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Chapter 5 – The Unwanted Offer
The next morning, the rain fell in a steady drizzle over the Valcrest courtyard.
Luke sat beneath the covered walkway, sketching in his notebook while Eliot stood nearby holding an umbrella.
"Sir," Eliot said softly, "word is spreading beyond the estate. Merchants, traveling mages… everyone's talking about what you did to Cayden."
Luke didn't look up from his sketches. "Good. Let them talk."
He was halfway through designing a more compact barrier emitter when he felt it — a gaze, sharp and heavy, watching him from the far side of the courtyard.
A man in a dark green cloak approached, boots splashing in the shallow puddles. His hood shadowed his face, but the glint of a gold brooch marked him as someone of wealth and influence.
"Young Master Luke Valcrest?" the man asked, stopping just short of the steps. His voice was smooth, too smooth.
Luke closed his notebook. "Depends on who's asking."
The man smiled faintly. "My employer has taken… great interest in you. What you displayed in the duel was extraordinary. We would like to offer you resources — training, materials — in exchange for a simple thing."
Luke's tone was flat. "And that would be?"
"The method you used to cast magic without mana."
Eliot stiffened, but Luke only leaned back, studying the man. "I think you have the wrong impression. What I did wasn't magic. It was mine."
The man's smile didn't falter. "Everything has a price, young master. If you don't name it… someone else will."
Luke's eyes hardened. "And if I don't like your employer's offer?"
The man adjusted his cloak. "Then I fear they might take it upon themselves to… persuade you. I'll give you three days to reconsider."
He turned and walked away, disappearing into the misty courtyard.
Eliot stepped closer, his voice urgent. "Sir, that man wasn't from the estate. You shouldn't meet with him again."
Luke slid his notebook back into his satchel. "Oh, I'll meet him again. Just not the way he expects."
In his mind, plans were already forming — not just to upgrade Agust, but to prepare for whoever this "employer" was.
Because if they wanted his creation… they'd have to survive it first.
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