The Next Morning
Kael raced to Lootwell Manor with his breath ragged and face pale with urgency. He ran as if something had gripped his heart in a vice.
At the entrance, Sebas spotted him and immediately opened the door.
"Quick! I need to see the young master. It's an emergency!"
Sebas was alarmed by Kael's expression. He nodded without a word and went to alert Lucien.
Moments later, the three of them gathered in the study.
"What happened, Kael?" Lucien asked.
"Young master, this is serious!"
"Slow down. Take a breath and tell me."
Kael exhaled deeply, centering himself before he spoke.
"While I was practicing another spell from Beginner Space Magic," Kael began, "I sensed something strange. I was using the detection spell but I tweaked the effects a bit… and lost control for a moment. That's when it happened... I sensed unfamiliar mana traces in the forest, about ten kilometers from here."
Lucien fell into thought. Kael really is a genius. He had only just started studying Space Magic and already managed to discover something new... by accident, no less. Even a misfire turned into a breakthrough. That's some lucky mistake.
"Normally, detection only shows mana traces within a hundred-meter radius," Kael continued. "But I thought... What if I could change the parameters? So I… experimented a little."
He paused, noticing the expressions on Lucien and Sebas's faces.
"Okay, I know what you're thinking. 'Who messes with the mechanics of an already established spell?' But relax! Nothing bad happened. At worst, I could've experienced mana backflow... but that's not an issue for me. I'm good at circulating my mana in the body."
He caught himself rambling and coughed.
"Ahem. Anyway, back to the topic. When I tried focusing the detection in just one direction instead of a full radius… it worked. I accidentally put in too much mana in the spell and... it actually extended the range to ten kilometers straight ahead!\ And that's when I sensed them."
His voice lowered.
Lucien looked at him with admiration. Kael was indeed a genius. He knew his strength too well that's why he was willing to tinker with the unknown just to test a theory.
Lucien, by contrast, would never have thought of doing something like that.
He relied on the system.
Safe.
Predictable.
And in this moment, he couldn't help but respect Kael and envy his talent.
Kael's voice dipped.
"I sensed five individuals. Based on their mana traces... they're from the Coalheart territory. They've set up camp near the forest. The burly man I saw before....He's there too! Young master, you have to run."
Lucien's heart lurched at the warning but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Can you estimate their levels?"
Kael nodded. "One Tier 2, two Tier 3s, one Tier 4, and the big guy is in Tier 6."
Lucien sighed in relief. With Sebas by his side, there was no immediate need to panic.
But Kael misread Lucien's composure as disbelief to what he reported. His worry deepened.
Lucien gave him a reassuring look. "I believe you. Thank you, Kael. This gives us time to prepare. Besides, I doubt their strongest can match Sebas."
Kael still looked uncertain.
"Kael, you should probably head back and stay hidden. We'll handle things from here. They won't make a move in broad daylight. They're likely waiting for the sun to set."
Kael hesitated. He didn't like the idea of leaving but seeing the confidence in Lucien's eyes, he felt a little reassured. 'Maybe… he really can handle this.'
"Wait—take this," Lucien said, pulling out three nectar crystals. He placed them into Kael's hands. "They'll help you recover mana faster. Just in case."
Kael stared at the crystals, almost skeptical. He opened his mouth to protest, but closed it again and nodded. "Thanks… I'll keep watch from the house. I can't fight, but if things go wrong, I'll step in and get you out."
Lucien gave a faint smile. "Appreciate it."
As Kael vanished into the distance, Lucien turned back to Sebas. His calm demeanor faded the moment Kael was out of sight.
His thoughts were racing.
He then faced Sebas.
"Alright, Sebas… listen closely. Here's the plan."
•••
In the middle of the night.
A burly shadow slipped through the open window of Lootwell Manor. His movements was silent.
He crept toward the bed where Lucien lay motionless under the covers.
"Dumb kid, leaving the window open," the intruder muttered, his hoarse voice barely above a whisper.
Raising a heavy mace high above his head, he aimed straight for Lucien's skull when...
Whoosh!
A knife sliced through the darkness.
The burly man's eyes widened. He twisted instinctively but not fast enough. The blade grazed his neck, drawing a thin line of blood. Snarling, he jumped back, now fully alert.
'Tch. As expected from a Tier 6... You're no pushover,' Lucien thought as he retreated in the shadows.
He ducked low and moved toward Sebas, whispering quickly, "He has a skill that enhances both his strength and defense. He's tricky. Don't fight him head-on."
Sebas strongly refused to make Lucien the bait earlier but Lucien managed to convince him. The enemies might've noticed that something felt off if he was not in the bed.
The plan didn't go perfectly but landing a hit on the burly man was already a major achievement.
Kael had warned them beforehand that the burly man favored blunt weapons. Through SCAN, he also discovered that the man possessed a skill that enhanced his strength making him even more dangerous.
To prepare, Lucien secretly learned the skill Bouncy Body, just in case things went south. As an extra layer of protection, he bound his Life-Link Talisman to a Slime Plushie he didn't throw away. Its soft and ridiculous form is now his hidden lifeline.
The room was cloaked in darkness. Even the moonlight spilling through the window failed to cut through the gloom.
Suddenly, another knife whistled from the shadows, aimed straight at the burly man. This time though, he was ready. He deflected it with his mace in a sharp clang of metal.
Now fully alert, the man dropped into a defensive stance while his eyes scanned the room.
Lucien quietly activated Burrower's Eye, peering through layers of the wall to locate the positions of the other four enemies.
"Come up here!" the burly man barked.
At his command, three men entered the room from the window. The lone Tier 2 remained stationed outside.
The newcomers hesitated. They had initially assumed that the burly man had already dealt with Lucien. But seeing him in a defensive stance, they instantly went on high alert.
Lucien took the chance. He activated a quick SCAN then bolted toward the exit, feigning panic.
The three men didn't hesitate. Realizing what was happening, they immediately gave chase.
But as they followed, a volley of hidden weapons sprang from the dark.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal rang out as the projectiles were intercepted.
Sebas launched the surprise attack but the burly man reacted swiftly, intercepting the blow. But the ambush threw the other three off balance.
"Found you," the burly man growled. "You three! Go and kill the kid. I'll handle things here."
Sebas didn't flinch. This was still part of Lucien's plan.
His priority now was clear. Defeat the brute quickly... and go after Lucien to back him up if possible.
Meanwhile, Lucien dashed out of the manor.
He sprinted toward the forest, luring them towards the traps he had prepared in advance.
But the three enemies were gaining on him. They were stronger... and faster. In just seconds, they were nearing him.
But then...
A burst of gooey slime launched toward them from Lucien's outstretched hand.
None of it hit the men, prompting them to laugh mockingly.
"What a pathetic shot!"
But Lucien hadn't aimed at them. He'd aimed at the ground.
They didn't realize it until their boots squelched into the sticky goo. One of them stumbled and crashed to the dirt. The others found their movements slowed with legs dragging through the clinging mess.
By the time they regained control and began sidestepping the sticky terrain, Lucien had already slipped into the dense forest ahead.