Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

The king's eyes now lingered on Lucas with respect.

He turned to the young man standing quietly at Henrietta's side and asked with deliberate calm, "How did you do it? How were you able to awaken cultivation in a crippled grandmaster? This is no minor feat, Xavier. This is a miracle… something even the most renowned alchemists of our land would not dare attempt."

Lucas was silent for a moment. He had anticipated this question, but that didn't make it easier to answer. The truth, the real truth, was that his knowledge came from a time beyond comprehension, the future.

He clasped his hands behind his back and inclined his head slightly in humility, his voice calm and measured when he finally responded. "Your Majesty, it is the result of my personal research. I have spent months studying the intricacies of alchemy, refining methods and formulas. I've always been… drawn to the hidden possibilities of the art. Some say alchemy is merely the combination of herbs, runes and heat, but I believe it's more than that. I believe alchemy can speak to the soul… if the alchemist listens closely enough."

The chamber fell into a moment of thoughtful silence. The King regarded him carefully, his expression unreadable for a heartbeat, and then he let out a breath of quiet amazement.

"I have seen many gifted alchemists in my lifetime," he said slowly, "but not one of them has ever come close to something like this. Restoring crippled meridians, healing something that was believed permanently lost, it is beyond the boundaries of what we considered possible. And yet here stands a boy, no older than my own son, achieving the impossible."

His voice lifted slightly as he rose from his throne, eyes fixed on Lucas with open admiration.

"You are not just a talented young man, Xavier. You are a treasure, revelation, and Valerion would be a fool to keep you hidden away. From this day forward, you will attend the Alchemic Conclaves, meetings of the great masters of the art, where the minds of the kingdom's finest gather to discuss the future of medicine, cultivation, and advancement."

Lucas blinked, caught between pride and surprise. He hadn't expected that. The Alchemic Conclaves were spoken of in high reverence. They were places of restricted entry, often hidden from the public eye, reserved for men and women who had dedicated their lives to alchemy and reached unparalleled mastery.

"To have someone like you among them," the King continued, "will not only bring a new light to our efforts in cultivation and defense… it will inspire the next generation. You are already more than promising, Xavier. You are proof that Valerion still births greatness."

He turned to Henrietta, who gave a faint but knowing smile, her quiet pride in Lucas clear in her gaze.

"We have nurtured Henrietta because her gift is beyond precious," the King said. "Now, we will do the same for Xavier. He may very well be one of the most important minds this kingdom has ever seen."

Lucas bowed his head low, concealing the quiet grin that tugged at his lips. This was exactly what he had hoped for, not fame, but access. Access to the upper echelons of alchemic knowledge, to the elders who had been shaping medicine and cultivation for centuries. If he could walk among them, learn from them, and even offer insights of his own, he would build a name that not even time could erase.

And more than that, he would gain the means to protect the kingdom that had become his, to uncover the secrets buried deep beneath its politics and conspiracies.

Lucas bowed deeply before the King, his robes sweeping the marble floor of the throne hall. His voice was calm but filled with sincere gratitude, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am truly honored. To be recognized by you and offered such a place among the alchemic masters… it means more than I can express. I promise not to let you down."

The King regarded him with a measured but genuine smile. "It is the least Valerion can do for someone as talented as you are. Your loyalty, your gifts… and now this impossible feat. You've earned far more than just words, Xavier."

He turned slightly, his gaze shifting to a nearby attendant standing by the archway. With a simple flick of his fingers, the King summoned the servant forward. "Go," he ordered, his voice suddenly sharp with authority again. "Summon the Elders. All of them. Tell them we will be holding an emergency council meeting before the sun sets. No excuses."

The servant bowed quickly and disappeared down the hall, he rushed to fulfill the command. Though the King had no way of knowing who among his council had been compromised, if any, he could no longer afford to ignore the possibilities. The conspiracy reached deeper than he'd ever imagined, and in times like these, silence only fed corruption.

Lucas hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward again, his tone respectful but deliberate as he addressed the King. "Your Majesty, if I may ask… what of the war with Blackmare? Will it still proceed as planned?"

The King turned his gaze on Lucas, his expression tightening. There was conflict in his eyes, anger, suspicion, and weariness all braided together in the creases of his brow. After a moment of thought, he responded, his voice lower but firm.

"I will write to King of Blackmare," he said. "Before we make any further move. If they truly had no hand in this… if this is all part of some grand deception… then perhaps we can still avoid a needless war. But I must know where he stands."

Henrietta stood beside Lucas, silent and steady, her eyes flickering with quiet understanding. Lucas gave a slow nod, knowing full well how delicate the situation had become. The kingdom teetered on the edge of war, and only shadows danced in the space between peace and bloodshed.

The King, though surrounded by danger and doubt, had chosen diplomacy, for now.

The King, still standing with the weight of recent revelations pressing down on his shoulders, turned toward Lucas and Henrietta. His expression was firm but not unkind as he spoke.

"Both of you will attend the meeting," he declared. "You've earned the right to hear what is said behind those doors. In truth, you've done more for this kingdom in days than most of my council has in years. I will not have your voices left out of this."

Henrietta inclined her head slightly, used to such summons. She had long stood in council chambers, a seer with insight sharper than steel and an intuition no elder dared challenge. She remained silent, but Lucas could sense her agreement.

Lucas, however, stepped forward respectfully. He placed a hand on his chest and bowed slightly, then raised his head and spoke with deliberate humility.

"Your Majesty… while I am deeply honored, I must humbly decline. It's not yet my place to sit among your council, not while I still hold no official title nor standing. My presence may stir resentment, especially among those who already see my rise as too swift. If I speak now, it may invite enmity, not alliance."

The room fell quiet for a moment, the King's brow tightening with reluctance. Lucas held his gaze calmly and added, "Henrietta will always keep me informed. I trust her fully. And if you wish it, I will advise from the shadows for now… until the time is right."

The King exhaled slowly, clearly weighing the wisdom in Lucas's words. Though his initial instinct was to push forward with Lucas by his side, he could not ignore the reality of court politics. The Elders, many of them proud and entrenched in their ways, would not take kindly to a young man, no matter how brilliant, being elevated above them without warning.

"You speak wisely, Xavier," the King said at last. "Perhaps more wisely than some twice your age. I only called you because I trust you, and because I've grown weary of being surrounded by men who offer nothing but noise. You've proven your worth… but I will honor your request."

He turned briefly to Henrietta. "As for you, you'll attend as always. But I want you to keep Xavier informed on everything. Am I clear?"

Henrietta bowed her head. "Perfectly, Your Majesty."

The King gave a nod, his eyes returning to Lucas with something close to admiration. "One day, you may sit among them, Lucas. Perhaps sooner than they expect. But for now… we do it your way."

Lucas bowed once more, his heart steady. Every step he took was part of the path he had chosen carefully. This was not about rushing into the spotlight. It was about earning a place that no one could question.