The road narrowed as Lucian followed Tessa deeper into the Lawless Area.
The land here was a testament to failure. It was a scarred, stripped expanse where the earth itself seemed to have given up on life.
Burned-out ruins of forgotten homesteads and half-collapsed watch posts littered the horizon, their blackened timbers pointing toward the gray sky like accusing fingers. These were the husks of dreams that had lacked the strength to endure.
Then, emerging from the haze of dust and desolation, Havenhold appeared.
HAVENHOLD – FORTRESS OF THE SHIELD
It lacked the sprawling, jagged vanity of Karn's capital. There were no ornate carvings of demons or spiked parapets designed to broadcast a ruler's ego.
Instead, a compact fortress of stone and iron sat anchored to the gray earth. Its walls were tall, solid, and utterly unbroken—built with the grim, practical intent of defense rather than the hollow theater of intimidation.
No banners flew from its heights. No warnings were etched into its heavy gates. The structure simply stood there, stubborn and unmoving, a silent decree that this was where the chaos of the world would finally be met with a halt.
As they drew closer to the gates, Lucian observed the subtle shift in Tessa's posture.
Her steps became leaden, her gaze fixed on the ground ahead. She was a girl drowning in the depths of her own mind, the weight of some unspoken decision pressing down on her shoulders.
Lucian's eyes remained on the path, his voice a calm ripple in the silence.
"Is something the matter? You appear uncomfortable."
Tessa flinched slightly, her hands tightening into fists at her sides as she tried to force a composure she didn't feel. "It's nothing," she answered, though her voice lacked conviction.
Lucian didn't push, but his mind was already dissecting the tremor in her words.
*She carries more on her mind than she lets show. Pressure, perhaps… or the dawning realization of the variables she has invited into her home.*
"I didn't expect you to agree to a meeting in such short notice," Tessa said after a moment, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Your master expressed a desire to meet me at the earliest opportunity," Lucian replied smoothly. "Since the matter she mentioned seemed urgent, I judged it best to come immediately."
At the main gates, two guards stood parallel to each other at the edges of the path.
Their posture shifted instantly as Lucian came into view. Hands went to hilts; shoulders squared. They hurried to the center of the path, blocking the entrance with a synchronized precision that spoke of deep-seated paranoia.
They looked at Lucian as if he were a thief caught in the act of eyeing a crown jewel.
"Don't worry guys, he is with me," Tessa called out, her voice regaining some of its usual spark.
"Miss Tessa," one of the guards said, his eyes never leaving Lucian. "You left to deliver a letter. You didn't say anything about bringing a visitor."
"Yes. That letter was an invite. This is Liora's guest."
"But Captain Liora didn't say anything about a visitor."
Tessa rolled her eyes, stepping between the guards. "Yeah, because it is supposed to be top secret."
"Even so—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Tessa cut him off, physically pushing both men aside to clear a path. The guards, despite being twice her size, moved under her touch with a strange, weary compliance. "Let's go Mr. Lucian. This way."
Lucian walked forward with slow, deliberate grace. As he passed the guards, he paused for a fraction of a second, offering a light, mocking bow.
"Gentlemen."
He followed Tessa toward the gates, watching as she put her weight against the massive timber and iron doors. They groaned open, revealing the heart of the sanctuary.
The guards watched them go, their faces a mix of frustration and powerlessness. It was a familiar routine; Tessa, the Vice-Captain of the Shield, was a storm that few in Havenhold could hope to weather.
Lucian stepped through the threshold.
Inside the walls, the Lawless Continent felt like a distant memory. The atmosphere was muted, as if the very stone of the fortress refused to let the cruelty of the outside world seep through.
The streets were narrow but remarkably clean, the cobbles worn smooth by years of diligent upkeep rather than the neglect of a dying regime.
People moved freely here. They didn't walk with the hunched, hurried gait of the oppressed. No one flinched at the sight of the armed guards.
A group of children ran past, their laughter echoing briefly against the stone walls before vanishing around a corner.
Lucian's crimson-tinged gaze tracked every detail.
There were no cages here. No chains. No desperate, hollow-eyed bargaining whispered in the shadows of alleys. He saw open doors, the steam of shared meals rising from windows, and guards who watched the streets not with predatory hunger, but with a quiet, practiced discipline.
They stood like a line drawn in the sand—not to threaten those within, but to ensure the world outside stayed exactly where it belonged.
They continued in silence until the stone became older, more weathered. Ahead stood a modest, two-story house. It was unremarkable—plain stone, a simple wooden door, and no guards to mark it as the seat of power.
In the Lawless Area, power was usually announced with spikes and blood-stained banners. This house did none of that. It blended into the neighborhood, a part of the whole rather than a monument apart from it.
Tessa stopped, turning to Lucian with a look of feigned innocence. "Uhm. Mr. Lucian. Please wait here for a moment while I check on the captain."
"Very well," Lucian said, his face a mask of unreadable calm.
Something was off. The air in this house was thick with a tension that doesn't match the peace outside.
Tessa disappeared inside.
A moment later, a sharp shout cut through the quiet of the street.
"What?!"
To a human, the walls would have muffled the ensuing argument. But to Lucian's demonic senses, every word was as clear as if he were standing in the room.
The voices were panicked, accusatory, and thick with the sound of a secret being unraveled.
A faint, dangerous smirk played on Lucian's lips. *I see… so that's the reason.*
The door creaked open again. Tessa emerged, looking very much like a child who had been caught with her hand in a very expensive jar of sweets.
"You can come in now Mr. Lucian."
Lucian stepped into the lounge.
The room was filled with six people, their eyes fixed on him with a collective, skeptical intensity.
They stood in a protective semi-circle around a woman seated at the center, their bodies tensed for a conflict they clearly expected.
Lucian understood the dynamic instantly, yet he maintained his polite, regal facade. He bowed slightly, placing a gloved hand over his chest.
"My greetings to you all. Thank you for receiving me."
"What?" The word came from a man standing to the left.
Arin was tall and lean, built for the kind of speed that ends lives before the victim can blink. He wore a dark coat reinforced with light, practical armor, and his sharp blue eyes held a constant, calculating focus that reminded Lucian of a hunting hawk.
"Is this supposed to be one of your little pranks, Tessa?" Arin continued, his voice tight.
"What are you talking about?" Tessa asked, her confusion genuine.
"You told us you brought the man who recently killed Karn," Arin snapped. "That's a kid."
Tessa blinked. She turned her head slowly, looking up at Lucian as if seeing him clearly for the first time. Lucian met her gaze with a faint, amused glint in his eyes.
Her jaw dropped. She stumbled back a step, pointing a shaking finger at him. "What? He actually is a kid?"
Arin let out a long, frustrated breath. "Are you telling us that you're just noticing that right now?"
Tessa scratched the back of her head, a sheepish, embarrassed giggle escaping her. "I guess I was too in my head."
"What? Are you saying you brought the wrong person?"
"No, no, no!" Tessa waved her hands frantically. "This actually is the guy who killed Karn. I went to Karn's castle and they were calling him their lord over there."
"I think you should get some sleep, Tessa," a brown-haired woman named Jess said, her voice laced with soft concern.
"Jess is right," Arin agreed. "Not only is this a child, but he is completely unscathed. The battle took place yesterday. Even if he were strong enough to defeat a Titan like Karn, he would have at least lost an arm."
Lucian's smirk deepened. A soft, melodic chuckle escaped him.
"There is no need for doubt. Tessa speaks honestly."
The room fell into a stunned silence. They stared at his pristine clothes, his calm expression, and the aura of absolute control that seemed to radiate from him like a cold heat.
"Prove it then," Arin challenged, his eyes narrowing.
"Excuse me?" Lucian asked.
"I said—"
"Arin."
The voice was soothing, motherly, yet it carried an underlying authority that cut through Arin's aggression like a warm knife through butter.
Liora sat with one leg tucked beneath her, her frame small and almost delicate. She wore plain, comfortable clothing that suggested a woman who valued utility over status.
Her long, wavy black hair framed a face of impossible gentleness, and when she lifted her head, her amber eyes were steady, observant, and devoid of the predator's heat usually found in this land.
"Please. Let's not be rude to our guest."
She stood up and walked toward Lucian with slow, measured steps. Arin and the others shifted their weight, their eyes darting between Lucian's throat and his hands, ready to spring at the slightest sign of hostility.
Liora offered a warm smile. "Hello. Tessa told me your name was Lucian. I am Liora. Pleased to meet you."
"I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well, Miss Liora."
"Sir Lucian. Please forgive the behavior of my children." Her smile turned into a look of sincere apology. "You see, the thing is, none of us expected a visitor. The letter Tessa gave you… I didn't write it."
Lucian's expression didn't change. He had heard the confession through the walls minutes ago. He didn't offer them the satisfaction of surprise.
"Oh?" he remarked simply. "So… who wrote it?"
"She wrote it herself," Arin muttered.
"I was only trying to help," Tessa whispered, her gaze dropping to the floor.
"Trying to help?" Arin's voice rose. "You recklessly brought in a potentially dangerous individual—"
"Arin, please," Liora interrupted again. She turned her full attention back to Lucian, her amber eyes searching his. "Yes, Tessa's actions were reckless. However… I don't sense any hostility in this boy."
The tension in the room ebbed slightly as the guards relinquished their combat-ready stances.
Lucian let the silence linger for a heartbeat before speaking. "Please… enlighten me. What is truly happening here? Was the letter's content a lie?"
"No," Tessa said, her voice gaining strength. "The only lie was that the letter came from Liora. Everything else is true."
"I see… the debt to Mammon is genuine."
"Yes," Tessa confirmed.
Lucian turned his focus to Liora. "So. Are you going to request my assistance?"
"Yes!" Tessa jumped in, her voice desperate. "Please. You are our only hope."
"Please calm down, Tessa," Liora said softly. She looked back at Lucian. "Sir Lucian. Even though I sense no ill intent from you, I am still curious about something."
"That being?"
"Your reasoning for agreeing to help someone you don't know."
Lucian chuckled. "According to Tessa's letter, you must already be aware. The problem we face is identical."
"So Mammon passed Karn's debt on to you? That does sound like him."
"Yes. So I sympathize with your predicament."
Liora tilted her head slightly. "One more thing. Why have I never heard of you? You defeated Karn with such precision. Anyone with forces that strong would have their name being spoken across the Lawless Continent."
"I hail from outside… and at first, I had no army to command."
"Oh? So, mercenaries then?"
"No." Lucian responded, his chuckle turning into a quiet, cold sound. "I was the sole combatant."
The shock in the room was a physical weight. Every face went pale; every breath hitched. The idea of a single boy dismantling Karn's entire regime was a concept that defied the logic of their world.
*Don't you hate being constantly underestimated like this?* Malphas's voice echoed in Lucian's mind.
"You're joking, right?" Arin asked, his voice flat with disbelief.
"You actually defeated Karn's army on your own?" Liora's face was a map of genuine, wide-eyed curiosity.
"You flatter me, Miss Liora. I faced only two opponents—Karn and his sole loyal minion. The rest were merely cheering for my victory."
"Varro," Arin whispered to himself, a dark memory crossing his features.
"Now that I think about it, I saw a lot of familiar faces when I was there," Tessa added.
"So Karn's men were ready to turn on him if they got the chance. Not surprising," Liora mused.
As the reality of Lucian's strength settled in, Tessa's eyes ignited with a frantic, burning hope. She dropped to her knees before him, her hands clasped in a plea.
"Mr. Lucian please! Please help our mother. Please take down that parasite Mammon. She can't deal with him without you!"
Liora walked over to the girl, her expression one of profound sadness and gratitude. She bent down, pulling Tessa into a tight, protective hug.
"Tessa. Don't stress yourself. I will—"
"No!" Tessa interrupted, her voice cracking. "You always do things for us. No matter how much you have to get hurt in the process."
Tessa's words hung in the air, a heavy truth. Liora had once been a wandering mercenary, a woman who had somehow managed to build a sanctuary in a land where kindness was considered a fatal flaw.
In her travels, she had witnessed the worst of humanity—enslaved children, villages pulverized in a single night, and people living in a state of permanent, hopless terror.
She had rescued a small group by accident—a group that included a young Tessa—and had realized that if she left, they would simply be devoured by the continent again.
So she had stayed. She had built these walls. She had fought the raiders and the warlords until she realized she was no longer a lone blade.
She was the Mother of the Shield.
Tessa stared into Liora's eyes. "I know how much you've been struggling. I know you've been stressed about Mammon's debt. I've seen you… seen you crying alone so we wouldn't have to see your pain. But I saw it. I know Mammon wants to take Havenhold away from us. That's why I went looking for help. You have helped us enough, Mother. Now it is time we help you."
A single tear escaped Liora's eye, tracing a path down her cheek. She pulled Tessa close again, the two of them lost in a long, silent embrace.
A few steps away, Lucian watched the display, his face as unreadable as polished stone. To him, the scene was not heartwarming.
It was convenient.
He had his own score to settle with Mammon, and the desperation before him was the perfect engine for his grand design.
Finally, the two women stood up, supporting one another. Liora turned to face Lucian.
"Sir Lucian. I wish to go forward with Tessa's idea."
"Yes… I am in favor of her suggestion too," Lucian said, his habitual, polite smile returning.
"However, we still have a problem," Liora noted. "Our forces combined are still not enough to take down Mammon."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes. But lucky for us, we can still get more. I know a couple of warlords who are also heavily indebted to Mammon."
"Are you sure that is going to be enough, Captain?" Arin asked, his voice skeptical. "The White Stone Group has two Advanced Aura users. Not to mention multiple other high-level fighters on top of that."
"No worries," Lucian said, his voice ringing with a cold, absolute confidence. "I assure you… my army will make up for it."
"Really?" Tessa's eyes brightened.
"So. Does this mean our alliance is official?" Liora asked.
"No."
The word hit the room like a physical blow. The hope in their eyes flickered.
"Worry not… I am not turning you away," Lucian added quickly.
"Then what is it?" Liora asked.
"I am certain Mammon will be observing my every move from this point forward—especially after my meeting with Dante. I cannot afford to invite his suspicion."
"He sent Dante? Then he's definitely keeping an eye on you," Arin noted grimly.
"So what do you plan on doing?" Tessa asked.
"For now, we will leave matters as they are. Miss Liora, proceed with recruiting the warlords you mentioned. In the meantime, all of you will focus on strengthening your armies—but do so discreetly. I am certain his eyes are already upon you as well."
"And what will you do?" Liora asked.
"I will continue moving forward with my plans. When the time is right, I will contact you, and we will proceed from there."
The people in the room looked at the boy—this child who spoke with the wisdom of a king and the calm of a god. Despite their skepticism, they found themselves yielding to his lead. All but Arin.
Arin wasn't fully convinced, but he looked at Liora, then at the sanctuary around them, and realized he had no other choice.
"It is settled then," Liora said, her face lighting up with genuine happiness. "Would you like to stick around a little longer? We can treat you."
"Apologies," Lucian said. "I have much to attend to… but I appreciate the offer."
"No worries. If you are in a rush, Tessa will escort you right away."
Tessa walked with Lucian all the way back to the gates, stopping a fair distance from the guards. She folded her hands and offered a deep, grateful bow.
"Thank you Mr. Lucian. You made my mother happy. I don't know how I could ever repay you."
"Repay me? This arrangement is mutually beneficial."
"Still. You play the most important role."
"If you truly insist on repaying me… then a watchful eye will suffice."
Tessa blinked, her head tilting in confusion. "A watchful eye?"
"Observe."
Lucian turned his gaze toward the canopy of a massive tree nearby. Tessa followed his lead, squinting into the dense foliage.
Lucian lifted his arm toward the tree. In a flash of dark energy, a black rod materialized in his hand and shot forward with a violent whistle.
Thwack.
A woman tumbled from the high branches, hitting the ground with a heavy, sickening thud.
"AHHH!" she screamed, clutching her side.
Lucian had purposely avoided her vitals, pinning her through the shoulder instead.
"You see," Lucian said to Tessa, his voice smooth with a terrifying certainty, "she was already watching this place—well before you led me here."
"Is she a spy?" Tessa asked, her eyes wide with shock.
"Correct."
"Wow… how did you know she was there?"
"I sensed her presence the moment we arrived. I chose not to interfere then… but make no mistake—I never once stopped watching her."
"Your sensory abilities are that good? I can barely sense her even now."
"That is her specialty: Aura Concealment."
"Makes sense."
"I will be taking her with me. Ensure Miss Liora is informed."
Tessa nodded quickly and hurried back into the fortress.
Lucian approached the fallen woman. She had long black hair and wore a dark, form-fitting uniform designed for the shadows. She was frantically trying to pull the black rod out of her chest when Lucian's shadow fell over her.
She looked up, her breath hitching.
Lucian stood over her, a sharp, predatory smile stretching across his face. The air around him became heavy, suffocating, as if the very atmosphere were bowing to his will.
"Hello there. I am Lucian. And you are?"