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"But aside from that," he said, his voice lowering as if he were about to reveal something serious. He stopped again, glancing down at the remnants of his meal. "The food here is really good," he added casually, leaning back in his chair as he took a long, satisfied sip of his drink. "Your chefs are talented. Very talented."

Mariel\'s eyebrow arched, amusement flickering in her eyes as she realized he was toying with the moment. He had the audacity to shift the conversation like that, and for a second, she considered pressing him to get to the point. But something about his playful manner made her hold back.

Lucavion set his glass down, his expression returning to something a little more thoughtful, though that glint of mischief never left his eyes. He seemed perfectly at ease, as though the entire weight of their conversation had been lifted with that one teasing remark. Mariel, however, was intrigued. She waited, her curiosity piqued, and after a moment, Lucavion continued.

"You know, even though you\'re here now, managing this inn, one thing can\'t be denied." His voice was softer now, more reflective. "You can\'t escape your nature."

Mariel felt a slight shift inside her, her expression sharpening as his words found their mark. She wasn\'t sure where he was going with this, but there was an undeniable truth in what he said.

Lucavion leaned forward again, his eyes locking with hers. "You might have hung up your sword, but you\'re still the Iron Matron, aren\'t you?"

Mariel didn\'t respond immediately. She didn\'t need to. The reputation she had built for herself, the life she had lived before running this inn—it was something she carried with her, even if she didn\'t always acknowledge it.

Lucavion smirked, seeing the flicker of recognition in her eyes. "So, let me ask you this," he said, his tone growing more serious. "If you were to witness something that made your blood boil… something that stirred the fire inside you—would you just sit and watch? Or would you act?"

His words hung in the air, the playful atmosphere dissipating in an instant. Mariel\'s eyes narrowed slightly, her posture shifting. She wasn\'t one to sit idly by, not when the situation called for action. And she knew that Lucavion, despite his teasing nature, wasn\'t asking her a simple question.

"Depends on what it is," Mariel said carefully, her voice steady, though the challenge in her gaze was unmistakable. "But if something needed to be done, I wouldn\'t hesitate."

Lucavion smiled, leaning back in his chair, satisfied with her response. "Exactly," he said softly. "That\'s why I\'m here."

Mariel didn\'t speak, waiting for him to continue. There was more to his reason for being here than just making a name for himself in the tournament. She could feel it.

Lucavion\'s fingers continued to trace the rim of his glass, his expression growing more contemplative, though the edge of mischief in his eyes never quite disappeared. He let the silence linger for a moment longer, then spoke, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of something more dangerous.

"If I were to destroy someone now," he began, his tone deceptively light, "someone who could cause me trouble in the future… would you support my judgment?"

Mariel\'s gaze locked onto his, her sharp eyes searching his face for any hint of what lay beneath his words. There was no doubt in her mind that Lucavion was talking about something—or someone—specific. The casual tone he used couldn\'t mask the seriousness of what he was asking.

For a brief second, Mariel said nothing. Her thoughts drifted back to that pivotal moment in her life, when the man of starlight, Gerald, had stepped into her path and changed everything. His judgment, and his decisions, had shaped the course of her life. And now, sitting across from Gerald\'s disciple, she couldn\'t help but see the same shadows of her past reflected in Lucavion.

\'He\'s his disciple,

\' she thought, her mind weighing the words carefully. \'

If Lucavion carries the same wisdom and insight that Gerald had…\'

Mariel took a breath, her posture straightening as she looked at him with the same stern resolve she had carried all her life. She wasn\'t someone who trusted easily, but Lucavion\'s connection to Gerald was undeniable. And that alone carried weight.

"Since you are

his

disciple," Mariel said, her voice firm but steady, "I\'ll trust your judgment."

Her words hung in the air between them, and Lucavion\'s smile returned, softer now but with a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. It wasn\'t just the trust she offered—it was the understanding that she, too, had once placed her faith in someone who had walked a similar path.

Lucavion\'s smile deepened as he heard Mariel\'s words, the flicker of satisfaction in his eyes turning to something warmer, more genuine. He inclined his head slightly, a gesture of respect, and spoke softly.

"If that\'s the case, then I\'ll thank you for your faith, Mariel." His voice was lighter now, though the seriousness of their conversation still lingered beneath the surface. There was a mutual understanding between them—one born not just of trust, but of shared experiences, paths that had crossed through the influence of one man.

Mariel gave him a small nod in return, her gaze still steady. She wasn\'t one to give her trust easily, but she had placed it in Lucavion for a reason. Whether it was his own strength or the echoes of Gerald she saw in him, she knew that the decision felt right.

Lucavion stood up slowly, pushing his chair back with a smooth motion. "I should take my leave now," he said, his voice light again as if they hadn\'t just been discussing matters of life and death. He straightened his coat, his ever-present smirk reappearing as he glanced at her one last time.

"Don\'t worry," he added with a playful gleam in his eyes. "I\'ll make sure I don\'t disappoint Miss Little Bear. After all, you\'ll be watching."

Mariel watched him as he moved toward the door, her eyes following him with the same sharpness she had carried all her life. "I will," she said simply, her voice steady. "I\'ll be watching closely."

He paused at the door, turning back to flash her one last grin. "Then I\'ll make sure it\'s a show worth remembering." With that, he tipped his hat to her and slipped out of the inn, his footsteps light and confident as he disappeared into the night.

Mariel remained where she was, staring at the door long after it had closed.

******

Lucavion stepped out into the cool night air, the soft glow of lanterns lining the streets casting long shadows across the cobblestones. The hustle of the city had quieted, though the distant murmurs of conversation and the occasional clatter of a cart echoed faintly in the background.

PAT! PAT!

His boots made soft sounds against the street as he walked with a purposeful yet unhurried stride, his mind already drifting toward the events of the following day.

Vitaliara, perched comfortably on his shoulder, had been silent throughout his conversation with Mariel, but now, as the two of them moved through the streets, her curiosity bubbled to the surface.

Her tail flicked thoughtfully as she glanced at him.

[You know I\'m not one to pry,] she began, her tone filled with an edge of curiosity, [but what exactly did you mean back there? \'Destroying someone who could cause trouble in the future\'?]

Lucavion didn\'t answer immediately. His eyes remained focused ahead, the smirk that had been his constant companion since he left the inn softening just slightly. He had always been good at teasing, at keeping people guessing, but Vitaliara had always been sharp enough to sense when something more serious lingered beneath his words.

He finally shook his head, though the smile never left his lips. "You\'ll see soon enough," he said lightly, his tone carrying a note of finality

[Hmm? Really?] She said, humphing. [Humph. You are no fun.]

Lucavion chuckled softly at Vitaliara\'s playful huff. "Trust me," he said, his tone laced with amusement, "when tomorrow comes, you\'ll be happy I didn\'t spoil the surprise."

Vitaliara flicked her tail, her green eyes narrowing as she shot him a sideways glance. [You always like keeping me in the dark until the last moment, don\'t you?]

Lucavion grinned. "What can I say? I enjoy seeing your reaction when things unfold."

[Humph,] she repeated, her tone full of mock annoyance. [One of these days, I\'ll figure you out, Lucavion.]

He smiled but didn\'t respond directly, letting the light-hearted banter between them settle into a comfortable silence. The cool night air brushed against his skin, and the flickering lanterns of the city guided them as they made their way toward the next step in Lucavion\'s carefully planned path.

Tomorrow would bring challenges—both expected and unexpected—and he knew that it would not be that easy.

But well so what?

After all, what was the point of having a grand plan if you couldn\'t enjoy a bit of mystery along the way?