Begitu Seria melangkah kembali ke atas kapal, ketenangannya tampak memudar. Topeng sopannya retak saat dia mengembuskan napas frustrasi. Gerakannya yang biasanya rapi sedikit tergesa-gesa saat dia berjalan cepat menghampiri Madeleina dan Aeliana, ketegangan di sekujur tubuhnya begitu kentara.
"Nona," seru Seria dengan suara tegang karena jengkel. "Pria itu… benar-benar menyebalkan."
Aeliana sedikit memiringkan wajahnya yang tertutup cadar, rasa penasarannya sesaat mengalahkan rasa tidak nyamannya. "Ada apa?"
Seria mengembuskan napas tajam, tangannya mengepal di kedua sisi tubuhnya. "Dia berbicara seolah-olah kata-kata yang keluar dari mulutku sama sekali tidak ada artinya. Aku menyindir, memberi petunjuk, bahkan secara terang-terangan mengatakan hal-hal yang seharusnya dipahami oleh orang yang berakal sehat, namun dia bersikap seolah-olah semuanya melintas begitu saja di atas kepalanya."
Madeleina, yang berdiri dengan tenang seperti biasa, mengangguk setuju. "Dia memang menampilkan diri sebagai seseorang yang mengabaikan etika atau implikasi. Rasanya seolah-olah dia tidak tahu menahu tentang pentingnya Kadipaten Thaddeus… atau lebih buruk lagi, dia memang tidak peduli sama sekali."
Bibir Seria menipis membentuk garis lurus yang kaku. "Tepat sekali. Entah dia itu orang bodoh tidak berpendidikan yang tidak mengenali bobot nama Anda, Nona, atau dia memang begitu kurang ajar hingga mengabaikannya mentah-mentah."
Jari-jari Aeliana mengetuk perlahan pada sandaran tangannya. "Menarik," gumamnya, nadanya tenang namun menyiratkan pemikiran yang dalam. "Lalu, apa penilaianmu, Madeleina?"
Madeleina memiringkan kepalanya sedikit, kedua tangannya dilipat rapi di depan tubuhnya. "Sulit dikatakan. Di permukaan, dia tampak tidak lebih dari seorang penipu, seseorang yang mahir dalam pertempuran tetapi kurang memiliki kehalusan atau rasa hormat terhadap otoritas para bangsawan. Namun…" Suaranya melemah, alisnya berkerut.
"Namun?" pancing Aeliana, rasa penasarannya terusik.
"Namun," lanjut Madeleina dengan nada terukur, "ada sesuatu yang disengaja dari sikapnya. Kecerobohannya, ejekannya—rasanya tidak seperti ketidaktahuan...
"Namun," lanjut Madeleina dengan nada terukur, "ada sesuatu yang disengaja dari sikapnya. Kecerobohannya, ejekannya—rasanya tidak seperti ketidaktahuan, melainkan sebuah pengalihan. Dia tahu persis apa yang sedang dilakukannya, dan itu bukanlah suatu kebetulan."
Seria merengut sambil melipat tangan di dada. "Jika memang begitu, maka dia jauh lebih tidak tertahankan lagi. Begitu berani mengejek otoritas kadipaten—ini sungguh menghina."
Aeliana sedikit bersandar ke belakang, cadarnya bergeser saat dia memiringkan kepala untuk merenung. "Mungkin saja. Tapi jika dia benar-benar tidak peduli pada nama Thaddeus, atau jika dia sedang mengalihkan perhatian seperti yang kaukatakan, itu justru membuatnya semakin menarik. Dia tidak seperti yang lain, dan hal itu sudah sangat jelas."
Suaranya sedikit merendah, nadanya lebih terdengar seperti berbicara pada dirinya sendiri daripada kepada rekan-rekannya. "Meski begitu, itu tetap tidak menjelaskan mengapa aku merasa… seolah-olah dia bisa melihat langsung menembus diriku."
Madeleina menatapnya dengan pandangan meyakinkan. "Nona, itu kemungkinan besar hanya perasaan Anda saja. Alat itu sama sekali tidak bisa dideteksi."
Aeliana mengangguk, meskipun ketegangan di dadanya tidak kunjung mereda. "Mungkin," ucapnya lembut. "Tapi teruslah amati dia. Aku ingin tahu lebih banyak tentang Tuan 'Luca' ini."
*******
Lucavion mengamati Seria yang berjalan menjauh, langkahnya yang tenang tampak sedikit terlalu kaku, punggungnya sedikit terlalu lurus—tanda-tanda samar dari seseorang yang sedang berusaha menyembunyikan kejengkelannya. Senyum miringnya masih terukir di bibirnya saat dia bergumam pelan, "Menarik sekali."
[Dia tampak agak terganggu dengan sikapmu,] Vitaliara menimpali, nadanya menyiratkan rasa geli. [Kau benar-benar sudah menguasai seni membuat orang lain kesal.]
Lucavion terkekeh pelan, mata gelapnya berbinar penuh kenakalan. "Jika aku memang tidak cocok dengan seseorang, pilihan apa lagi yang kumilik? Bukan berarti ini salahku."
Tentu saja tidak,] jawab Vitaliara dengan nada kering. [Tidak pernah ada yang salah denganmu, kan?]
Lucavion mengangkat bahu, senyum miringnya semakin melebar.
Dia menyandarkan punggungnya pada pagar pembatas terdekat, pandangannya beralih ke cakrawala tempat siluet samar kapal Kadipaten Thaddeus masih terlihat di kejauhan. Ekspresinya sedikit melunak, lebih mencerminkan pemikiran mendalam daripada rasa geli. Pertanyaan Nona Seria sangat tajam, tetapi ketertarikannya bukanlah ketertarikan biasa. Dan kemudian ada gadis berkerudung itu, yang mengawasi dari balik bayang-bayang...
[Masih memikirkan tentang dia?] tanya Vitaliara, suaranya memecah lamunannya. [Kau menunjukkan ketertarikan yang tidak biasa pada kapal itu.]
'Sulit untuk tidak melakukannya,' jawab Lucavion dalam hati. 'Mereka sedang memainkan sebuah permainan, dan mereka telah memilihku sebagai salah satu bidaknya. Aku tidak bisa tidak bertanya-tanya apa langkah mereka selanjutnya.'
[Jangan terlalu santai,] peringat Vitaliara, meskipun nadanya terdengar ringan. [Mata yang mengawasi seperti itu jarang memiliki niat baik.]
Senyum miring Lucavion kembali terukir, matanya menyipit sesaat ketika dia melirik ke arah perangkat proyeksi yang telah digunakan untuk mengawasinya. "Oh, aku justru mengharapkan itu."
Saat dia berbalik kembali menuju area perkemahan, posturnya santai dan langkahnya tidak terburu-buru, suara Vitaliara bergema samar di dalam benaknya, nadanya bernada main-main namun terselip kesungguhan. [Kau memang tidak bisa menahan diri untuk tidak mengaduk-aduk masalah, ya?]
'Ini bukan soal mengaduk-aduk masalah,' pikir Lucavion, senyum miringnya berubah menjadi sesuatu yang lebih tajam. 'Ini tentang memastikan periuknya tidak mendidih meluap tanpa aku tahu apa alasannya.'
Ekspedisi terus melangkah maju, platform-platform es berkilauan tipis di bawah cahaya cakrawala yang mulai meredup. Irama langkah kapal yang mantap dan dengungan samar mana dari para mage yang merawat platform-platform tersebut menjadi latar bagi keheningan tegang yang menyelimuti kelompok itu.
Lucavion memanfaatkan waktu itu untuk memusatkan diri, fokusnya beralih ke dalam. Energi sisa dari terobosannya baru-baru ini masih mengalir di dalam dirinya, sedikit tidak stabil namun tak dapat disangkal sangat kuat. Itu adalah sensasi yang tidak bisa dia gambarkan dengan tepat—sebuah seringan baru di tubuhnya, seolah-olah beban dari batas-batas lamanya telah terlepas, digantikan oleh ketajaman kekuatan yang lebih kuat.
'Jauh lebih baik,' pikirnya, meregangkan jari-jarinya dan merasakan dengungan samar mana yang merespons kehendaknya.
Meskipun dia belum mendorong [Flame of Equinox] miliknya hingga batas maksimal, dia tidak bisa mengabaikan perbedaan dalam kepadatannya. Nyala api itu, ketika dipanggil, melingkar di sekeliling bilahnya dengan intensitas yang hampir terasa hidup, berkedip lebih terang, lebih panas, dan lebih fokus daripada sebelumnya. Bahkan lapisan tipis api itu mampu membakar monster jauh lebih cepat dari biasanya, panasnya membakar menembus pertahanan mereka seolah ditarik langsung ke titik kelemahan mereka.
Selama pertempuran-pertempuran kecil yang mewarnai perjalanan mereka, Lucavion menggunakan kekuatan barunya secara hemat, menguji batasannya tanpa terlalu banyak mengungkap kemampuannya. Dia berdansa melewati medan perang dengan kemudahan yang bahkan mengejutkan dirinya sendiri, bilahnya menebas bersih para musuh mengerikan itu seolah mereka tidak lebih dari sekadar bayangan.
Satu makhluk—seekor amfibi yang sangat mengerikan dengan anggota tubuh bersisik dan berlendir—menerjangnya dari samping. Estoc Lucavion bergerak bagaikan kilatan cahaya, bilahnya dilapisi kilau tipis [Flame of Equinox]. Saat bilah itu menghantam, makhluk itu terbakar hampir seketika, apinya menyebar bagaikan api liar di seluruh tubuhnya dan mereduksinya menjadi abu membara dalam hitungan detik.
Lucavion berhenti sejenak, mengamati sisa-sisa itu dengan mata menyipit. 'Ini bukan sekadar lebih kuat. Ini... lebih haus.'
[Nyala apimu terasa berbeda sekarang, bukan?] Suara Vitaliara menembus pikirannya, nadanya terdengar penasaran sekaligus menyetujui. [Lebih cepat, lebih destruktif. Rasanya seolah-olah mereka sedang menunggumu untuk melepaskannya.]
'Rasanya lebih padat,' jawab Lucavion dalam hati, senyum tipis terukir saat dia mengamati kelipan api samar yang masih tertinggal di bilahnya. 'Lebih murni. Seperti telah ditempa dengan suatu cara.'
[Itu adalah hasil dari terobosanmu,] kata Vitaliara, ekornya bergerak-gerak main-main di dalam benaknya. [Kau telah melampaui batas lamamu, dan sekarang kekuatanmu berevolusi untuk menyesuaikannya. Tapi berhati-hatilah—kekuatan seperti ini bisa menarik perhatian.]
Lucavion terkekeh pelan, menyarungkan estoc miliknya sambil melirik ke arah gelombang monster berikutnya yang berkumpul di kejauhan.
As Seria stepped back onto the ship, her composure visibly slipped, her polite mask cracking as she released a frustrated huff. Her usually neat movements were slightly rushed as she walked briskly toward Madeleina and Aeliana, the tension in her frame evident.
"My lady," Seria began, her voice tight with irritation. "That man is… infuriating."
Aeliana tilted her veiled face slightly, her curiosity momentarily overshadowing her unease. "What happened?"
Seria exhaled sharply, her hands clenching at her sides. "He speaks as though the words coming out of my mouth mean nothing. I implied, hinted, even outright suggested things that any sensible person would understand, and yet he acted as if it all flew over his head."
Madeleina, standing composed as ever, nodded in agreement. "He certainly presents himself as someone ignorant of decorum or implications. It’s as if he’s oblivious to the importance of the Thaddeus Duchy… or worse, he simply doesn’t care."
Seria’s lips thinned into a tight line. "Exactly. Either he’s an uneducated fool who doesn’t recognize the weight of your name, my lady, or he’s so insolent that he dismisses it entirely."
Aeliana’s fingers drummed lightly against her armrest. "Interesting," she murmured, her tone calm but with an edge of thoughtfulness. "And what’s your assessment, Madeleina?"
Madeleina tilted her head slightly, her hands folded neatly in front of her. "It is difficult to say. On the surface, he appears to be nothing more than a charlatan, someone skilled in combat but lacking refinement or respect for noble authority. However…" Her voice trailed off, her brows furrowing.
"However?" Aeliana prompted, her curiosity piqued.
"However," Madeleina continued, her tone measured, "there is something deliberate about his demeanor. His flippancy, his mockery—it feels less like ignorance Stay connected with
"However," Madeleina continued, her tone measured, "there is something deliberate about his demeanor. His flippancy, his mockery—it feels less like ignorance and more like deflection. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and it is not by chance."
Seria scowled, crossing her arms. "If that’s the case, then he’s even more intolerable. Mocking the authority of the duchy so brazenly—it’s insulting."
Aeliana leaned back slightly, her veil shifting as she tilted her head in contemplation. "Perhaps. But if he truly doesn’t care about the Thaddeus name, or if he’s deflecting as you say, that makes him even more curious. He’s not like the others, and that much is clear."
Her voice dropped slightly, her tone more to herself than her companions. "Still, that doesn’t explain why I feel… like he’s looking straight through me."
Madeleina gave her a reassuring glance. "My lady, it’s likely your imagination. The device is undetectable."
Aeliana nodded, though the tension in her chest didn’t ease. "Perhaps," she said softly. "But keep observing him. I want to know more about this ’Mister Luca.’"
*******
Lucavion watched Seria retreat, her composed stride a little too stiff, her back just a little too straight—subtle signs of someone carefully masking their irritation. His smirk lingered as he murmured under his breath, "How interesting."
[She looked rather annoyed by your demeanor,] Vitaliara chimed in, her tone tinged with amusement. [You’ve really mastered the art of getting under people’s skin.]
Lucavion chuckled softly, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "If I’m not compatible with someone, what other choice do I have? It’s not as if it’s my fault."
[Of course not,] Vitaliara replied dryly. [It’s never your fault, is it?]
Lucavion shrugged, his smirk broadening. "Naturally."
He leaned back against the nearest railing, his gaze drifting toward the horizon where the faint silhouette of the Thaddeus Duchy’s ship lingered in the distance. His expression softened slightly, thoughtful rather than amused. Miss Seria’s questions were pointed, but her interest wasn’t casual. And then there’s that veiled girl, watching from the shadows…
[Still thinking about her?] Vitaliara asked, her voice breaking into his thoughts. [You’ve been unusually interested in that ship.]
’It’s hard not to be,’ Lucavion replied inwardly. ’They’re playing a game, and they’ve chosen me as one of the pieces. I can’t help but wonder what their next move will be.’
[Don’t get too comfortable,] Vitaliara warned, though her tone was light. [Watchful eyes like those rarely mean well.]
Lucavion’s smirk returned, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced toward the projection device that had been used to monitor him. "Oh, I’m counting on that."
As he turned back toward the camp, his posture relaxed and his stride unhurried, Vitaliara’s voice echoed faintly in his mind, her tone playful but edged with sincerity. [You can’t resist stirring the pot, can you?]
’It’s not about stirring the pot,’ Lucavion thought, his smirk curving into something sharper. ’It’s about making sure the pot doesn’t boil over without me knowing why.’
The expedition pressed onward, the icy platforms shimmering faintly under the dimming light of the horizon. The steady rhythm of the ship’s motion and the occasional hum of mana from the mages maintaining the platforms formed a backdrop to the tense quiet that had settled over the group.
Lucavion used the time to center himself, his focus turning inward. The residual energy from his recent breakthrough still coursed through him, faintly volatile but undeniably potent. It was a sensation he couldn’t quite describe—a newfound lightness in his body, as if the weight of his previous limits had been shed, replaced by a sharper edge of strength.
’Much better,’ he thought, flexing his fingers and feeling the subtle hum of mana responding to his will. ’Everything feels… enhanced.’
Though he hadn’t yet pushed his [Flame of Equinox] to its limits, he couldn’t ignore the difference in its density. The flames, when called upon, coiled around his blade with an intensity that was almost alive, flickering brighter, hotter, more focused than before. Even a brief coating of the flames ignited monsters far faster than he was accustomed to, the heat searing through their defenses as if drawn directly to their weaknesses.
During the smaller skirmishes that punctuated their journey, Lucavion wielded his enhanced power sparingly, testing its edges without revealing too much. He danced through the battlefield with an ease that surprised even him, his blade slicing cleanly through the monstrous foes as though they were no more than shadows.
One creature—a particularly grotesque amphibian with scaled, mucus-covered limbs—lunged at him from the side. Lucavion’s estoc moved in a blur, the blade coated in a faint sheen of the [Flame of Equinox]. As it struck, the monster ignited almost instantly, the flames spreading like wildfire across its body and reducing it to smoldering embers in moments.
Lucavion paused, watching the aftermath with narrowed eyes. ’This isn’t just stronger. It’s... hungrier.’
[Your flames are different now, aren’t they?] Vitaliara’s voice broke through his thoughts, her tone both curious and approving. [Faster, more destructive. It’s as though they’re waiting for you to let them loose.]
’They feel denser,’ Lucavion replied inwardly, his smirk faint as he examined the faint flicker of flames lingering on his blade. ’More refined. Like they’ve been tempered somehow.’
[That’s the result of the breakthrough,] Vitaliara said, her tail flicking playfully in his mind. [You’ve pushed past your old limits, and now your power is evolving to match. But be careful—strength like this can draw attention.]
Lucavion chuckled softly, sheathing his estoc as he glanced toward the next wave of monsters gathering in the distance. "Attention isn’t a bad thing, Vitaliara. It’s what you do with it that matters."
[Typical,] Vitaliara muttered, though there was no mistaking the faint amusement in her tone.
As the expedition continued, Lucavion settled into a rhythm, honing his new strength while keeping his true potential just beneath the surface. Each clash was an opportunity—a step toward mastering not just his power but the balance between control and chaos.
******
The evening sky was painted with hues of deep crimson and gold, the aftermath of battle reflected in the dim glow of the horizon. The battlefield had finally quieted, the monstrous roars replaced by the faint crackle of torches and the murmur of exhausted voices. The expedition had succeeded in its objective—countless monsters had been slain, their carcasses strewn across the battlefield or dragged off to be dealt with later.
Captain Eryndor stood at the center of the gathered adventurers and knights, his silver-gray hair gleaming under the flickering light of the torches. Around him were the other station leaders, their armor battered but their postures upright and commanding. Among them, Captain Edran’s presence was particularly notable. His stern expression was softened slightly by the satisfaction of a hard-fought victory.
"This marks the end of today’s efforts," Eryndor began, his voice carrying over the tired but attentive crowd. "You’ve all done well. The sea routes are safer, and the monsters that threatened our trade have been culled. For now."
A ripple of murmurs swept through the crowd, a mixture of relief and pride. Some adventurers exchanged glances, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as the atmosphere shifted to anticipation.
"And now," Captain Edran said, stepping forward, his voice steady but firm, "we come to the matter that most of you have been waiting for."
He said as she signaled the porters to come forward.
"The rewards."
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