Chapter 46 - 44 : Morning in Oakhaven
The golden light of the morning sun broke over the spires of Oakhaven, filtering softly through the high windows of the upper suite.
In the primary room, Lyra’s silver eyes snapped open.
Instantly, her hand shot out toward the side of the bed, searching for the familiar, cold presence beside her. Her fingers met only empty, cooled bedsheets.
Lyra sat up in a flash, her heart plummeting into a sudden spike of sheer panic. Finding herself alone, her mind raced. Ignoring her lingering physical weakness, she drew her silver rapier with a sharp hiss and stormed down the corridor. She marched straight to Aria’s door, kicking it open with a bang only to find the room completely empty.
Lyra slammed the door shut, her jaw tightening. Where is he? Is he with that whore Elena? Fueled by anger and anxiety, she rushed down the stairs to the dining hall.
The morning sun filtered through the high windows of the inn’s ground-floor dining hall, casting warm amber light across polished wooden tables.
Victor sat alone near a quiet corner, looking completely composed and neatly dressed in his dark coat. A silver fork rested casually in his hand beside a plate of toasted bread and fresh tea. There was no trace of exhaustion or the previous night’s indiscretions on his face only his usual cool, unreadable calm.
From the top of the staircase, a sudden burst of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall.
Lyra burst into the dining room, her silver rapier drawn, her eyes darting frantically across the room until they landed on Victor. The moment she saw him sitting peacefully, the intense panic in her chest receded, leaving behind a quiet breath of relief. She quickly sheathed her weapon, adjusted her leather coat to regain her composure, and walked directly to his table.
"Victor," Lyra murmured, sliding gracefully into the chair directly beside him.
As she settled in, her heightened senses picked up something subtle. A faint, unmistakable trace of Aria’s distinct scent sweet lotus and subtle mana perfume lingered softly on the fabric of Victor’s coat.
Lyra’s silver eyes flickered slightly, but she made no scene, nor did her expression waver into open jealousy. She simply looked at him and asked in a low, even tone, "Where is Aria?"
Victor took a calm sip of his tea, his pitch-black eyes meeting hers without a flicker of hesitation. "I sent her out early to gather intelligence. She is investigating Garrick’s movements, the public rumors surrounding the collapse of the Hidden dungeon, and whether any factions are aware that our group survived."
"I see," Lyra replied, bowing her head slightly.
Outwardly, she accepted the explanation without protest. Internally, however, a quiet, sharp list began forming in her mind: I need to spend more time with him. I must stop leaving him alone with Aria... Perhaps I should volunteer for more individual missions with him from now on.
Before the silence stretched any further, heavy footsteps sounded on the wooden floorboards.
Kael and Elena entered the hall, looking refreshed and well-rested. The lingering fatigue from the subterranean trials had largely faded, replaced by a calm, relaxed atmosphere that stood in stark contrast to the constant peril of the Lower Labyrinth.
"Good morning, Victor," Kael greeted, sitting across from them while Elena quietly took a seat beside her brother.
Victor observed the two carefully, his Fate-Shattering Perception silently analyzing their physical states and mana signatures.
"Kael," Victor spoke up, setting his teacup down with a soft click. "How does the new ability feel?"
Kael paused, adjusting the heavy harness carrying the wrapped battle axe on his back. He didn’t hesitate or try to guard his secret. "It’s remarkable. The axe’s dormant trait allows me to absorb a portion of the blood from enemies I wound in combat, converting it directly into vital energy to heal my own physical body."
Victor raised an eyebrow, a cold spark of calculation passing through his eyes.
He’s telling me the precise mechanics of his relic this easily? Victor thought internally. After everything that transpired in the ruins, Kael has finally begun to trust me completely. If so... that will prove exceptionally useful.
"Is there a drawback?" Victor asked aloud.
"Yes," Kael admitted with a slight grimace. "The blood absorption process drains a considerable amount of mana to maintain the conversion matrix. On top of that, Elena had to keep casting mana support spells on me over and over. It seems my mana is constantly being consumed just to keep my sanity while the axe is active. My natural reserves are terrible since I’m a physical swordsman, so in a real fight, I’d run out of mana in minutes."
Victor looked at him, his expression dry. "Well, that’s still better than getting high on those black-market suppressor drugs... unless you miss them?"
Kael almost jumped out of his chair, waving his hands defensively. "No! Absolutely not! I don’t miss those damn things at all! Haha..."
"Good," Victor said calmly. "Then we’ll buy you a heavy supply of high-grade mana potions before we leave Oakhaven so Elena can actually rest. It’s much better for you to get high on legal potions rather than illegal drugs. I’d call that genuine progress."
Kael laughed nervously, a look of immense gratitude filling his eyes.
Beside him, Elena watched the exchange quietly, her chest tight with lingering emotion. She looked at Victor in a completely different light. For years, her family had lived under the crushing weight of anxiety, watching Kael slowly destroy himself with volatile narcotics just to keep his ancestral rage buried. Victor had dismantled that nightmare in a matter of days.
Yet, a quiet, analytical question stirred deep within her heart: Why? What does Victor truly want Kael to do? He is definitely after my brother’s Berserker trait...
She shifted her gaze from Victor to her brother. For as long as she could remember, Kael’s face had been defined by aggression, paranoia, and deep depression. But now, as he sat chatting with Victor, he looked genuinely lighter unburdened and free.
Elena let out a faint, imperceptible breath, deciding to let her lingering suspicions go for now. Her brother was happy and alive, and that was enough.
Victor, meanwhile, analyzed the tactical situation. A self-sustaining vampiric trait during combat is an incredible asset for a front-line vanguard. However, his poor mana capacity creates a critical vulnerability. Victor made a mental note: improving Kael’s core mana capacity would need to become a future priority.
Victor turned his gaze toward Elena. "And you, Elena? Have you noticed any changes after our exposure to the ruin’s trial relics? Do you feel stronger, or have you experienced an epiphany like Kael?"
Elena lowered her head slightly, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her traveling cloak. "I... I haven’t felt anything unusual, Victor. My mana flow is smooth thanks to the Elixir, but no new abilities have awakened."
"Do not worry about it," Victor replied smoothly, not pushing her further. "Awakening a bloodline trait or a weapon affinity often requires a specific trigger. It may happen later."
As the meal wound down, Victor placed his napkin on the table, his tone shifting into something noticeably more serious and authoritative. Everyone at the table instantly leaned in, sensing the change in atmosphere.
"Once we leave Oakhaven, we are returning directly to the capital, Thaloris," Victor declared firmly. "Our destination is the Imperial Academy. We need to report back before our prolonged absence creates unnecessary complications among the noble houses."
His pitch-black eyes swept over all three of them with chilling intensity.
"Before we step outside, remember this order clearly: You will not discuss the Lower Labyrinth. You will not mention Elaria. You will never speak of the Elixir of Life, nor reveal the true nature of the Dragon Slayer Battle Axe or the Blood Trial. And above all, you will not utter a word about how Garrick attacked us."
Victor leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a low whisper.
Our official story is simple: we just went to do some guild quests in the countryside to gain some experience, nothing more and nothing less. The collapsed dungeon has left no evidence, I believe, unless someone crazy enough can lift millions of tons of debris just to prove a few academy students wrong. Unnecessary truth attracts unwanted eyes, and in the capital, unwanted eyes bring death."
"Understood," Lyra, Kael, and Elena answered in unison, nodding with total seriousness.
"We leave Oakhaven this afternoon," Victor added, checking his pocket watch. "Use the remaining hours to rest, purchase necessary travel supplies, and gather local news while we wait for Aria’s return."
Victor picked up his glass, taking a final drink while silently calculating what political landmines awaited them back at the academy.
CLACK.
The heavy front door of the inn swung open, the chiming bell above it ringing sharply.
Aria stepped into the dining hall, her travel cloak damp with morning mist. Her usual charming smile was completely gone, replaced by an unusually grave, serious expression. She bypassed the other patrons without a glance and walked straight toward Victor’s table.
Stopping right beside him, she leaned down and whispered softly:
"Victor... I found something about Garrick."