plants that had been maintained for generations.
The estate carried a quiet elegance that differed from the colder, more oppressive atmosphere of the Clover Clan.
The guards at the entrance recognized Lucas immediately.
Neither stopped him.
Their white eyes followed him silently as he walked through the gates and deeper into the estate grounds.
He found Nora sitting in the garden behind the main house.
Pink petals drifted through the air around her as the flowering tree above swayed gently in the breeze.
Her black hair rested over her shoulders in smooth waves, and her white eyes stared quietly toward the sky with a distant expression.
The moment she noticed Lucas approaching, her face brightened instantly.
"Lucas."
Her voice carried relief so genuine that some of the heaviness inside his chest loosened immediately.
"I said I would come," Lucas replied as he approached the bench.
Nora smiled softly, but Lucas still noticed the nervous energy hidden beneath it. Her fingers kept brushing against the fabric of her sleeve, twisting it unconsciously.
"You look worried," he observed.
Nora exhaled slowly before sitting back down on the bench. She patted the empty space beside her, and Lucas sat down without hesitation.
She leaned gently against his shoulder.
"The promotion results still haven't come," she admitted quietly. "Every time someone arrives at the estate, I think it might finally be the messenger."
Lucas rested his hand over hers, stopping her restless movements.
"You'll pass."
Nora tilted her head slightly. "You sound very certain."
"I am."
"You can't know that."
Lucas looked toward the drifting petals above them.
"I know you," he said simply. "You wouldn't have received the mission if the elders thought you were incapable."
Nora fell silent for a few moments.
The tension in her shoulders slowly eased beneath his hand.
"I missed you," she said softly.
Lucas glanced toward her.
"I missed you too."
The garden became quiet again.
Petals drifted around them in the afternoon breeze while distant sounds from the city echoed faintly beyond the estate walls. Nora's breathing gradually slowed as she relaxed against him.
After a while, Lucas spoke again.
"Are you still hunting whenever you're stressed?"
Nora nodded lightly against his shoulder.
"The forest helps me think," she said. "When I focus on tracking prey, everything else disappears for a while."
Lucas considered that quietly before speaking again.
"Then let's go together."
Nora lifted her head immediately.
"Really?"
Lucas nodded once.
Her white eyes widened with excitement. "For how long?"
"Until my next mission." Lucas paused briefly. "And while we're gone, I can help train you."
The transformation in her expression happened instantly.
The nervousness disappeared completely, replaced by bright excitement that practically radiated from her.
She suddenly wrapped both arms around him in a fierce hug that nearly pushed him sideways off the bench.
"Thank you," she blurted out rapidly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Lucas laughed softly despite himself.
"You're welcome."
Nora pulled back quickly, her cheeks slightly pink with excitement.
"I need to prepare." She immediately stood up. "I need supplies, clothes, weapons, food—"
Her words started speeding up faster and faster as her excitement took over.
Lucas watched her with quiet amusement.
"Relax," he said. "We're not leaving this second."
"That means I still have things to do."
She pointed toward him dramatically before spinning toward the manor.
"Wait here. No, actually come with me. No, wait here. I'll be fast."
Before Lucas could answer, she was already running toward the house with petals swirling behind her.
Lucas leaned back against the bench and watched her disappear inside.
A small smile appeared on his face.
—
Elsewhere in the Hidden City, steel clashed repeatedly across the Clover Clan training grounds.
Austin and Blake moved through synchronized combat drills with practiced precision. Their swords collided in controlled bursts of motion as they exchanged strikes at high speed.
Blake angled his blade downward, redirecting Austin's attack before twisting his wrist sharply to force Emberclaw away from his centerline.
Austin immediately adjusted his footing and retaliated with a horizontal slash aimed toward Blake's ribs, but Blake rotated around the strike and answered with a thrust toward Austin's shoulder.
Austin shifted backward just enough for the blade to pass harmlessly by.
The rhythm continued.
Strike.
Deflect.
Counter.
Their movements flowed naturally from years of shared training.
Eventually, Blake disengaged first.
He stepped backward, lowering his blade while sweat dripped from his forehead onto the stone beneath them.
"The tension in the city is getting worse," Blake said quietly.
Austin lowered Emberclaw slightly.
"I noticed."
Blake walked toward a low stone wall at the edge of the training grounds before sitting down heavily.
Austin joined him a moment later.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Blake exhaled slowly.
"If the clan ever turns against the City, don't side with us."
Austin looked at him sharply.
Blake's expression remained serious.
"If they discover your Four Leaf Clover Eyes completely awakened, you'll stop being family to them." His voice lowered further. "You'll become a weapon."
Austin's grip tightened slightly around Emberclaw.
He already understood that truth.
The Four Leaf Clover Eyes were too valuable.
"They'll either try to control you," Blake continued, "or they'll fear you enough to destroy you."
Austin stared toward the training grounds silently for a long moment before finally nodding.
"If it comes to that," he said quietly, "I won't side with the clan."
Some of the tension left Blake's shoulders immediately.
"Good."
Silence settled between them again before Blake suddenly stretched both arms over his head.
"Enough serious conversation," he muttered. "I promised my little sister I'd spend time with her today."
Austin stood alongside him.
As they approached the main house, a small figure suddenly came sprinting across the courtyard toward them.
"Blake!"
The young girl practically launched herself at him.
Blake caught her effortlessly and lifted her onto his hip while laughing.
"Slow down, little monster."
"I was looking for you everywhere," Mira complained dramatically. "You disappeared."
Behind her, a woman approached with visible exhaustion hidden beneath graceful movements.
Her black hair was tied back simply, and although she looked calm, the tiredness in her eyes betrayed her.
"I apologize," Blake said immediately. "She caused trouble again?"
The woman laughed softly.
"She made me run across the entire estate searching for you."
Mira buried her face into Blake's shoulder shamelessly.
"I wanted Blake."
Blake smiled and adjusted her comfortably against his side.
"I'll take care of her now."
"You say that as if you aren't the reason she became this energetic."
Blake looked genuinely thoughtful for a moment.
"That's fair."
The woman shook her head with amusement before turning back toward the manor.
"Don't let her stay awake too late."
"No promises."
"You're a terrible influence."
"I've accepted that."
She laughed softly before leaving.
Blake watched her disappear briefly before glancing back toward Austin.
"We'll continue training tonight."
Austin nodded once.
Blake started walking away before suddenly stopping mid-step.
"Austin."
"What?"
Blake turned slightly, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"Go talk to the girl you like."
Austin froze instantly.
Heat rushed into his face so quickly that even Blake looked entertained.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Yes, you do."
Austin looked away immediately.
Blake laughed quietly.
"Grace," he said casually. "You stare at her constantly whenever you think nobody notices."
Austin opened his mouth to deny it, but no words came out.
Blake simply smirked before continuing toward the manor with Mira still talking endlessly in his arms.
Austin remained standing alone in the courtyard.
His heartbeat suddenly felt far louder than it should have.
And unfortunately, the moment Blake left, thoughts of Grace immediately filled his head.
Her calm black eyes.
Her cold expression.
The quiet way she moved through the clan grounds like she existed slightly apart from everyone else around her.
Austin exhaled slowly.
Lucas had told him to stop overthinking.
Blake had practically shoved him forward.
And Austin was tired of being afraid.
Before he could change his mind, he started walking.
The eastern side of the Clover Clan territory was quieter than the central districts. Cherry trees lined the pathways, though most of their blossoms had already fallen days earlier.
Austin eventually spotted her ahead.
Grace walked calmly along the stone path with her hands folded behind her back. Her expression remained unreadable as always.
Austin's heartbeat immediately sped up.
For a second, he considered turning around.
Then he forced himself forward.
He reached her side awkwardly and matched her pace.
"Hey," he said.
Grace glanced toward him calmly.
"Hey."
Austin's mind immediately emptied itself.
Every thought vanished.
Every prepared sentence disappeared.
The silence became painful almost instantly.
He remembered Lucas's advice at the last possible moment.
Stop thinking.
"I think you're attractive," Austin blurted out suddenly. "I just wanted to say that."
The words escaped too quickly to stop.
Austin immediately wanted to disappear into another dimension.
Grace stared at him quietly.
Her expression didn't change at all.
Then she spoke.
"Thank you."
Austin nodded once, completely unable to think clearly anymore.
"Goodbye."
He turned immediately and started walking away before he embarrassed himself further.
Then her voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Austin froze.
He slowly turned back toward her.
Grace studied him silently for a moment.
"Would you like to walk with me?"
Austin genuinely thought he had misheard her.
But her expression remained completely serious.
"…Yes," he answered softly. "I would."
Grace nodded once before continuing down the path.
Austin quickly caught up beside her.
They walked together beneath the cherry trees while golden afternoon light filtered through the branches overhead.