Chapter 91
Lucas sat cross-legged in the royal garden, eyes closed, letting the morning sun warm his face. Two weeks had passed since his team departed for the portal, and in that time he had healed completely—physically, at least. The mental and spiritual scars from that demon's illusion would take longer to fade.
His mana sense extended outward, a habit he couldn't break. One kilometer, Two, Three, He felt the usual presences—servants moving through the palace, guards patrolling the walls, Elizabeth somewhere in her chambers practicing her violin.
Then, at the edge of his range, Three familiar signatures appeared.
He opened his eyes and stood.
They're back.
Lucas reached the palace gates just as Three figures came into view on the road. They moved at a steady jog, not their full speed—conserving energy after what must have been days of relentless travel and combat.
Ethan led the group, his expression as unreadable as ever. Austin ran beside him, looking exhausted but otherwise unharmed. Behind them, Kaya moved with the last of her strength, her steps slightly unsteady.
None of them wore visible injuries. No blood, no limps, no obvious wounds. But the exhaustion in their movements spoke volumes.
As they drew closer, Lucas noticed the details—the way Austin's shoulders slumped slightly, the way Kaya's eyes were half-lidded with fatigue, the way even Ethan, carried himself with the heaviness of someone who hadn't slept in days.
They had fought thousands of demons. Retreating, attacking, retreating again and pushing through horde after horde until they reached their objective.
And they had succeeded.
Kaya's eyes found him first. Despite her exhaustion, something flickered in her gaze—relief, maybe, or concern. She broke into a stumbling run, closing the distance between them before Lucas could even react.
Her arms wrapped around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Are you okay?" Her voice was muffled against his chest. "That demon general trapped you in some kind of illusion. Ethan said you would be unconscious for a long time or maybe die inside."
Lucas's smile and said, "I will be fine,"
Kaya pulled back just enough to look at his face, her white eyes searching his features for any sign of lingering damage. Finding none, she nodded once—and then, without warning, her eyes closed and her body went limp.
Lucas caught her before she could fall, adjusting her weight easily in his arms. Her breathing was deep and even—asleep. Completely, utterly asleep.
"She's been running on empty for three days," Austin said, trudging up with a tired grin. "Wouldn't stop, and didn't allow any of us to rest. Kept saying she needed to get back and make sure you were alive." He yawned hugely.
Lucas looked down at Kaya's sleeping face. He smiled at the care which she had shown to him.
"You look terrible," he told Austin.
"Feel terrible and smell terrible too." Austin wrinkled his nose. "Demons have a distinct odor which clings on you."
At that moment, the heavy palace doors opened and Elizabeth stepped out. She wore a simple dress today, no crown, her pink hair loose around her shoulders. Her eyes swept over the scene—Lucas holding Kaya, the exhausted team, the sleeping girl in his arms—and something flickered in her expression.
Just for an instant. Then it was gone.
She smiled warmly and walked toward them, graceful as always.
"Welcome back," she said, her voice pleasant and welcoming. "I heard you succeeded. My Mother is grateful."
Ethan nodded to her respectfully. "Princess. The portal is destroyed. It won'be bringing more demons through."
Elizabeth's smile widened. "That's wonderful news. Please, come inside. Rooms have been prepared, and the kitchens are ready to serve whatever you need."
Austin perked up slightly at the mention of food. "Bless you, Princess."
Elizabeth laughed softly, but her eyes drifted briefly to Kaya, still sleeping peacefully in Lucas's arms. She said nothing, only gestured toward the doors.
Austin clapped Lucas on the shoulder as he passed. "Good to see you breathing, by the way. Though honestly—trapped by an illusion that easily? I expected better from you." He grinned, but there was genuine concern beneath the teasing. "Don't let it happen again."
Lucas snorted. "I'll try."
As Austin headed inside, Ethan lingered. He waited until Elizabeth had moved a few steps ahead, then spoke quietly to Lucas.
"The portal's gone, but the generals didn't try to stop us." His voice was low, serious. "They just watched. The red-haired woman and the blue-haired man—they stood there while we destroyed the rune rocks. Didn't lift a finger."
Lucas's eyes narrowed. "They're planning something."
"Exactly." Ethan nodded. "They're waiting for the seal to break. The demonic beast is their real target. The portal was just... entertainment." He paused. "We move in three days. Get whatever rest you can. Talk to the Queen, finalize the sealing plan. I'll brief everyone tomorrow."
Lucas nodded. "Understood."
Ethan studied him for a moment longer. "You really are okay?"
"I really am."
"Good." Ethan turned and followed the others inside, leaving Lucas alone with a sleeping Kaya and a princess who had stopped at the door to wait.
Elizabeth watched him approach, her expression carefully neutral. "She cares about you."
"Yes, she does," Lucas replied.
"Mm." Elizabeth didn't argue, but something in her eyes suggested she wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer. She pushed the door open wider. "I'll have a room prepared for her. You can carry her up."
Lucas nodded and followed her inside.
The next morning, Lucas sat in the garden, cross-legged beneath the same cherry tree where Elizabeth had played her violin days ago. Meditation came easier now his mind clearer.
Footsteps approached.
He didn't open his eyes.
"You're going to ask about the deal," Lucas said flatly.
Austin dropped onto the grass beside him with a heavy sigh. "How did you know?"
"Because you've been thinking about it since before we left. And now that we're back, you're not going to let it rest."
Austin was quiet for a moment. Then: "You promised you'd help me with girls. That was the deal, you'd teach me how to talk to them."
Lucas opened one eye. "And?"
"And I've been thinking. Too much, probably." Austin rubbed the back of his neck. "You said I complicate things. That I should just talk to them like people. But I don't know how. Every time I try, my brain freezes and I don't know what to say."
"Just talk."
"Easy for you to say." Austin gestured vaguely. "You've got princesses writing you songs and clan members hugging you the moment they see you. I've got—" He stopped. "I've got nothing, then them seeing me as the prized people of the Clover Clan."
Lucas closed his eye again. "You're thinking again."
"I can't help it!"
"Yes, you can. You just don't want to."
Austin groaned in frustration. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. You give these vague answers that sound wise but don't actually help. I need practical advice."
"A plan for talking to girls."
"Yes!"
Lucas opened both eyes now, turning to look at his friend with an expression of mild disbelief. "You want me to give you a script."
"If you have one."
"I don't have a script. That's not how people work."
"Then how do they work?" Austin threw his hands up. "Because I'm clearly missing something."
Before Lucas could respond, a new voice joined them.
"What are you two arguing about?"
Elizabeth stood at the edge of the garden, a basket in her hands. She wore another simple dress, pale blue today, and her hair was braided back from her face. She looked between them with obvious curiosity.
"Nothing," Lucas said immediately.
"Austin's love life," Austin said at the same time.
Elizabeth's eyebrows rose. "Oh?"
Lucas shot Austin a look. Austin ignored it.
"He promised to help me," Austin explained. "We made a deal. He'd show me how to talk to girls. But now he's being vague and unhelpful."
"I'm not being vague. I'm telling you to stop overthinking."
"And I'm telling you that's not advice, that's just a statement." Austin said. "You're going back on your word."
Lucas's expression flickered—not anger, but something closer to exasperation. "I'm not going back on anything. I told you I'd help, and I will. But you don't need me standing there holding your hand. You can do this yourself."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know you." Lucas's voice was firm but not unkind. "You're smart. You're observant, you read people in battle better than anyone I've ever seen. The only reason you struggle with girls is that you've decided it's hard before you even try."
Austin opened his mouth to argue, then closed it.
Elizabeth watched the exchange with clear amusement. After a moment, she stepped closer and set her basket down on the grass.
"I think," she said carefully, "that Austin has a point. Not about the vague answers—those were actually quite good. But about needing practical experience." She looked at Lucas. "You can't just tell someone to stop overthinking. You have to show them what thinking looks like."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "And how would you suggest I do that?"
Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "By letting me come along, of course."
Both men stared at her.
"You want to—" Austin started.
"Help," Elizabeth finished. "I'm a girl. I know how girls think. If Lucas is going to demonstrate whatever mysterious method he uses, I can be there to verify." She paused, considering. "Also, it sounds fun. I've never watched someone try to pick up girls before."
Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is ridiculous."
"It's educational," Elizabeth corrected.
Austin looked between them, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I like her."
Lucas sighed heavily. "Fine."
Elizabeth clapped her hands together, delighted. "Wonderful! When do we start?"
"Lets go at this moment we should be resting so this would get our minds off things," he said.