[Third Person Pov]
After Scylla had recovered and eaten a large al courtesy of Lucian, he teleported the two of them back to the Church of Paradox.
They arrived inside Beatrice’s office, though the room was currently empty. Lucian casually pulled out a chair and sat down in front of the desk while Scylla remained standing for a mont, looking around the unfamiliar room with confusion before eventually taking a seat as well.
"So where exactly are we?" Scylla asked while glancing around the office. "And who are we eting?"
"We’re inside a church," Lucian answered plainly as he leaned back in his chair and made himself comfortable. "And we’re eting with... a friend, for lack of a better term. She’s going to be your magic instructor."
"Eh? Seriously?" Scylla asked, unable to hide the disappointnt in her voice. She hesitated for a second before shyly glancing toward him. "I thought you were going to teach magic."
Lucian looked over at her with amusent at how quickly her mood dropped. "Sorry, but I don’t think I’m the right teacher for you. I wouldn’t have the dedication for it that you deserve."
"Ah, no, it’s fine," Scylla said quickly as she waved her hands dismissively. "I know you’re busy already, and I’ve asked too much from you as it is."
Before Lucian could respond, the office door behind them suddenly opened and Beatrice stepped inside. She paused the mont she noticed the unexpected guest sitting in her office.
"My liege—" Beatrice quickly coughed into her fist and corrected herself. "L-Lucian, what brings you here?"
Lucian’s lips twitched as he resisted laughing at her slip-up. "Nothing much. And you can address however you like in front of Scylla."
"Oh thank goodness," Beatrice sighed in relief before her attention shifted toward the girl sitting beside him. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "Wait a minute... Scylla? As in, that Scylla?"
"Oh wow, she’s gorgeous," Scylla muttered under her breath while staring at Beatrice in surprise.
"Well, Beatrice, I think I found the perfect candidate to join the Conspirators," Lucian said proudly as he rested a hand on Scylla’s shoulder.
Beatrice imdiately looked both surprised and concerned. "My lord, would that really be wise? Considering the nature of all this... she already knows who you are and about that side of the world."
"It’s fine," Lucian replied casually, waving off her concerns. "I trust you to handle it. More importantly, I need you to teach her magic, which is why I think she’ll fit in well with the others you have planned."
Scylla looked back and forth between the two of them in confusion, struggling to follow the conversation. More than anything, she was focused on the fact that Beatrice kept referring to Lucian as ’my lord.’
After several more minutes of discussion, Beatrice eventually understood exactly what Lucian expected from her and nodded in agreent.
"I’ll get it done, my lord," Beatrice said confidently. "You can count on ."
Lucian smiled faintly. "Of that, I have no doubt."
"Can I ask sothing?" Scylla said as she shyly raised a hand. "Why does she keep calling you lord?"
Beatrice imdiately brightened, clearly more than ready to explain the greatness of her beloved lord, but Lucian interrupted her before she could begin.
"She’ll explain that to you later," Lucian said while standing up from his chair. "As for , I have to leave."
He had already discussed everything he needed to with Beatrice and had no intention of staying around to listen to whatever explanation she was about to give Scylla.
Lucian stood up from his chair before glancing between the two girls. "Anyways, I’ll leave her in your capable hands, Beatrice. Scylla, you know how to return to the castle, don’t you?"
Scylla nodded her head. "Yeah, I rember the way."
"Good." Lucian walked over toward the door and opened a passage leading back toward the castle. The mont he stepped through it, he let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ahh, it’s nice having subordinates to delegate all my work to," Lucian said happily before closing the door behind him.
Back inside the office, Beatrice stared blankly at the closed door for several long seconds. Her face twitched slightly before she slowly closed her eyes and let out a sigh while shaking her head.
Eventually, Beatrice turned her attention back toward Scylla, only to find the girl staring at her with an awkward and shy smile, clearly unsure of what to say after witnessing that entire exchange.
...
Elsewhere inside the castle, Lucian was currently relaxing with dusa while enjoying a drink together.
"So, what do you think?" Lucian asked casually while swirling his drink around. "Do you want magic like that too?" His tone was split evenly between serious curiosity and teasing amusent.
dusa scoffed while leaning back in her chair. "Maybe if your thod didn’t involve draining of my blood, I might’ve considered it."
"Hm..." Lucian narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at her comnt as if genuinely considering sothing.
dusa noticed the look imdiately and paused mid-sip, the edge of a soda can still resting against her lips. "What?" she asked suspiciously.
"I might actually have sothing," Lucian admitted slowly. "It wouldn’t be magic magic like what Scylla has, but it would still technically count as magic if you’re interested."
Now dusa looked genuinely interested. "I’m listening..."
Lucian finished the rest of his drink in one go before imdiately standing up. "Follow ."
dusa rolled her eyes fondly at his eagerness as she stood up as well. "I said I was listening, not that I agreed."
Even so, she followed after him anyway.
The two eventually arrived inside Lucian’s alchemy room. Shelves lined the walls, packed with ingredients for potions, enchanted materials, preserved monster parts, and countless strange items dusa couldn’t imdiately identify. So ingredients were sealed away inside glass containers while others rested inside labeled compartnts. The entire room slled faintly of herbs, smoke, and magic.
Lucian stepped further inside before turning toward her. "Now then, would you be interested in a tattoo?"
"Excuse ?" dusa asked while raising a brow. She looked both confused and intrigued at the sa ti. "Like an actual tattoo? Like the one Scylla got?"
"This one would be different," Lucian explained as he moved around the room gathering materials. "Scylla’s tattoo was especially powerful because it was made using her own blood. The one I’d make for you wouldn’t be as strong as hers, but it would still be effective."
As he continued speaking, Lucian started explaining the details behind it and how the process differed from Scylla’s version.
"I’d be making the ink using magical ingredients instead," he explained. "It wouldn’t necessarily boost your raw power overall, but it would improve your combat capabilities and expand the range of what you’re capable of doing."
dusa listened carefully while Lucian continued explaining the chanics and potential effects behind it. She occasionally nodded along while silently considering the offer.
Eventually, she tilted her head from side to side while debating it internally before finally asking, "Have you actually done this on soone else before?"
Lucian imdiately rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassnt.
"Hahaha... not really," he admitted awkwardly. "I’m kinda experinting here."
dusa stared at him silently with a completely blank expression. She didn’t say a single word and simply continued looking at him while Lucian started fidgeting slightly under the pressure of her gaze.
After a few seconds, she finally spoke.
"Just go ahead and do it."
"Eh? Seriously?" Lucian blinked at her in surprise. He honestly expected it would take a lot more convincing than that for her to agree.
dusa shrugged casually. "I’m always up for trying sothing new. Besides, I’ve never gotten a tattoo before, so why not?"
"Yes!" Lucian imdiately pumped his fist in celebration before hurrying off to begin preparing everything he needed.
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