Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 333: Back to the capital

Lucas stepped out with the sage and found Tom standing near one of the stone pillars, hands behind his back in a respectful posture while the Ice Belle clung to his sleeve like a child bored out of her mind. She perked up immediately at Lucas’s appearance, her eyes brightening, while Tom straightened and bowed slightly.

"Master," Tom said. "Is everything settled?"

Before Lucas could answer, Sage Raph narrowed his eyes, and then looked at Tom. "Boy," the sage said in his deep, aged voice, "go to the inner court and call for several servants. Tell them they are needed here at once. We have heavy cargo that must be moved."

Tom’s body stiffened at being addressed directly by the legendary sage, but he quickly nodded. "Yes, Sage Raph. I will bring them immediately."

The Ice Belle tugged lightly on Tom’s sleeve as he turned to leave. "Hurry," she muttered, her tiny voice both impatient and amused.

"Go on," Lucas said gently. "We will be here."

Tom gave one more respectful bow to both Lucas and Sage Raph before darting down the corridor at a brisk pace.

The crates were eventually hauled out by the inner-court servants and carefully arranged in several carts, six in total, each one packed tightly with gauntlets wrapped in protective cloth. The Core of Dominion was placed in its own reinforced chest, locked with three layers of formations that Sage Raph personally activated.

When everything was finally ready, Sage Raph lingered with Lucas near the courtyard gate, his hands clasped behind his back as he watched the servants finish tying down the last cart.

"You have done far more than you realise," the sage said quietly. "This contribution will echo in the coming war. I owe you a debt that words cannot cover."

Lucas bowed his head with respect. "Sage Raph, I’m the one who is grateful."

The sage chuckled, stroking his beard. "Still humble even after achieving results that would take others decades. Good. Do not lose that. And Xavier... expect to hear from me often. There is much more ahead of us."

"I understand," Lucas replied.

They spoke for a while longer about minor improvements to alchemical arrays, the future of the empire, and even the temperament of the Ice Belle, who sat on one of the crates nibbling grapes and pretending not to listen. When the time came for Lucas to leave, Sage Raph clasped his forearm firmly.

"Go safely. And protect that artefact with your life, Xavier. It is no longer just mine. It is ours."

Lucas nodded deeply before turning away.

Before departing the city, he stopped by Lady Cecilia’s residence with Tom and the Ice Belle trailing behind him. Cecilia welcomed him with her usual warm smile, and Isabelle was already there, leaning against the balcony rail with a teasing smirk.

"Xavier," Isabelle said as she walked toward him, "you vanish for a long time, appear at an alchemic gathering like a ghost, and now you are leaving again? You truly enjoy tormenting people."

Cecilia laughed softly. "We barely had time to speak. You look exhausted. You should rest the night."

Lucas smiled regretfully. "I wish I could. Truly. But urgent matters in the capital won’t wait. Once everything settles, I’ll spend proper time with you both."

They exchanged a few more affectionate words, unwilling to make the parting too emotional. Cecilia squeezed his hand softly before letting him go. Isabelle simply tapped his chest and warned him not to keep them waiting too long next time.

With that final visit done, Lucas returned to the carts where Tom and the Ice Belle were already waiting. Tom sat upright on his horse, ready to escort the convoy, while the Ice Belle lounged on top of a crate, kicking her small feet and staring at passersby with a smug grin.

Several hired security guards joined them, elite cultivators whose presence drew curious glances from the townsfolk.

When Lucas mounted his horse, the Ice Belle leaped gracefully into his arms and settled herself onto the saddle in front of him. "Finally," she grumbled.

Lucas laughed softly, nudged his horse forward, and raised a hand in farewell to Sage Raph, who stood in the distance watching them depart.

The small caravan rolled out of the alchemic city.

By the time Lucas returned to the capital, dusk had already begun to settle, thin streaks of gold fading into a deepening blue. His cloak was dusty from travel, his expression unreadable, but he moved with quiet purpose as he rode through the palace gates.

The mercenaries who escorted him dismounted immediately, bowing their heads. Lucas handed each of them a sealed pouch, the payment promised...and a little extra. The men exchanged surprised glances but saluted respectfully before taking their leave. None of them dared ask what they had escorted, only that it was heavy and wrapped in layers of suppressive talismans.

Inside the palace walls, the servants were already gathered. Tom stood at the front, a little out of breath, clearly having run the entire way after being summoned. At the sight of Lucas, he straightened quickly.

"Master! Everything is ready as you instructed."

"Good. Lead them," Lucas said.

Tom nodded and turned, guiding the group of inner-court servants toward the wagon. As the coverings were pulled back, the servants stiffened in instinctive awe, rows of dark, metal gauntlet-like constructs, layered with runic plates and faint, dormant pulses of power. None of them knew what they were; none dared ask. All they knew was that the air felt heavier around them, as if the objects breathed.

"Handle them carefully," Tom instructed, echoing Lucas’s earlier words. "Don’t touch the joints. Don’t tilt them. And do not...under any circumstances...activate the runes."

The servants gulped in unison.

Piece by piece, the gauntlets were lifted and carried through the palace corridors, veiled and sealed. Lucas walked behind them the entire way, silently monitoring every movement as though the slightest mistake could trigger disaster.

Finally, they reached a secluded wing of the palace, an unused archive chamber reinforced long ago with lock arrays.

The heavy stone doors opened with a deep rumble.

The servants stepped inside and began stacking the gauntlets carefully on reinforced pedestals. Tom oversaw everything, placing talisman seals on each completed row. When the final gauntlet was placed and the last seal activated, Lucas stepped forward.

Tom exhaled shakily. "It’s... done, Master."

Lucas nodded, eyes lingering on the gauntlets, so harmless now, yet capable of shifting the fate of kingdoms.

"Good work, Tom. Make sure no one enters this wing without my direct permission."

Tom bowed deeply. "Yes, Master Lucas."

The doors closed with a heavy finality as Lucas turned away.

No one, not the servants, not the guards, not the palace elders, knew what had just been secured.

Then he left to go meet The King, The Empress and Henrietta.

Lucas took his time explaining everything from the moment he arrived at the alchemic city to the very instant Sage Raph bestowed the Core of Dominion to him. He recounted how the sage had felt when he realised Lucas solved the instability, how the old man had guided him to the restricted room where thousands of gauntlets had been hidden for years, and how the core had subdued and synchronized with them so completely that even Sage Raph had been left speechless.

King Alden listened with a steady, thoughtful expression, his fingers lightly tapping the arm of his chair. Henrietta, in contrast, kept her gaze fixed on Lucas with an intensity that made it clear she was evaluating every detail he offered. The Empress remained silent for most of the report, yet she never looked away from him, her interest unmistakable.

Lucas explained the alchemic procedures, the test Sage Raph performed, and even the twisted pull of Qi he felt when Raph activated the core. The three people were visibly shaken by the magnitude of what had been created. Even the King, who rarely showed strong emotion, muttered something about the fate of kingdoms being changed by a single artifact.

When Lucas mentioned that Sage Raph had chosen him, personally, to wield the Core of Dominion, the King leaned back with a long exhale. Henrietta raised one brow but said nothing immediately, and Isabella’s eyes narrowed slightly as if she was already weighing the political consequences.

Lucas concluded his explanation with a respectful bow. "That is the entirety of my experience, Your Majesties. I returned immediately with the crates because Sage Raph insisted that Valerion must prepare for what is coming."

The Empress shifted her weight first. "Xavier, everything you have just said carries a weight that most cultivators would tremble under. You handled yourself well."

Lucas bowed again. "Thank you, Your Imperial Highness."

The King dismissed him with a nod, clearly deep in thought. Henrietta remained still, her expression proud.

He turned to leave the chamber, ready to excuse himself and return to his quarters to sort through the mess of thoughts stirred up by the day. Before he could take more than three steps, The Empress’s voice cut through the room.

"Xavier."

He paused immediately and turned back to face her.

Her gaze held his without wavering. "I would like to speak with you privately."

Lucas blinked... "Your Majesty?"

She rose slowly from her seat, smoothing her gown with deliberate elegance. "Yes. In my chambers. Come at once."

The King gave no objection. Henrietta looked mildly curious but said nothing.