Chapter 82: Dead Ground Meeting (2)
"No. You wish to survive it."
Ravencroft’s face tightened, but he said nothing.
Garran laughed coldly. "Do not bully the baron to avoid answering me. Tell me why your people protected Lucard Vardros."
Robi’s expression became calm. "Because House Marovain had business with him."
"What business?"
"Private business."
"My grandson died because of your private business."
Robi looked at him. "Your grandson died because he attacked someone under Marovain protection, damaged my branch shop, ignored my niece’s warning, and stood too close to a man he had failed to kill."
Tina suddenly shouted, "Lucard killed him like a demon. He pulled out his heart. He is a monster."
Robi looked at her.
Tina flinched a little but continued because Garran was there.
"He attacked Dorian when Dorian was speaking to Lady Celia. That was not a duel. That was murder."
Robi said, "Interesting. Dorian used Heartfire Lance against an injured opponent in the street. Was that a holy blessing?"
Tina’s mouth closed.
Adrian clenched his teeth and spoke weakly. "Lucard placed a spell on me. He threatened my life."
Robi looked at him. "Then perhaps you should be thankful he has not ended it yet."
Adrian’s face became pale again.
Ravencroft quickly stood closer to his son.
Garran looked at Robi with cold anger. "You speak well. You always spoke well. But I know you. You planned this."
Robi raised an eyebrow. "Did I?"
"Yes."
"Then I planned poorly. A Velkhur died, my shop entrance was damaged, my niece had to stand in the street covered in blood, and now I had to climb this unpleasant hill to hear you shout. If this was my plan, I must be losing talent."
Garran stepped forward.
"You used that Vardros brat."
Robi’s eyes sharpened slightly. "Careful."
"You found a desperate fallen noble. You gave him protection. You placed your guards behind him. You let Celia block Dorian. Then when Dorian’s guard was down, that brat killed him. Do you think I cannot see it?"
Robi gave a slow smile.
"You see many things, Garran. Sadly, most of them are inside your own anger."
Garran’s mana rose slightly.
The dead grass near his boots began to dry even more.
Lucard watched closely from above.
The first pressure had begun.
The trap under the platform did not move yet. It slept beneath ash and soil. Lucard had placed his blood in the hidden line, but he did not touch it. Not now. The first mistake belonged to Garran. He needed to see what dirty method the old fire mage would use.
Robi remained still.
Garran lifted one finger. "You lost to me for years. Again and again. You think I do not know your heart? You hated me when I beat you in the youth duel. You hated me when I took the beast core from the hunt. You hated me when I walked away from the ruin while you lost that hand. Now you think you can repay me with my grandson’s blood."
Robi’s smile faded.
Celia looked at him.
The metal fingers of Robi’s fake hand opened and closed once.
"That ruin," Robi said softly, "is not something you should mention with pride."
Garran laughed. "Why not? I won."
"You trapped a teammate and called it victory."
"I used the ground better."
"You led three young mages into a false chamber and let them burn."
"They were weak."
The Marovain guards became colder. Even some Ravencroft men shifted uneasily.
Robi’s voice became quiet. "You have not changed."
Garran smiled. "I became stronger."
"No," Robi said. "You became older. The tricks stayed the same."
Garran’s face darkened.
For a moment, Lucard thought he would attack directly. But Garran did not. Instead, he turned his wrist slightly behind his cloak.
Lucard’s eyes narrowed.
A tiny red thread slipped from Garran’s sleeve and touched the ground. It was almost invisible. It moved through the dust toward Robi’s left side. The thread did not carry much mana. It was meant to hide under the pressure of Garran’s larger presence. If someone only watched the obvious fire, they would miss it.
Dirty method.
Lucard looked toward Robi.
Robi had noticed something but not all of it. His eyes moved once to the ground, but the thread was already close to the outer edge of the hidden Marovain line.
Celia did not notice yet.
Lucard smiled faintly.
Garran wanted to prepare the first trap during conversation. He was placing a fire mark under Robi’s foot, perhaps to explode or bind him when the fight began.
Lucard touched the stone beside him with one finger.
A tiny drop of blood entered the crack.
Far below, the hidden trap took one silent breath.
The death mana under the platform shifted, not enough to activate, only enough to bend the soil. Garran’s red thread moved forward, then dipped slightly into a shallow groove that had been covered by ash. The thread did not notice. Its owner did not notice either.
Lucard let it go deeper.
Robi’s eyes moved for one breath toward the ground. Then he understood.
He did not look up. He did not look toward Lucard. He only smiled again.
Garran saw the smile and became irritated.
"What are you smiling about?"
Robi said, "I was remembering how you always start cheating before the duel begins."
Garran’s eyes sharpened.
The red thread paused.
Celia finally noticed the tiny heat near the ground. Her face changed. She lifted her hand slightly, ready to form a barrier.
Robi said calmly, "Do not."
Celia stopped.
Garran laughed. "Accusing me already? You have no proof."
Robi looked down at the ground near his foot. "If I step left, will I find proof?"
Garran’s smile became stiff.
Lucard almost laughed from above.
Robi was not a fool. Once the first clue was given, he could use it well.
Garran’s mana rose.
"So you came prepared."
Robi answered, "I came to meet you. That means the same thing."
The red thread suddenly brightened.
Garran decided to activate it early.
Lucard moved first.