Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 528: Nyx’s departure

"The mission begins when the assault on Lechia starts," he said, his voice calm but firm enough to cut through whatever doubt they still held. "That is our window. While their attention and strength are pulled toward the front, we move into Rus."

The two men listened, their earlier arrogance still present, but now tempered slightly by the shift in tone.

"We are not going there to fight," Lucas continued. "We are going there to get in, retrieve the emperor, and get out. That means we avoid confrontation as much as possible. No unnecessary engagements. No showing off. If a fight can be avoided, we avoid it."

One of the celestials frowned slightly. "And if it cannot be avoided."

"Then it ends quickly," Lucas replied without hesitation. "But it does not escalate. The moment things drag, the mission is already compromised."

There was a brief silence as that settled.

Damian, who had been listening closely from the side, stepped forward slightly, his expression thoughtful but edged with concern.

"There is something we need to consider," he said.

Lucas turned his gaze toward him.

"The last time we were in hostile territory," Damian continued, "we carried out a breakout. Sage Raph and Lady Isabelle. It was not subtle by the end of it."

Lucas gave a faint nod in agreement.

Damian looked back at Lucas. "If word of that reached Rus, they might already be on alert for something similar."

The two celestials exchanged a glance at that, their expressions sharpening now, taking the concern more seriously than before.

Lucas remained silent for a brief moment, then shook his head slightly.

"I doubt it," he said.

Damian frowned. "You are certain."

Lucas met his gaze. "Think about it. If that failure reached the higher ranks of the usurpers, it would not be handled quietly."

He paused, letting the implication settle.

"Men who fail at that level do not report upward unless they are forced to," he continued. "Especially not to someone like Ken."

The name alone caused a subtle shift in the atmosphere.

One of the celestials narrowed his eyes. "You believe they would hide it."

"Yes," Lucas said. "Because Ken does not tolerate failure. Not even slightly. And they know it."

Bartho crossed his arms, thinking it through. "So instead of strengthening their defenses, they bury the mistake."

"They protect themselves first," Lucas replied. "Which means the information does not spread as far as it should."

Damian exhaled slowly, the tension easing just a fraction. "That gives us an advantage."

"It gives us a chance," Lucas corrected.

The two celestials remained quiet now, no longer dismissive, their attention fully on him as they began to understand the depth of what they were walking into.

Lucas looked at all of them, his voice steady.

"We do not assume safety," he said. "We assume gaps. And we move through them before they close."

No one spoke after that.

Because they all understood exactly what that meant.

The discussion stretched longer than expected.

For nearly two hours, Lucas broke everything down in detail, leaving no part of the mission untouched. Vorde also walked them through timing, entry routes, expected resistance, fallback options, and the importance of discipline once inside Rus. Questions came, some direct, some skeptical, especially from the two celestials, but Lucas answered each one without irritation, his explanations precise and grounded.

By the time it ended, the earlier tension had shifted.

Not gone, but reshaped into something more functional.

They understood him now.

Not fully, but enough.

Lucas stepped out of the area shortly after. He had barely taken a few steps when he noticed movement ahead.

Nyx.

She stood a short distance away, already prepared, her posture straight, her expression composed. Behind her was a small envoy of guards, well-armed and alert, clearly chosen for long travel. The atmosphere around them was different, not casual, not relaxed. It carried the weight of departure.

But she was not alone.

Lira was there.

Selene stood beside her.

The Ice Belle lingered slightly behind them, her presence unmistakable even in silence.

And then Lucas’s gaze shifted.

Henrietta.

She stood among them, but unlike the others, she was fully geared, her attire suited for travel and combat, not farewell. The details were subtle, but unmistakable to someone like Lucas.

She was not just seeing Nyx off.

She was going with her.

For a brief moment, Lucas said nothing.

A faint realization settled in, followed closely by something quieter, something closer to regret.

He had not known.

He had given Nyx a proper farewell, something personal, something intentional.

Henrietta had received none of that.

Not because he chose not to.

But because he had not known she would be leaving.

His gaze lingered on her for just a second longer than usual, enough for the thought to fully form.

Then he stepped forward toward them, his expression returning to its usual calm, though the awareness remained beneath it.

Lucas closed the distance between them, his gaze moving briefly across the small group before settling on Nyx and Henrietta.

"You will be traveling far," he said, his tone calm but deliberate. "Do not rely on fixed routes. Change paths when it is necessary. Rest when you can, not when you are forced to. Long journeys break people who wait too long to recover."

Nyx listened, her expression soft but attentive, taking in every word.

Henrietta let out a small breath beside Nyx, folding her arms lightly.

"You are speaking as if she has never left the capital before," she said, her tone carrying a hint of amusement.

Lucas glanced at her.

Henrietta met his gaze directly. "I am with her," she added. "And I am not new to this."

There was no arrogance in her voice, only certainty.

"I have seen more battlefields than most men twice my age," she continued. "And I know how to keep someone alive on the road."

Lucas held her gaze for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

"I know," he said.

There was no challenge in his tone, only acknowledgment.

"I trust you," he added simply.

Henrietta’s expression softened just slightly at that, though she did not make a show of it.

Nyx glanced between them, a faint smile touching her lips.

Lucas stepped forward first toward Henrietta.

He pulled her into a firm embrace, brief but meaningful, his hand resting against her back for a moment before he let go.

"Keep her safe," he said quietly.

Henrietta gave a small nod. "I will."

Then Lucas turned to Nyx.

There was a brief pause before he reached for her, then he drew her into an embrace as well, holding her just a little longer. There was nothing rushed about it, no hesitation either.

Nyx rested against him for that moment, her arms around him, steady and warm.

When they finally pulled apart, she looked at him with a faint, confident smile.

"I will return," she said with assurance.

Lucas nodded once. "I will be here."

The guards behind them remained silent, waiting, their presence a reminder that time was already moving.

The moment could not stretch any further.

But it lingered just enough before they had to let it go.