Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 492: Calm Blackmare

The journey to Blackmare was neither swift nor easy, and though they had escaped Valerion, the weight of what they carried did not lessen with distance, because survival had simply shifted from stealth to endurance. For ten days, they moved across uneven terrain and long stretches of road, avoiding major routes where possible, resting only when necessary, and even then, never fully lowering their guard. The group remained tightly bound in formation, not just out of caution, but out of necessity, because Sage Raph’s condition demanded constant care, and every mile they covered came at a cost to those carrying him.

Darmian bore the greater burden for most of the journey, keeping Sage Raph secured across his shoulders with steady determination, he’s the most physically strongest amongst them, though the strain showed in the tightening of his jaw and the gradual heaviness in his steps. When he could no longer continue without slowing them, one of the other men would take over briefly, but more often than not, Darmian refused to rest for long, his sense of responsibility outweighing his exhaustion. Lady Isabelle remained close throughout, her attention never straying far from Sage Raph, occasionally adjusting his position, checking his breathing, or offering what little comfort she could, even when it seemed he could not respond.

Lucas led most of the way, his pace consistent, his awareness never dulling despite the long days, while Patrick and Tom alternated between scouting ahead and securing their rear, ensuring they were not followed and that no unexpected threats approached unnoticed. Lady Cecilia moved with quiet resilience, guiding when needed, while Flora and Gwen did what they could to tend to Sage Raph during their brief stops, using limited resources to keep him stable, though it became increasingly clear with each passing day that what he needed went beyond what they could provide on the road.

By the time the outer settlements of Blackmare finally came into view, the group had long since moved past exhaustion into something quieter, something more controlled, where fatigue was acknowledged but not allowed to slow them. The sight of civilization brought no immediate relief, only a subtle shift in focus, because entering another kingdom carried its own risks, even if they were expected.

They approached the outskirts carefully, blending in as travelers rather than soldiers, their movements less rigid now, their presence softened just enough to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. The town itself was modest but active, a place that served as a threshold between the open lands and the deeper territory of Blackmare, with merchants, travelers, and locals moving about in steady rhythm, none of them paying much mind to another group arriving from the road.

Still, Lucas raised a hand as they reached the edge of the settlement, signaling a halt.

"We stop here," he said, his voice calm but firm, his gaze moving over the group to assess their condition, though he already knew the answer before he finished looking.

Tom let out a quiet breath as he stretched slightly, muttering, "About time," while Patrick rolled his shoulders once, his expression easing just enough to show the strain he had been carrying.

Darmian carefully lowered Sage Raph down, with Lady Isabelle immediately kneeling beside him, her hands moving to check his condition as she said quietly, "He’s weaker than before," her voice controlled, though the concern beneath it was clear.

Gwen moved beside her, her expression focused as she added, "He needs proper treatment, we’ve done all we can," while Flora gave a small nod in agreement, her calm voice following, "If we delay any longer, it may be too late."

Lucas’ gaze hardened slightly at that, not in anger, but in decision, as he said, "Then that’s our priority."

Lady Cecilia looked around the town briefly before speaking, her tone thoughtful. "This is a border settlement, not the capital, but there should still be healers here, enough to stabilize him at least."

Patrick crossed his arms lightly as he said, "We’ll need to be careful about who we approach. We don’t know how Blackmare handles outsiders."

Tom added, "We should split the tasks. Some of us rest, some of us look for a healer."

Lucas shook his head slightly. "No splitting too far. We stay within reach of each other. We’ve made it this far, we don’t take risks now."

Darmian exhaled quietly as he straightened, his voice steady despite the fatigue. "I’ll stay with him," he said, glancing down at Sage Raph, while Lady Isabelle added immediately, "So will I."

Gwen nodded. "I’ll assist."

Flora remained beside them as well, her presence calm as ever, as if the long journey had not shaken her in the slightest.

Lucas looked toward Patrick and Tom before saying, "We find a healer, someone skilled enough to handle his condition, and we do it quickly."

Patrick gave a short nod. "Understood."

Tom adjusted his stance, his earlier fatigue now pushed aside by focus. "Let’s not waste time then."

Lucas gave one last glance at Sage Raph, his expression unreadable for a brief moment, before turning toward the town.

"We move."

And with that, they stepped forward into the outskirts of Blackmare, not as fugitives this time, but as survivors carrying a life that now hung by a thread, searching for the one thing they could not afford to lose. Time.

When they stepped fully into the town, the first thing that struck them was not the noise, nor the movement, but the absence of urgency, because unlike Valerion, Rus and Lechia...where fear had seeped into every corner and tension clung to every breath, Blackmare’s outskirts moved with a steady, almost indifferent rhythm, as though the chaos swallowing another kingdom had nothing to do with them. Merchants called out to passersby with practiced ease, traders haggled over goods without distraction, and guards stationed along the streets stood relaxed yet alert, their presence firm but not strained, their eyes watchful without the sharp edge of alarm.

Lucas slowed slightly as his gaze swept across the surroundings, taking in every detail, from the condition of the buildings to the demeanor of the people, and what he saw only deepened his thoughts, because there was no visible sign of fear, no whispered panic, no preparations for war or defense that one would expect from a neighboring kingdom facing such a threat. It was as if Blackmare existed in a different reality altogether, untouched and unconcerned.

Tom walked a step closer, his voice low as he muttered, "They’re acting like nothing’s happening," his eyes narrowing slightly as he observed a group of locals laughing over something trivial, completely disconnected from the gravity of what they themselves had just escaped.

Patrick gave a faint, thoughtful hum before replying, "Either they’re confident... or they know something we don’t," his tone measured, though there was a hint of curiosity beneath it.

Lucas did not respond immediately, his expression calm but focused as he continued to observe, then he said quietly, "This isn’t ignorance, it’s control," his voice steady as he added, "They’ve either secured themselves well enough not to fear what’s coming... or they’ve decided it won’t reach them."

Lady Cecilia glanced around as well, her brows knitting slightly as she said, "For a kingdom to remain this composed while its neighbor is falling, they must have strong defenses... or strong alliances."

Nyx was not there to answer that thought, but the implication lingered nonetheless.

Lucas shifted his attention back to the group, his tone changing slightly as he said, "We focus on what we came for first. Observations can wait."

His gaze moved toward Tom. "Find a healer, someone experienced, not just anyone with basic skills," his voice firm, leaving no room for compromise.

Tom nodded immediately. "Got it," he said before moving off into the crowd, his pace quick but controlled as he began scanning for any signs of a proper medical establishment, his eyes moving from signboards to individuals, listening in on conversations as he passed.

The rest of the group remained together, keeping a low profile as they moved toward a quieter section of the town, where Sage Raph could be kept stable while they waited. Darmian adjusted his hold slightly, his movements slower now that they had stopped, while Lady Isabelle stayed close, her attention never leaving Sage Raph’s condition.

It did not take long.

Tom returned within a short time, his expression focused as he said, "Found one, not far from here, looks legitimate," his tone carrying confidence in his assessment.

Lucas gave a short nod. "Lead the way."

They moved quickly but without drawing attention, following Tom through a series of streets until they reached the healer’s place, a modest but well-kept building that showed signs of regular use, not neglect. Without delay, they brought Sage Raph inside, Darmian carefully lowering him as the healer was called upon, urgency replacing caution in that moment, because whatever reservations they had about revealing themselves had to be set aside for this.

Once Sage Raph was in capable hands, Lucas stepped back slightly, his attention already shifting to the next step.

He turned to Patrick and Tom, his voice low but clear. "We need information. Everything we can get about Blackmare’s stance, their movements, their defenses, and anything related to Valerion."

Patrick straightened slightly, a faint smirk touching his lips as he said, "So we listen, watch, and ask without asking," his tone light, but his eyes sharp.

Tom nodded in agreement. "We’ll blend in, shouldn’t be too hard here."

Lucas held their gaze for a brief moment before adding, "Do not draw attention. We don’t know how they handle outsiders yet, and we’re not here to create problems."

Patrick gave a small nod. "Understood."

Tom adjusted his stance. "We’ll be back soon."

Lucas watched them for a second longer before saying, "Be careful."

With that, the two of them turned and disappeared back into the flow of the town, their roles shifting once again, not as fighters, but as eyes and ears in a place that, for now, revealed far less than it concealed.

Lucas remained where he was, his gaze drifting briefly across the calm streets of Blackmare, his thoughts quiet but active, because the more he looked, the clearer it became.

This kingdom was not untouched.

It was prepared.