Saat mereka semakin dekat dengan penginap, sinar lampu minyak yang menyala dan suara gemericik kehidupan di dalamnya, Valeria mempercepat langkahnya. Pikirannya kacau, dan yang ia inginkan kini hanyalah ketenangan di kamarnya—jauh dari senyum Lucavion yang menjengkelkan dan dentangan cepat yang tak mau reda di dalam dada.
"Sampai besok," katanya dengan singkat, tanpa memandang ke arahnya sekalipun saat mereka masuk ke dalam penginap. Tanpa menunggu jawabannya, ia lurus ke tangga, sepatu botnya membuat suara klik-klik tajam di lantai kayu.
Lucavion tinggal di pintu masuk, menatap belakangnya yang jauh dengan senyum lega. Ia tak memanggilnya atau berusaha menghentikannya—meski senyum di bibirnya menyiratkan betapa banyak komentar ia simpan. Sebaliknya, ia bersandar santai di pilar pintu, mata punya mengikutinya hingga menghilang di koridor.
"Selalu terburu-buru," bisiknya. "Sayang, kamu lupa makan."
Dengan tawa kecil, ia mendorong diri dari gerbang dan berjalan ke area umum penginap, sekilas keceriaan masih menyala di matanya. Entah terang-terang atau tidak, kaburnya mendadak Valeria yang terlihat mengatakannya, dan itu hanya menambah rasa ingiatannya untuk memahami dirinya.
Di sementara itu, Valeria sampai di kamar, menutup pintu dengan suara klik yang tegas. Ia menghela napas lega, bersandar sejenak seolah ingin menutup diri dari kekacauan yang Lucavion sering bawa.
"Aku tidak bisa mengalahkan dia,"
akui dirinya pelan-pelan, mata tertutup sejenak.
"Tidak peduli apa pun yang kukatakan atau lakukan, dia pasti selalu menemukan cara untuk membaliknya keuntungannya."
Kepala mengangguk, ia bangun dari pintu dan berjalan melewati ruangan. Fokusnya harus beralih—sekarang. Terobosan itu yang paling penting. Bukan Lucavion, bukan senyumnya yang menjengkelkan, dan pasti bukan cara hatinya yang hampa sebelumnya.
Ia meletakkan peralatannya di meja kecil di sisi jendela, pandangan mata mengapa ia pun mulai menyusun batu-batu mana dan ramuan yang ia kumpulkan tadi. Rutinitas yang familiar menenangkannya, menstabilkan pikirannya saat ia menyiapkan array yang ia bayangkan berulang kali.
"Ini yang penting,"
pikirnya, tekad semakin kuat.
"Ini jalanku ke depan. Tak ada yang lain."
Tapi meskipun mencoba memekalkan diri dalam tugas rapih menyusun array, sebuah pikiran tak terduga masuk enteng, menyenggol: canggungnya riwayat tertawaannya yang hangat dan tulus. Tangan di penggunaannya, ia menghindarnya dengan cepat, menggoyangkan kepalanya dengan kejamnya, mengusir pikir itu.
"Tidak ada gangguan," bisiknya lantang, tekadnya tidakgoa akunkan. "Bukan sekarang."
Dan dengan demikian, ia memaksa fokusnya sepenuhnya pada terobosan, tekun untuk menghilangkan kenangan akan pertukaran mereka itu—setidaknya untuk malam ini.
*******
Lucavion pergi ke bar Taverne Iron Matron, suara obrolan dan dentang gelas minum mengisi udaranya. Cahaya lampu minyak menghiasi pemandangan hangat, pelanggan tertawa dan menikmati minumannya. Ia mengabaikan meja biasanya yang ia dan Valeria sering duduki di, justru menuju langsung ke pelosok bar. Malam ini, ia lebih suka ruang tenang untuk mengumpulkan pikirannya.
Di seberang bar duduk Liora, kehadirannya selalu ceria. Ia tersenyum ceria, energinya menggoda. Saat ia melihatnya, ia memberi salam, suaranya terdengar di atas gemericik.
"Eh, lihat siapa yang memutuskan untuk datang malam ini! Di mana pasangan makan malammu, Lucavion?" bercanda, senyumnya melebar.
Lucavion tersenyum saat bersandar di hitap. "Dia lupa makan," jawab, nada teriang penuh candaan. "Tapi aku butuh satu lagi untuk dia. Aku akan mengantarkannya saat dia butuh."
Liora mengganjalkan kening, penasaran. "Kapan dia butuh?" tanya, condong sedikit. "Maksudmu apa?"
Lucavion tertawa kecil, sekaligus menerima minuman yang diletakkannya. "Biarkan katanya saja dia akan sibuk malam ini."
Liora tampaknya memahaminya dengan cepat, senyumnya mengecil menyelip. "Wahhh," ujurnya dentang, nada suaranya beralunya main-main. "Jadi inilah yang terjadi, ya? Aku tidak tahu kamu berdua begitu… dekat."
Lucavion mengangkat satu alis, langsung menangkap implikasinya. Ia membiarkan salah paham menggelegak di udara sejenak, senyumnya tumbuh saat ia memutuskan belum untuk membetulkannya. "Dekat, katamu?" bisiknya, sinar jenaka menguar. "Kamu tak salah juga."
Lucavion bersikeras santai, senyumnya memperlebar saat bersandar kembali. "Tau lho, malam ini mungkin ada suara atau gangguan lain dari kamarnya," ujurnya santai, tapi disengaja menggoda. "Jadi lebih baik kita siap."
Liora tampak kaget, pipinya menyala sejalan dengan kepahamannya. Ia mengangkat tangan untuk menutupi mulut, imajinasi pasti telah menyatu. "Apa yang kamu katakan!? " tanya, suaranya tinggi. "Itu patut tuh!"
Lucavion tertawa kecil, mata bertajuk menatap reaksi bingungnya. "Patut?" ulang, pura-pura buta. "Apa yang patut dari terobosan Valeria? Itu bagian normal dari kultivasi. Jangan-jangan kamu pikir lawak?"
Liora macet sejenak, kemaluan semakin membelengkainya saat sebenarnya. "B-Breakthrough?" seruku, suaranya gugup meningkatkan panik. "Oh, kamu maksudkan breakthrough? " lalu sekaligus terdengar. "Benar juga, itu."
Lucavion menggemilang kembali, condong sedikit, suaranya perlahan tapi cukup untuk membuatnya cemas. "Pikirannya apa yang kamu dapatkan, Liora?" tanya, nada candaan menantang. "Konten yang tidak pantas? Atau apa yang membuatmu berpikir begitu?"
"Aku tidak berpikir apa-apa!" balasnya, pipi hampir membara, berusaha mengendalikan diri. "Kamu sendiri yang mengatakannya dengan… sangat tidak jelas!"
"Tidak jelas?" Lucavion mengangguk pelan. Senyum lebar menyusul. "Aku pikir aku cukup jelas. Terobosan Valeria adalah masalah serius, setelah semua. Banyak fluktuasi mana, mungkin sedikit suara. Itu yang kukasih tahu."
Liora macet sejenak, kemaluannya meningkat. "L-Lor, kamu tidak punya niat untuk membetulkan apa pun!" teriak, membetulkan kepelbagaian sekaligus. "Kamu beruntung sekali, Lucavion. Kalau kamu salah satu dari pelanggan kami, aku akan melemparkan gelas ini ke arahmu."
Lucavion tertawa terbahang-bahang kembali, suaranya bersinar. "Hahaha! Astaga, Liora," ujur, tertawa. "Aku yakin kamu tidak berani benar-benar melempar gelas itu. Apalagi tak ada Lady Iron Matron yang biarkan kamu melakukan hal seperti itu."
Liora pipi menyala dengan marah, ia berdiri tegap, mencoba tampak mengerikan meski tubuhnya kerti. "Jangan mencoba kesabarku, Lucavion," peringat, suara kuat tapi terbungkus ceria.
Lucavion mengangkat tangan dengan cara tiruan kalah. "Baik, baik, Miss Fierce. Tak perlu begitu emosional."
Keningnya membelot, mencoba menjaga ekspresi serius, tapi usaha itu justru menambah rasa ingin tahu Lucavion. Ia memutar kepalanya, memandangnya sejenak, kemudian senyumnya melebar. "Tau lho, kamu tampak lebih seperti tukang bar yang garang daripada… seekor tupai yang mencoba tampak mengancam."
Liora terkesiap, mulut terbuka untuk protes, tapi sebelum itu bisa terucap, kemampuan tangkapan pantas Lucavion mengoyak—ia miringkan kepalanya, melewatkan lemparan gelas yang baru saja dilepattannnya. Gelas meluncur, jatuh dengan dentang keras di lantai di belakang bar.
Ia berdiri tegak, memandang ke belakang, lalu kembali ke arahnya dengan ekspresi palsu tertegah. "Baiklah, aku mengaku kalah," bisik. "Mungkin kamu memang punya keberanian. Meskipun aku tidak yakin Lady Iron Matron akan menyukai kamu menghabiskan gelas dengan cara ini."
Liora mengerutkan keringat, muka masih merah, apakah karena kemarahan atau malu. "Kamu beruntung tembakankya tidak akurat," bisik, lalu mengambil gelas lain dan menyibukkan diri membersihkannya, menghindari pandangannya.
Lucavion tertawa kembali, bersandar di pelosok. "Beruntunglah, ya? Aku berkata kamu punya keberanian—seekor tupai yang berani tetap patut ditatap."
Bibirnya bergoyang, berusaha menahan senyum, tapi tidak memberi jawaban. Sebaliknya, ia mengeridikkan nada, lalu kembali ke makanannya, benar-benar terhibat.
As they neared the inn, the warm glow of lanterns spilling from its windows and the faint hum of activity inside, Valeria quickened her pace. Her thoughts were a tangled mess, and all she wanted now was the solace of her room—away from Lucavion's insufferable smirk and the maddening thumping in her chest that refused to fade.
"I'll see you tomorrow," she said curtly, not even glancing in his direction as they entered the inn. Without waiting for his response, she made a beeline for the stairs, her boots clicking sharply against the wooden floor.
Lucavion lingered at the entrance, watching her retreating figure with an amused expression. He didn't call after her or make any attempt to stop her—though the smirk on his lips suggested he had plenty of remarks in mind. Instead, he leaned casually against the doorway, his gaze following her until she disappeared down the hallway.
"Always in a rush," he murmured under his breath, shaking his head. "Girl, you forgot to eat your meal."
With a soft chuckle, he pushed off the doorframe and strode toward the inn's common area, the faintest glimmer of amusement still lingering in his eyes. Whether she'd admit it or not, Valeria's hurried escape spoke volumes, and it only fueled his endless curiosity about her.
Meanwhile, Valeria reached her room, closing the door behind her with a decisive click. She exhaled sharply, leaning against it for a moment as if to barricade herself from the chaos Lucavion seemed to carry with him.
'I can't win against him,'
she admitted to herself, her eyes closing briefly.
'No matter what I say or do, he always finds a way to twist it in his favor.'
Shaking her head, she pushed off the door and crossed the room. Her focus had to shift—now. The breakthrough was all that mattered. Not Lucavion, not his infuriating smirks or his teasing comments, and certainly not the way her heart had betrayed her earlier.
She set her supplies on the small table by the window, her gaze hardening as she began arranging the mana stones and herbs she had collected earlier. The familiar routine steadied her, grounding her mind as she prepared the array she'd envisioned countless times before.
'This is what matters,'
she thought, her resolve firming.
'This is my path forward. Nothing else.'
But even as she tried to immerse herself in the meticulous task of arranging the array, a stray thought slipped in, unbidden: the faint echo of his laugh, warm and genuine. Her hand hesitated for a fraction of a second before she shook her head fiercely, banishing the thought.
"No distractions," she muttered aloud, her voice resolute. "Not now."
And with that, she forced her focus entirely onto the breakthrough, determined to silence the lingering echoes of their exchange—at least for tonight.
*******
Lucavion made his way to the tavern of the Iron Matron, the familiar hum of voices and clinking mugs filling the air. The warm light of the lanterns cast a golden glow over the lively scene, with customers laughing and enjoying their drinks. He ignored the usual table he and Valeria often occupied, instead heading straight for the bar. Tonight, he preferred a quieter space to collect his thoughts.
Behind the bar stood Liora, her cheerful presence a constant in the inn. She wore a bright smile, her energy as infectious as ever. As soon as she spotted him, she waved, her voice carrying above the chatter.
"Well, look who's decided to grace the bar tonight! Where's your usual partner-in-dining, Lucavion?" she teased, her grin widening.
Lucavion smirked as he leaned casually against the counter. "She forgot to eat her meal," he replied, the amusement clear in his tone. "Though, I'll need another one prepared for her. I'll bring it to her when she needs it."
Liora raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "When she needs it?" she echoed, leaning forward slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Lucavion chuckled, shaking his head as he accepted a drink she placed in front of him. "Let's just say she'll be busy tonight."
Liora's eyes widened briefly before a knowing smile spread across her face, her thoughts clearly running in a different direction. "Ohhh," she said, her voice dropping into a playful tone. "So that's how it is, huh? I didn't know you two were so... close."
Lucavion arched a brow at her, catching the implication immediately. He let the misunderstanding hang in the air for a moment, his smirk growing as he decided not to correct her just yet. "Close, you say?" he murmured, his tone laced with mischief. "You are not wrong."
Lucavion shrugged nonchalantly, his smirk deepening as he leaned back against the counter. "You know, tonight there may be some noises or other... disturbances coming from her room," he said, his tone casual but deliberately suggestive. "So, it's better if you're prepared."
Liora's eyes widened as her cheeks flushed a bright red. She raised a hand to cover her mouth, the full implication of his words settling over her. "What are you saying!" she exclaimed, her voice an octave higher than usual. "How improper!"
Lucavion chuckled softly, his gaze sharp with amusement as he watched her flustered reaction. "Improper?" he repeated, feigning innocence. "What's so improper about Valeria's breakthrough? It's a perfectly normal part of cultivation. Don't tell me you think otherwise."
Liora froze mid-breath, her blush intensifying as she processed his words. "Br-Breakthrough?" she stammered, her voice faltering as her embarrassment grew. She quickly straightened up, realizing her misunderstanding. "Oh, you meant her breakthrough!"
Lucavion's grin widened, and he leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to make her squirm. "What did you think I was talking about, Liora?" he asked, his tone teasing and deliberate. "Something inappropriate? My, my, what exactly was going on in that head of yours?"
"I—I wasn't thinking anything!" she shot back, her face nearly crimson as she tried to regain her composure. "You're the one who said it so… so vaguely!"
"Vaguely?" Lucavion tilted his head, his smirk now a full grin. "I think I was being perfectly clear. Valeria's breakthrough is a serious matter, after all. Lots of mana fluctuations, maybe some noise. That's what I meant." He leaned closer, his gaze sparkling with mischief. "But you... you seemed to have jumped to some rather Experience more content on
interesting
conclusions."
"I did not!" Liora protested, flustered beyond belief. She tried to busy herself by polishing a glass, but her hands trembled slightly under his playful scrutiny. "You're impossible!"
Lucavion laughed, his tone light and mocking but devoid of malice. "Don't worry, Liora. Your secret's safe with me." He winked, enjoying the way her blush deepened before finally straightening up and turning his attention back to his meal.
Liora grumbled something under her breath, her embarrassment evident as she avoided his gaze. "You're lucky you're one of our best customers, Lucavion. Otherwise, I'd throw this glass at you."
Lucavion threw his head back and let out a loud, hearty laugh that seemed to draw the attention of nearby patrons. "Hahaha! Oh, Liora," he said between chuckles, his grin wide with amusement. "I doubt you've got the guts to actually throw that glass at me. After all, there's no way Lady Iron Matron would let you off the hook if you did something like that."
Liora's face flushed with indignation as she straightened her posture, trying to look imposing despite her smaller frame. "Don't test me, Lucavion," she warned, her voice firm but edged with her usual cheerfulness.
Lucavion raised his hands in mock surrender, his smirk never fading. "Okay, okay, Miss Fierce. No need to get so worked up."
Her brow furrowed as she tried to maintain her stern expression, but the attempt only seemed to amuse Lucavion more. He tilted his head, studying her for a moment before his grin widened further. "You know," he began, his tone teasing, "you look less like a fierce barkeep and more like... a hamster trying to look scary."
Liora's eyes widened in disbelief, and her mouth opened to protest, but before she could, Lucavion's quick reflexes kicked in as he suddenly ducked his head to the side, narrowly avoiding the glass she had just hurled at him. It flew past him, landing with a loud clatter on the floor behind the bar.
He straightened up, looking over his shoulder at the glass, then back at her with a mockingly impressed expression. "Well, I stand corrected," he said, brushing some imaginary dust from his shoulder. "Maybe you
do
have the guts. Though I'm not sure the Iron Matron would approve of you wasting perfectly good glassware."
Liora huffed, her face still red, though whether from anger or embarrassment was anyone's guess. "You're lucky my aim wasn't better," she muttered, grabbing another glass and focusing intently on polishing it to avoid his gaze.
Lucavion chuckled, leaning back against the counter. "Lucky, huh? I'd say you're the lucky one, considering I didn't retaliate. But hey, I'll give you this one, Liora. A hamster with guts is still a sight to behold."
Her lips twitched, fighting back a smile, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of a response. Instead, she muttered something inaudible under her breath, which only made Lucavion laugh again as he returned to his meal, thoroughly entertained.
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