“Mr.
Lucian…”
Having just finished another bed, Mordo turned around.
The moment he spotted Lucian, he immediately stood at attention.
Lucian nodded.
“How many have you finished?”
“More than a hundred.”
Mordo replied proudly.
“Good.”
Lucian looked around the palace.
“Go visit Master Ancient One.”
“Ask her to send a few sorcerers over.”
“I’d like to renovate the palace further.”
Mordo hesitated.
He looked as though he wanted to say something.
Lucian noticed.
“What is it?”
Mordo lowered his head.
“Mr.
Lucian…”
“I just returned from Kamar-Taj yesterday.”
“All of the sorcerers have gone down the mountain.”
“Only a handful of apprentices remain.”
“Oh?”
“They all left?”
Lucian smiled.
“What?”
“Off slaying demons?”
Mordo coughed awkwardly.
“Well…”
“The villagers nearby had…
some misunderstandings about the sorcerers…”
“So…”
Lucian immediately understood.
It seemed…
The words he’d spoken to the Ancient One before leaving had finally had an effect.
He smiled.
“Then…”
“I suppose I’ll have to trouble you instead.”
“…”
Mordo fell silent.
Lucian walked over…
Patted him on the shoulder…
And smiled.
“The Brotherhood believes in you.”
“Once you’ve finished renovating the palace…”
“I’ll give you a surprise.”
With that…
He leisurely walked away.
Mordo stood rooted to the spot.
“…A surprise?”
Taking a deep breath…
His motivation somehow doubled.
One Week Later…
Lucian lay atop the massive rock outcropping behind the palace.
Warm sunlight bathed his body.
Beside him…
Snow rested quietly.
Eyes closed…
Lucian enjoyed the peaceful afternoon as drowsiness slowly overtook him.
Footsteps approached from behind.
He didn’t even bother opening his eyes.
Snow glanced toward the newcomer…
Recognized who it was…
Then lazily rested its head again.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“So this is where you’ve been.”
Aunt Thirteen stopped several yards away.
She refused to step onto the protruding cliff.
It simply looked too dangerous.
Without opening his eyes…
Lucian asked lazily,
“Hmm?”
“What do you need?”
“Mordo finished renovating the palace.”
“I came to ask you to go take a look.”
“Oh?”
“So quickly?”
“I’ll head over in a bit.”
He remained lying there…
Still enjoying the sunshine.
Watching his carefree appearance…
Aunt Thirteen puffed out her cheeks.
“You still have time to sunbathe?”
She couldn’t help complaining.
Lucian finally opened one eye.
“Hm?”
“And now what’s wrong?”
Aunt Thirteen crossed her arms.
“You’re the Mentor of the Brotherhood!”
“You should be setting an example!”
“For the past several days…”
“Mr.
Sun has been the one training all the children.”
“You don’t even spend time with them!”
The more she spoke…
The angrier she became.
In the end…
She even shot him a fierce glare.
Lucian chuckled.
Then slowly sat up.
Beckoning with one finger…
He smiled.
“Come here.”
Aunt Thirteen immediately shook her head so hard it resembled a rattle drum.
Absolutely not.
The cliff was over four hundred meters high.
With her fear of heights…
She wouldn’t go anywhere near it.
Seeing her reaction…
Lucian stood up.
“You’re afraid?”
She nodded vigorously.
“…Mm.”
“I am.”
“I see.”
Lucian rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Then—
Whoosh!
His figure vanished.
“Aah!”
Before she could react…
He had already appeared behind her.
Wrapping one arm around her waist…
He lifted her into his embrace.
Startled…
Aunt Thirteen instinctively screamed.
Her eyes slammed shut.
Both arms immediately wrapped tightly around Lucian’s neck.
“It’s alright.”
“You can open your eyes now.”
His calm voice sounded beside her ear.
Slowly…
She opened them.
The first thing she saw…
Was Lucian’s handsome face.
She was so close…
She could even feel his warm breath brushing lightly against her neck.
Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
As red as a ripe apple.
“You’ll never overcome your fear like this.”
He smiled gently.
“Come…”
“Look down.”
“Isn’t the scenery beautiful?”
He carefully set her back on her feet.
Still clinging to him slightly…
She cautiously leaned forward…
And looked over the edge.
The sunlight reflected brilliantly off the endless snowfields.
Countless sparkling crystals glittered like diamonds.
At a height of more than four hundred meters…
A thin veil of mist drifted through the mountains.
The entire landscape looked almost dreamlike.
Although…
Just looking down made her head spin.
“So beautiful…”
She whispered unconsciously.
Lucian smiled.
“It is.”
“Now…”
“Imagine…”
“You’re an eagle.”
“Soaring freely above the Himalayas.”
As he spoke…
He leaned close.
His lips were almost against her ear.
His voice carried a strangely soothing rhythm.
Under that gentle guidance…
Aunt Thirteen’s eyes gradually became unfocused.
“Slowly…”
“Spread your wings.”
“Now…”
“Flap them gently.”
Without realizing it…
She stretched out both arms.
Slowly…
They moved up and down.
In her imagination…
She truly had become an eagle.
Flying freely across the endless Himalayas.
No chains.
No fear.
Nothing binding her.
Only the boundless sky.
She flew…
Higher and higher.
Until…
Her wings grew tired.
It was her first flight…
After all.
She became dizzy.
Her body unconsciously leaned farther and farther forward.
Toward the edge of the cliff.
Just as she was about to fall—
A pair of strong hands caught her.
The sudden pull jolted her awake.
She looked around in horror.
She was standing at the very edge of the cliff.
Her toes had already extended beyond the rock.
Nothing remained beneath them…
Except a four-hundred-meter drop.
“AAAAAH!”
Aunt Thirteen let out a terrified scream.
Her vision went black.
And she fainted on the spot.