ShadowBound: The Need For Power

Galen and Liam returned to the Tempest Palace roughly an hour after leaving Aeris. They could have arrived much sooner, but Galen deliberately delayed them with a few unnecessary stops—grabbing bites to eat and drinks along the way like he was on a casual stroll rather than returning from a classified sweep.

By the time they crossed the palace gates, word had already reached Queen Lucy about their arrival.

After Mabel reported that Galen had taken Liam out of the palace without formal notice, Lucy's patience wore thin. She knew Galen too well—if he took Liam along, it wasn't just for company. He'd let the boy fight. Which meant Liam had likely used his dark magic in open combat, making the risk of his true identity being exposed dangerously high.

Lucy had nearly sent her Corps to retrieve them and bring Liam back by force. But Mystica intervened, convincing her otherwise. She knew Galen wouldn't allow harm to come to the boy. Since the day Liam first arrived at the Dark Knight Academy months ago, Mystica had seen a rare side of Galen—a protective, invested side. If anyone could keep Liam safe in the field, it was Galen.

Now, Lucy sat in her study with Mystica, discussing the sudden outbreak of hybrids in Zone 9 when a knock broke their conversation.

"Come in," Lucy said.

The door creaked open as a Tempest knight stepped inside, saluting with a fist to his chest and a bow of the head.

"My Queen, Sir Magna has returned. The boy is with him," the knight announced.

Lucy let out a short breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thank you, Gerrard. Send them in. I'd like to speak with both."

"Yes, Your Majesty." The knight turned crisply and exited, closing the door with quiet precision.

As the knight departed, Mystica allowed herself a small smirk. "Told you they'd be fine."

"Well, you can't fault me for being protective over my next investment," Lucy replied with a composed tone.

Mystica scoffed playfully. "Fair point."

A few minutes passed before one of the study's doors opened again—this time without a knock.

Galen strolled in like he owned the place, showing no regard for formality, while Liam followed behind him with a slightly detached air. His clothes were dusty, his hair tousled, and a few small cuts marked his skin.

"You almost sent your pet soldiers after me, didn't you?" Galen teased, his tone smug as he sauntered in without offering a greeting.

"Luckily for you, Mystica talked some sense into me," Lucy said, her calm green eyes meeting his without flinching.

"Well of course. You should trust me. When have I ever let you down, Lucy?" Galen asked, flopping onto one of the room's plush couches like it was his personal throne. "Have I?"

"I'd rather not answer that," Lucy replied dryly, her gaze now shifting to Liam's worn state.

"So I was right. You didn't let him sit still," she said, arching an eyebrow in Galen's direction.

"What? Don't look at me. He wanted to fight. Who am I to stop someone from earning real experience?" Galen said lazily, arms behind his head and legs crossed like a man with no regrets.

"As much as I hate to agree with you, that does sound like Liam," Mystica added with a knowing smirk.

"See? Even Mystica's on my side. You should try it, Lucy." Galen said, eyes shut with complete nonchalance.

Lucy sighed through her nose and shook her head. "I should be focusing on this damn announcement instead of you," she muttered under her breath, then turned her full attention to Liam.

"How are you feeling, Liam?" she asked gently.

"Your Majesty," Liam said, dipping his head in respect. "I'm doing alright."

"You don't look alright," Lucy replied, her tone dry but not unkind.

"Well… ran into a few hybrids across the Zone," Liam said simply.

"I see. And I'm guessing you fought them all yourself?" Lucy asked, her eyes flicking sideways toward Galen again.

"Kind of, yeah. But it wasn't really anything major. Most of the hybrids we encountered were weak. I'd put them at the level of a four-star mage at best," Liam replied.

"Weak hybrids, huh..." Lucy murmured, briefly locking eyes with Mystica, who gave her a subtle nod in return.

"How many did you come across exactly?" Mystica asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Close to thirty, I think. I lost count somewhere along the way," Liam answered.

'Why am I the one doing all the talking? Isn't Galen supposed to be giving this report?' Liam thought, clearly uncomfortable being the center of attention.

"Close to thirty, huh? Did you kill all of them?" Mystica asked, watching his face carefully.

"No. Only a few—by accident," Liam said, and at that, Galen cracked one eye open, smirking slightly.

"The rest?" Lucy asked, her voice even.

"In my shadow. All of them—both dead and alive—are still in my Void Storage," Liam replied casually.

"In your shadow?" Lucy repeated, her voice low with intrigue.

"Yeah, though I get the feeling they're probably dead. I don't really know how Void Storage affects living beings. I've never kept a living being before to find out," Liam said with a shrug.

"Dead or not, they might still be useful for Dove and her research," Mystica said, nodding thoughtfully. "Still, good job. If Galen hadn't dragged you along, I'm pretty sure he'd have just vaporized every hybrid he ran into."

"Don't try to make him sound noble," Lucy said, her tone flat.

"I'm not. Just stating facts," Mystica replied with a smirk.

"Anyway, you need to get cleaned up. You look like a wreck—clothes torn, face scratched up. It's a disaster," Lucy said, tapping a rune crystal embedded in her desk.

In the next instant, a ripple of light shimmered in the corner as Mabel warped into the study, immediately dropping to one knee.

"Your Majesty," she said in greeting.

"Rise, Mabel," Lucy said gently, and Mabel stood without hesitation. "Escort Liam to his chambers so he can clean himself up and recover properly."

Mabel glanced sideways at Liam, who returned her look with a similar sideways glance before she spoke.

"Understood, my queen," she said, then turned directly to Liam. "Let's get going."

She summoned a portal with a fluid motion, and just before they stepped through, Lucy's voice called out once more.

"Oh, and Mabel," she said, tone calm but commanding. "From this moment onward, you are officially assigned as Liam's personal protector. This arrangement remains in place until he graduates from the Dark Knight Academy."

Mabel froze mid-step, her boot hovering slightly above the floor. So did Liam, though his reaction was far subtler.

For Mabel, the command hit like a weight dropped on her shoulders. The title, the role, the proximity—it was all too much, too fast. She didn't want to be forced into this. Mystica's teasing words kept echoing in her mind, and now this—being Liam's shadow, constantly by his side—it would only deepen the suspicions. She didn't even know what she felt, and that uncertainty made her angry.

She was twenty-one. He was fifteen. That age gap was a wall she didn't want to climb. He wasn't a boy, not entirely—but he wasn't grown either. And what made it worse was the thrill. The part of her that felt alive during their fights—the same part that grinned with his every comeback, every blow. She didn't want that feeling to evolve into something it shouldn't.

And now she'd be pulled from active field missions—the one thing that gave her purpose—just to babysit a prodigy she couldn't read. It felt like punishment disguised as duty.

Liam, on the other hand, didn't particularly mind Mabel. He even respected her. But the idea of being monitored around the clock? That didn't sit well. Not when he had plans. Private ones. He needed space. He needed the kind of solitude that allowed him to disappear without notice—slip through shadows without eyes on his back. A personal protector meant chains, not safety.

He turned toward Lucy, his expression unreadable but voice firm. "Your Majesty, would you consider… reconsidering that decision?"

"Don't worry, Liam. You won't be under constant surveillance," Lucy said smoothly, her voice steady with that ever-present calm. "You'll still have your privacy. Mabel is there to ensure your safety, nothing more. She won't interfere with anything you have planned… unless you find yourself in a situation beyond your strength."

Her eyes slid to Mabel next, sharp and knowing. "And you—there's no need to worry about losing your place in the field. This assignment doesn't mean you have to shadow him every waking second. Liam's capable, and I expect you to respect his space. Be present, not oppressive. So relax—both of you—and carry on."

The tone was composed, even gentle, but it struck like a well-aimed dagger. Both Liam and Mabel stiffened for half a second—because somehow, Lucy had sliced straight through their thoughts as if she'd been sitting in their minds the whole time.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Mabel said, her posture still straight, her voice calm, but her thoughts a quiet storm.

"Come on," she added, sparing a glance toward Liam. "Let's go."

As the two of them stepped through the portal, they shared the same silent thought:

'What exactly is this woman planning?'

The portal closed behind them with a shimmer, and Galen let out a short laugh, his lips curling into a sly grin.

"Those two make a decent pair. Looks like the kid might've found his match," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "But don't tell me you're trying to keep him on a leash, Lucy. That boy's got layers you haven't even uncovered yet. Honestly, he might be more of a handful than I ever was."

"But… you're using a different method. So good luck with that," he added with a lazy shrug.

"Thank you, Galen. It's nice to know you can still show a little gratitude now and then," Lucy replied, her tone dry but amused. Then her expression shifted, calm but focused.

"Now then… care to explain what exactly happened in the Eastern District of Tynoon?"