Chapter 134: Chapter 127: A Night of Reflection

The journey back from the Tower of Stars was far quieter than the one that had brought Lucien there.

A royal escort guided him through the palace grounds, but neither side felt the need to speak.

Snow continued falling gently over the capital.

While the city remained illuminated beneath countless lanterns, creating a sea of golden lights beneath the night sky.

Ordinarily, Lucien would have appreciated the view.

Tonight, however, his thoughts were elsewhere.

The Great Tear, demonic invasions,Supreme Mage Council and hidden factions observing Elarion.

The possibility that the next invasion might arrive sooner than expected.

Each revelation carried enough weight to occupy a man’s thoughts for weeks. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Yet none of them dominated his mind.

Instead, one particular topic kept returning.

His mother.

For years, he had investigated her death.

Missing records,contradictory testimonies.

Witnesses who remembered nothing.

Officials who preferred silence.

Every path eventually vanished into darkness.

But tonight had changed something.

For the first time, someone with genuine authority had openly acknowledged what Lucien had long suspected.

Her death had not been an accident.

Nor had it been simple noble politics.

Someone had benefited from it.

And someone had wanted her gone.

And according to the Guardian, there were records.

Evidence,Names.

The possibility alone was enough to keep sleep far away.

By the time Lucien returned to the estate assigned to him in the capital, the night had grown late.

Most servants had already retired.

The building itself remained quiet.

Only a handful of lamps still burned.

As expected, Gandalf remained awake.

The old mage sat near a fireplace reading a book.

Without even looking up, he spoke.

"You were gone longer than expected."

Lucien removed his coat.

"The conversation took time."

Gandalf nodded.

"I assumed as much."

The old mage finally closed his book.

For several moments he studied Lucien.

Then a knowing smile appeared.

"It was important."

Lucien simply nodded.

Gandalf’s expression became thoughtful.

"Interesting."

The old mage leaned back slightly.

"It seems the Guardian rarely wastes his time."

Silence followed.

Eventually Gandalf spoke again.

"Will this meeting change anything?"

Lucien stared into the flames dancing within the fireplace.

For several moments he considered the question.

Then answered honestly.

"Possibly everything."

That response immediately drew Gandalf’s full attention.

The old mage’s eyes narrowed slightly.

For a moment he remained silent.

Then he asked quietly,

"Everything?"

Lucien nodded.

Gandalf carefully observed him.

Years of experience had taught him how to read people.

More importantly, years spent serving alongside Lucien had taught him how to read this particular young lord.

The old mage’s gaze sharpened.

Then he asked a question that caught Lucien slightly off guard.

"Is it about the Great Tear?"

A brief pause followed.

Then Gandalf added:

"Or your mother?"

The room became completely silent.

Only the crackling fire remained.

Lucien slowly looked toward him.

Gandalf held his gaze.

The old mage immediately understood.

His expression softened slightly.

"So it is your mother."

Lucien looked back toward the flames.

For years he had pursued fragments of truth.

For years every trail had vanished into darkness.

Tonight was the first time someone had acknowledged that his suspicions might be correct.

That alone changed everything.

Gandalf sighed quietly.

"The Guardian told you something."

Lucien nodded once.

"Not enough."

His voice remained calm.

"But more than I had before."

The old mage sat quietly for several moments.

Then a faint smile appeared.

"That is still progress."

Lucien didn’t disagree.

Gandalf closed his book completely.

Then rested it on the table beside him.

"Whatever answers you find..."

His voice became softer.

"...make sure they are answers you truly wish to know."

The warning wasn’t dramatic.

Nor was it mysterious.

It came from experience.

From a man who had lived long enough to understand that truth was not always comforting.

Lucien remained silent.

Eventually Gandalf rose from his chair.

The old mage stretched slightly.

Then looked toward him one final time.

"The Guardian wouldn’t involve himself unless he considered the matter important."

His smile returned.

"Which means your life is about to become considerably more complicated."

For the first time that evening, a faint smile appeared on Lucien’s face.

Gandalf immediately pointed at him.

"There."

"I knew you could still smile."

Lucien immediately regretted it.

The old mage looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Then, still chuckling quietly, Gandalf retired for the night.

Before going he added "if you take action against your enemies make sure you are fast enough or the council might intervene."

Leaving Lucien alone with the fire.

And with thoughts that would keep him awake long after midnight.

The conversation ended there.

Both men returned to their thoughts.

Eventually Lucien retired to his room.

Unfortunately, sleep proved elusive.

Hours passed.

Several times he attempted to rest.

Several times he found his thoughts returning to the same subjects.

The invasion,summit,mother and Guardian’s offer.

Most of all, he kept analyzing the old mage himself.

That part troubled him.

Not because he distrusted the Guardian.

Quite the opposite.

The old mage had been honest.

There had been no threats.

Merely an offer.

And somehow that made the situation even more difficult.

Because the Guardian genuinely seemed to believe everything he had said.

He genuinely believed Elarion could influence the future.

He genuinely believed industrial production might change the balance of power.

And most concerning of all—

He genuinely believed Lucien mattered.

By dawn, Lucien had reached a conclusion.

Regardless of personal feelings, refusing the offer made little sense.

The summit offered opportunities impossible to ignore.

Access to the Supreme Mage Council.

Access to information.

Access to individuals capable of shaping the continent.

And perhaps most importantly—

Access to the truth.

His decision was made.

The following morning arrived quickly.

After a simple breakfast, Lucien once again made his way toward the Tower of Stars.

The same royal guard waited near the entrance.

The same ancient corridors greeted him.

The same seemingly endless staircase stretched upward.

This time, however, the journey felt different.

Yesterday he had climbed seeking answers.

Today he climbed carrying a decision.

Eventually he reached the summit.

The old wooden door stood exactly where it had before.

Lucien knocked.

A familiar voice responded.

"Enter."

The room remained unchanged. Same books,maps and scrolls

And nearthe fireplace.

sat the Royal Guardian.

A cup of tea rested comfortably in his hands.

Without looking up from his book, he spoke.

"You decided."

Lucien entered.

The old mage finally looked up.

His expression remained calm.

As though he already knew the answer.

Perhaps he did.

Lucien stopped before the table.

Then spoke.

"Yes."

The Guardian waited.

"I’ll attend the summit."

For several moments the old mage simply observed him.

Then a satisfied smile appeared.

"Excellent."

The Guardian closed his book.

"I expected that answer."

Lucien sat down.

The old mage poured another cup of tea.

Then pushed it across the table.

"Good."

He took a sip from his own cup.

"The Council will be... interesting."

Something about the way he said that word made Lucien suspicious.

The Guardian noticed immediately.

His smile widened slightly.

"That expression is appropriate."

The old mage seemed genuinely amused.

For a while they discussed practical matters.

Dates.

Travel arrangements.

Expected attendees.

Nothing particularly surprising.

Eventually the conversation appeared finished.

Lucien rose from his chair.

The Guardian remained seated.

For a brief moment neither spoke.

Then the old mage suddenly remembered something.

"Oh."

Lucien paused.

The Guardian looked up.

"One more thing."

Something in his tone immediately attracted attention.

Lucien waited.

The old mage smiled.

"Come back tomorrow."

Lucien raised an eyebrow.

"For what?"

The Guardian’s expression became unexpectedly amused.

"I think it is time you met little Elena properly."

For perhaps the first time during their entire series of conversations, Lucien genuinely looked surprised.

The Guardian immediately noticed.

His smile widened.

"Good."

"It would be disappointing if that announcement failed to surprise you."

Lucien stared at him.

The old mage seemed entirely too entertained.

After several moments he finally continued.

"Considering the two of you are technically engaged."

The room became very quiet.

Lucien remained motionless.

The Guardian laughed.

Just enough to reveal how amusing he found the situation.

"I take it nobody informed you."

Lucien said nothing.

Which answered the question perfectly.

The old mage shook his head.

"Remarkable."

His amusement only increased.

"Royal politics truly are inefficient."

Eventually he placed his teacup aside.

His expression softened slightly.

"The arrangement was established years ago."

"When both of you were children."

The Guardian shrugged.

"Neither of you had much say in the matter."

That wasn’t surprising.

Noble marriages rarely involved personal choice.

The old mage leaned back comfortably.

Then a thoughtful expression appeared.

"Fortunately, Elena has very strong opinions."

For some reason, that statement sounded vaguely dangerous.

The Guardian seemed to realize it.

A brief silence followed.

Then he sighed.

"You should probably worry a little."

Lucien stared at him.

The old mage laughed again.

"She has spent months hearing stories about you."

That immediately explained several things.

The Guardian continued.

"Factories."

"Warhounds."

"Machine guns."

"Elarion."

His smile became helpless.

"I fear her curiosity has become somewhat excessive."

The image of the Royal Guardian describing a princess as a problem was strangely amusing.

The old mage rubbed his forehead.

"Asking questions."

"Demanding reports."

"Arguing with tutors."

His expression suggested this had become a recurring issue.

Then he looked directly at Lucien.

"Meeting her will solve several problems."

The Guardian paused.

Then added:

"Or create new ones."

That didn’t sound particularly reassuring.

The old mage clearly agreed.

For several moments he appeared lost in thought.

Then he sighed.

"Yes."

"Definitely create new ones."

Lucien remained silent.

The Guardian pointed toward the door.

"Tomorrow."

"Come here after breakfast."

His smile returned.

"I believe the two of you have much to discuss."

As Lucien left the Tower of Stars, he couldn’t help but notice something unusual.

Throughout their conversations, the Royal Guardian had discussed demonic invasions, continental politics, ancient conspiracies, and world-ending threats without the slightest concern.

Yet somehow—

Mentioning Princess Elena had made him look significantly more nervous.

That realization followed Lucien all the way back to the estate.

And for the first time since arriving in the capital, he found himself genuinely curious about what tomorrow would bring.