The week before the expedition to the Ruin of Stillness proved far from restful for Lucien.
The ridian Gate still buzzed with their images long after the trial ended, and by the ti they moved into the Verdant Veil’s dwelling estate within the Gate complex, their quiet days were already over.
From the very first morning, Lucien learned a painful truth.
Being second place ca with... complications.
Whenever the two stepped outside, people recognized them instantly.
So greeted them with warm enthusiasm.
So challenged them to duels on sight.
So strangely asked Marie if they could be stepped on by her or by her earth giant.
Marie adored every second of attention.
"Luc! Look they recognize us! AGAIN!" she whispered loudly, vibrating with pride. "And those kids. Look, they pointed at ! HA!"
"Marie," Lucien muttered, massaging his temples, "you’re glowing."
"I KNOW!"
People waved, whispered, and shouted greetings.
"That’s the Verdant Veil Wolves!"
"The Titan Girl!"
"The Faker Boy!"
Lucien exhaled like a man spiritually tired. That nickna made him cringe... as if soone had dug up a dark Chapter of his past he’d long since set on fire.
Marie, on the other hand, fed on every complint like sunlight. Lucien avoided every complint like a man dodging flying arrows.
Thankfully, the Verdant Veil contingent kept the attention from turning into a mob.
And just like that... the week truly began.
•••
On the second evening after the trial, Lucien just returned from the plaza where Marie had been proudly demonstrating to children how she could lift an entire rchant cart with one hand... when a knock echoed through the Verdant Veil dwelling place.
Eirene opened the door.
Standing outside were the Obsidian Collegium Scholars, hands politely offering gifts. They brought sticks of Obsidian Incense, rare and potent enough to stabilize one’s cultivation practice.
Everyone accepted them with her usual composed grace, though a hint of surprise flickered through her eyes.
Once inside, the third-eyed junior imdiately stepped forward, clasping his hands in a scholarly greeting.
"Brother Wolf," he said, "I ca to honor my promise. And perhaps... challenge you to another chess match."
Lucien smiled.
"Bring it on."
He would never refuse free energy... especially energy that fed directly into his inner realm. In truth, he’d been waiting for them.
Behind the junior, the others nodded.
The third-eyed youth straightened proudly.
"I suppose introductions are due," he said. "My na is Arctyx of the Tri-Sage Ophidian Bloodline. You may just call Arc."
His third eye glimred softly.
Lucien paused.
The Tri-Sage Ophidians. A race of visionaries, fad strategists in the Mural World. They were a major reason why the thousand races gained an edge in the Millennia War.
Lucien couldn’t shake the feeling that eting him was no coincidence. Should another war ever co, soone like Arctyx would be priceless. Better to call such a person an ally... and perhaps a friend.
Then the Peak Ascendant scholar stepped forward.
"My na is Cyranor," he said with a graceful bow. "I also wish to play. Though I fear my skills won’t be on par with Junior Brother Arc."
Lucien grinned. "Welco."
Behind them, the three Celestial Realm senior brothers imdiately stepped back.
"We abstain," said the stern second brother, Volund, raising both hands.
"Yes, we must preserve our dignity," added the chill third brother, Halcion, smiling faintly. "Losing to a junior would haunt us for centuries."
The eldest, Seryth, simply nodded with a knowing smile.
Marie burst into laughter.
•••
The gas that followed were exhausting even for Lucien.
Arctyx played with razor-sharp precision. Each move was layered in logic and foresight.
Cyranor played with chilling clarity, predicting counter-moves before Lucien even placed his piece.
But Lucien...
Lucien played like soone born to break the boundaries of strategy.
He twisted rules, inverted assumptions, and created solutions from impossible angles. His checkmates landed with elegant brutality, leaving both scholars stunned and speechless.
Arctyx wiped sweat from his brow.
"...I lost again."
Lucien nodded, satisfied. "Thanks for the energy."
"Stop saying it like that..." Arctyx muttered.
Cyranor released a slow breath.
"That was... enlightening. Painfully so."
The laughter echoed into the night.
•••
The scholars returned every evening to learn and to challenge. Once, Arctyx even gained enlightennt mid-ga, leveling up on the spot. That only made their next matches harder.
And during those quiet post-ga monts, Lucien gradually learned of Arctyx’s past.
Not through boasting or dramatic confession.
But through quiet fragnts, narrated like mories too heavy for the scholar to voice fully.
The Tri-Sage Ophidian Race lived in seclusion, guarding ancient knowledge.
They were born with sight, visions of possibilities and glimpses of futures.
They are a race of thinkers, record-keepers, and strategists.
Until one night.
Their clan was extinguished in a single sweep.
The attackers felt wrong. They are not monstrous nor demonic... But wrong.
Beings whose souls were twisted, tainted. They are anomalies that defied every known law.
The Ophidians had vast records spanning the Big World’s history... yet not a single scroll described such creatures.
Knowledge had always been their shield.
Against this enemy, they had none.
The entire clan was erased and their archives were burned.
Only Arctyx survived, hidden by his parents under layers of Law strong enough to evade even fate’s gaze. They died protecting him.
When the Obsidian Scholars found him, it was already too late for everyone else.
He was the only one left alive.
A trembling child raving about tainted souls... And a future where the world trembled in their return.
It explained everything. His suspicion, his watchfulness, his hostility toward anomalies.
It explained why he had once stared at Lucien as if he was a threat.
Because to him, Lucien’s soul... didn’t make sense.
It was whole but looked stitched. It felt nded and re-woven into sothing new.
Lucien eventually asked...
"Is there really sothing wrong with my soul? I don’t feel anything strange."
Arctyx bowed his head slightly.
"I must apologize again," he said. "I misjudged you. You are no anomaly. The tainted ones... they are sothing else entirely. Your soul is strange, yes... but not in malice. It feels as though it was broken... then reforged into sothing new."
"What does that an?"
"I don’t know," Arctyx admitted. "Even the fragnts of my clan’s records I have managed to recover reveal nothing similar."
Lucien fell silent.
’Another secret...? Is it tied to being reincarnated? Why didn’t the Primordial Sli tell anything...?’
But he let the thoughts pass. He had enough problems.
Arctyx added quietly...
"And I know your wolf form and your partner’s is not your true form. But I will not pry. My respect belongs to those who help shape the future."
Lucien smiled.
At least he had gained a friend.
Then Arctyx hesitated.
"One last thing... Brother Wolf. There is a veil around you. Sothing... pulling on your form. I cannot explain it. But whatever you use to transform... be careful. You might lose yourself soday."
Lucien’s heart tightened.
Yet he said nothing.
•••
Later that week, Lilith arrived without warning... simply appearing outside the Verdant Veil estate like a breeze.
Her cartel mbers followed behind, lugging ornate void-tal chests.
Eirene stared at them, suspicious of their dramatic display but didn’t complain. The contents were ant for Lucien and Marie anyway.
Lilith approached Lucien with a smile that was 60% smug and 40% softness.
"I made a promise," she said, "and I deliver."
She opened the first chest.
Inside were treasures from the void itself.
Abyssal Core Shard – accelerating comprehension of Laws and refining energy with frightening efficiency.
Folding Null-Field – a one-ti shield capable of erasing any attack below Eternal level.
Starlit Codex Fragnt – a spiritual foundation technique once used by void-walkers.
Starforge dal – granting a permanent 50% discount in Starforge-affiliated shops.
Lucien stared, blinking.
"This is too much." He said but deep inside, he was amazed. Lilith was more generous than he thought.
Lilith scoffed lightly.
"Nonsense. It’s exactly enough."
Marie imdiately leaned in.
"What about ?!"
Lilith opened the second chest.
Marie’s eyes widened like they’d seen heaven.
Inside were:
Titanbone Reeves – bracers that amplified raw physical power by harmonizing with earth essence.
Geomantle Pearl – enhancing earth-type constructs and regenerating damaged creations.
Earthpact Lattice – a ring that amplified summoned earth titans.
And another Starforge dal rested beside them.
"These are perfect for !" Marie gasped.
"I know," Lilith replied confidently. "Strong, practical, and reliable..."
Marie nearly sparkled.
•••
The week rolled forward in a chaotic but strangely heartwarming rhythm.
Whenever Lucien and Marie stepped outside...
More greetings. More cheers. More duels Marie accepted purely for fun and rewards.
The Verdant Veil estate buzzed with activity.
Eirene managed the whirlpool with her usual calm grace.
It was a good week.
But beneath all the activity...
Everyone knew what waited ahead.
A ruin belonging to an Eternal.
A place where laws twisted and stillness devoured the unprepared.
And as the seventh night settled, silence wound itself through the ridian Gate.
The laughter faded.
The air itself grew heavy.
The expedition to the Ruin of Stillness...
Was about to begin.
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