Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Lucas was the first to stir, his eyes opening to the soft, muted light filtering in through the half-drawn curtains. Lira was breathing slowly but steadily, she lay curled beneath the sheets, her face relaxed.

He rose quietly, careful not to wake her, he moved to the small dresser, he took a fresh robe from where it hung neatly folded, a light, pale-colored garment embroidered with the insignia of the Royal Alchemists. Its silk-like weave caught the early light, glinting faintly as he drew it over his shoulders and fastened it.

His gaze shifted to the small lacquered box resting on the low table in the corner, the one where he had asked Lira to store the things he would need most. He lifted the lid, revealing the neatly stacked parchment sheets filled with Sage Raph's precise handwriting and, nestled beside them, the faintly pulsing Core of Dominion. Even in the morning light, the artifact seemed to carry its own subtle glow, as if it breathed with some hidden power.

Carrying the box to his worktable, Lucas set it down gently. One by one, he spread the parchments out, careful not to crease their edges. Sage Raph's notes were dense with diagrams and flowing annotations. Lucas leaned over them, scanning through the looping script, letting the patterns and concepts sink in.

Minutes bled into longer stretches of quiet concentration. He reached for a quill now and then, jotting down things in the margins, circling parts he would need to cross-reference later.

At last, he turned his attention to the Core of Dominion. He lifted it from the box with both hands, feeling its faint vibration travel up his fingers. Its surface was etched with delicate, interlocking runes, some familiar from his earlier studies, others entirely alien to him. Reaching for a magnifying glass, Lucas tilted the core toward the morning light and began tracing each rune's shape with his eyes.

A few of the symbols clicked into place in his mind, their meanings clear. But others resisted him, their design so intricate that he could only guess at their purpose. His brow furrowed slightly. He would need to spend more time with them, a great deal more time, before the whole picture revealed itself.

When Lira woke, Lucas was still studying the runes, his sitting posture was straight and concentrated, and she could tell immediately that he was immersed in what he was doing. She greeted him quietly, her voice gentle with warmth, but he did not stir or so much as glance her way. His mind was too far away, lost entirely to the study.

She understood without feeling slighted. This was important to him, and she had no wish to disturb the process. Moving with care, she dressed and tidied the room, collecting the scattered garments from the night before. There were a few robes among them and some of her own clothing as well. With the bundle of fabric held neatly in her arms, she stepped out into the corridor, walking with a calm, measured pace.

The soft rustle of her robes accompanied her steps until her path was interrupted. Selene appeared ahead, her expression already sharp, her body angled with purpose as though she had been heading toward Lucas's chambers. Her eyes, cold and cutting, swept over Lira from head to toe before settling on the bundle of clothes in her arms. The sneer that curled at the corner of her lips carried a quiet venom.

"Off to wash Xavier's dirty clothes again?" she asked, her tone laced with mockery, as though the task were something degrading.

Lira did not flinch, nor did she allow Selene's words to stir anything in her beyond mild amusement. She replied with calm composure that she was glad to do so, her voice steady and even, without the faintest tremor of irritation. Then she added that Selene should step aside and allow her to pass, advising her not to disturb Lucas, who was currently studying.

Selene's gaze sharpened, her lips parting in disbelief as though she could not tolerate being told such a thing. A flicker of anger lit in her eyes before her voice rose, sharper now, carrying an edge of wounded pride. "You're not going to tell me when to see my lover."

For a moment, Lira simply regarded her in silence, the corners of her lips curving ever so slightly before a soft giggle escaped her. It was not loud, yet it was full of genuine amusement, and that, more than any cutting remark, struck at Selene. The sound was light but deliberate, carrying the weight of someone entirely unbothered.

Selene's chest tightened at the reaction. She could feel the sting beneath her composure, because Lira's laugh was not born from ignorance but from certainty. It was a laugh that said she knew exactly where she stood and that her place was one Selene could not dislodge. There was no need for harsh words; the implication was enough. Without saying it outright, Lira had made it clear, Lucas's priorities placed her above Selene, and she knew it. The knowledge left a bitter pain in Selene's heart.

"Hmmm," Selene grunted, the sound more of annoyance than acknowledgment. She shifted her weight, stepping aside just enough to pass and continued walking down the corridor toward Lucas's chamber, her eyes locked straight ahead. The soft swish of her gown against the marble floor echoed faintly in the quiet hall.

"Do not disturb Master… I did warn you," Lira said without pausing, she didn't so much as turn her head or slow her steps, her words tossed behind her like an afterthought as she moved toward her own destination. There was no glance, no lingering look, only the confidence of someone certain of their place.

Selene didn't answer. Her jaw tightened, her fingers curling slightly at her sides as she kept walking, ignoring the sting in Lira's tone. Every time that woman spoke, it was as though she was marking territory that wasn't hers to begin with. The more Selene thought about it, the hotter the bitterness in her chest burned. Lira's calm composure only made it worse, as if she was mocking her without a single word more.

She kept her stride purposeful, but inside, her thoughts churned like a storm. Lira had no right, no right at all, to be this close to Lucas. It was supposed to be her place. Her moments. Her future. And yet, every time she turned around, Lira was there, quietly weaving herself deeper into his life.

Selene's lips pressed into a thin line. If Lira thought she could take what belonged to her without a fight, she was gravely mistaken. The hate that had been simmering now flared hotter, hardening her resolve. Lira wasn't just in the way, she was a thief.

To Selene, Lira wasn't merely a rival. She was the one snatching away what was rightfully hers.