Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Lucas chuckled again, the sound rich with amusement, and this time Nyx allowed herself a small, reluctant smile in return. For him, it was enough. In that moment, the least he could do for her was to give her a few hours of freedom, to distract her from the crushing weight of duty and expectation that seemed to shadow her every step. If he could make her laugh, or even just loosen the guarded stiffness in her posture, then perhaps the day would not be wasted after all.

He straightened and glanced toward the narrow window, gauging the fading light outside, then turned back to her with a conspiratorial gleam in his eyes. "We'd better move quickly before the day slips away from us entirely," he said in a low, urgent tone, though there was still humor curling at the edges of his voice. Nyx nodded, her excitement barely concealed, and the two of them moved toward the door without further hesitation.

They slipped out of Lucas's chamber and into the quieter halls of the castle, their footsteps quick but careful. Lucas led the way, steering her down the less-used corridors where servants were scarce, pausing at corners to check for any sign of patrolling guards. Nyx followed close behind, clutching the edges of her cloak and pulling the hood low over her face, the thrill of what they were doing bringing a subtle rush of adrenaline that she hadn't felt in years. The air between them was charged with the quiet tension of shared mischief, each glance exchanged carrying the unspoken understanding that discovery would ruin everything.

They navigated through a small service passage that smelled faintly of old stone and cool earth, emerging into a dimly lit storage area near the outer walls. Lucas pressed a hand to her shoulder, urging her to wait as he peeked through a side door into the courtyard beyond. A pair of guards passed by, their conversation muffled and distracted, and the moment they turned the corner, Lucas signaled for her to follow.

They moved swiftly across the open space, shadows stretching ahead of them as the sunlight dipped toward evening. The main gates were too heavily guarded, but Lucas knew another way, a narrow servants' gate tucked away near the stables. With quick, measured movements, he guided her toward it, pulling the door open just enough for them to slip through one after the other.

The cool air outside the castle walls rushed against their faces, carrying with it the scent of the city beyond. Nyx's eyes lit up, and she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. They had done it. Together, without a single word of triumph spoken, they left the castle behind.

She glanced at Lucas, a faint but eager smile playing on her lips, and asked him to take her to the common settlement, the place where ordinary folk lived their daily lives without the ceremony and restrictions of the court. Lucas, without hesitation, agreed, and steered their path through the winding streets that led toward the heart of the kingdom's busiest district.

The journey was unlike anything Nyx was accustomed to. The air was filled with the mingled scents of baked bread, roasting meats, and the faint tang of smoke from nearby chimneys. Merchants called out their wares, children darted through the streets laughing, and the colors of the market stalls splashed the cobblestones with vibrance. She drank in every detail with the hunger of someone who had lived her life watching from behind glass, never truly touching the world she ruled over.

As they passed a row of traders, Lucas slowed, his gaze lingering on a modest little stall tucked between two larger, louder vendors. He stopped, drawing Nyx's attention, and gestured for her to follow. The stall was simple, displaying a small collection of dresses, each in humble fabrics and unpretentious designs. Lucas sifted through them with care, finally pulling out a dress in a muted shade that would blend easily among the crowd. Without a word, he handed it to her, a quiet understanding in his eyes, something that would help her truly pass as one of the people she wished to see up close.

Just as Nyx accepted the dress, Lucas's attention shifted to a small display of trinkets on the side of the stall. His hand hovered briefly before he picked up a delicate necklace, its pendant nothing more than a smooth stone polished to a gentle sheen, strung on a simple cord. It was far from anything she might wear at court, lacking the gleam of gold or the sparkle of gemstones, but there was a charm in its unrefined beauty. Lucas paid the stallkeeper and turned back to her, offering it with an almost shy grin.

"It's not much," he admitted quietly, "but it's simple. Thought you might like it."

Nyx looked down at the necklace in her palm, her fingers curling around it as a surprising warmth bloomed in her chest. "I do," she said softly, and her voice carried a sincerity that needed no embellishment. She lifted her eyes to him, a small smile breaking through her composed exterior, and tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Will you put it on for me?" she asked.

Lucas stepped closer, his hands gentle as he lifted the cord and draped it around her neck. His fingers brushed against the curve of her skin as he fastened it, lingering only long enough to make sure it sat neatly against her collarbone.

After fastening the small necklace around her neck, Lucas took a step back, his eyes sweeping over her with a quiet appreciation that he didn't bother to hide. "You look beautiful," he said, his voice carrying that same disarming ease he had used earlier.

Nyx, already feeling a faint warmth in her cheeks from the gift, found herself blushing again. She quickly tilted her head away and narrowed her eyes at him, half in mock annoyance, half in embarrassment. "Shut up, Xavier," she said, the corner of her lips curling despite her effort to appear stern. "Your dirty mouth never stops. Sweet words for everyone, I'm sure."

Lucas chuckled, the sound deep and unhurried, not bothering to defend himself from the playful accusation. Instead, he stepped over to a rack of men's clothes, selecting a plain tunic and trousers that matched the modest style of the common folk. The fabric was coarse and the cut simple, but it was exactly what he needed. He slung them over his arm and joined Nyx again.

Once both of them wore their outfits, Lucas paid the stallkeeper in full, sliding the coins across the rough wooden counter without any fuss. The shopkeeper gave them a grateful nod before turning to the next customer, leaving Lucas and Nyx to make their way down the busy street once more. The air was thick with the clamor of merchants calling out prices, the creak of wagon wheels, and the distant laughter of children darting between the crowds.

Their walked toward a smaller, quieter side street, where Lucas stopped in front of a local restaurant. The building was nothing impressive, its wooden walls were weathered, the windows slightly smudged, and the sign above the door hung at a slight tilt. From inside came the rich scent of sizzling meat and the warm aroma of freshly baked bread, mingling with the hum of low conversation.

Nyx hesitated at the threshold, her nose wrinkling faintly. "This place looks…" she began, searching for the right word, "…ill-polished."

Lucas only smirked and gestured toward the open door. "That's the point. Now come on, you wanted the commoner's life, this is part of it."

She sighed but allowed him to lead her inside, where they found a small table near the corner. The wood was worn smooth from years of use, and the air held the faint traces of smoke from the kitchen. When the food arrived, steaming and fragrant, Nyx eyed it cautiously before finally taking a bite at Lucas's urging.

Her brow lifted in surprise, and after a moment she set her spoon down with a small nod. "It's… actually good," she admitted, her tone softening. "Not too bad at all."