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"Oh, right!" Ragna stammered, his voice rushed. "I... I forgot the reason I came here." He glanced at Lucavion, then at Greta, before turning back to Lucavion with a look of desperation, clearly flustered. "Sir Roderick! He sent me to find you. He\'s asking for you to meet with him. It\'s... important."

Lucavion watched the man\'s frantic movements with a calm, almost amused expression. Ragna\'s nerves were frayed, and the tension from earlier still hadn\'t fully left him, but Lucavion could sense the urgency in his words.

"Important, you say?" Lucavion asked, his voice calm but inquisitive as he leaned back in his chair, considering the request.

Ragna nodded hastily, his eyes wide. "Yes, very important. He said to bring you as soon as possible."

Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving Ragna\'s. "I\'ll meet with him," he said calmly, reaching for his spoon to resume his meal. "After I finish my breakfast."

Ragna blinked, the urgency in his expression wavering as he processed Lucavion\'s response. The young man\'s tone was so calm, so utterly composed, that it left no room for argument. Lucavion\'s unhurried demeanor seemed to remind Ragna once again of the difference between them.

"Of... of course," Ragna muttered, bowing quickly. "I\'ll let him know you\'ll come shortly." He hesitated for a moment, as if uncertain whether he should say more, but then quickly bowed again and made his way out of the inn, his steps quicker than before.

As the door closed behind Ragna, Lucavion continued his breakfast, his thoughts briefly lingering on the summons. He wasn\'t surprised that Roderick had called for him; after all, the baron was waiting to meet him.

\'It must be the Baron.\'

He thought.

For the past week, he had intentionally kept a low profile, biding his time until all the formalities were in place. The battle with Korvan had earned him enough respect, but the last thing he wanted was to meet with the Baron as an outsider, with no official standing in the Empire. The ID card Roderick had secured for him had finally made him a legitimate citizen.

Now that everything was in order, there was no longer any reason to avoid the inevitable.

Lucavion took another bite of his breakfast, savoring the taste as Vitaliara\'s voice stirred in his mind, soft and thoughtful. [You\'ve been patient, waiting for this moment. Now that your identity is settled, there\'s no reason to hold back.]

"Exactly," Lucavion muttered under his breath while wiping his face.

He knew exactly why the Baron was calling him--not just out of gratitude for ridding the region of Korvan and his bandits, but because the Baron wanted something more. It was clear that as a countryside noble, the Baron lacked the strength and influence that larger, more powerful lords possessed. He needed connections, alliances with people who had proven themselves capable.

And Lucavion had done just that.

\'He wants to make a connection,\' Lucavion thought, his lips curling into a small, knowing smile. The Baron would want to secure his loyalty or, at the very least, keep him close.

It was a common tactic among the lesser nobility--aligning with anyone who could strengthen their position. And Lucavion, fresh from his victory over Korvan, was exactly the kind of person the Baron would want on his side.

There was no doubt in Lucavion\'s mind that the Baron would offer him a generous amount of compensation.

Vitaliara\'s voice hummed in his mind. [You know exactly what\'s coming, don\'t you? The Baron will be eager to please.]

Lucavion smirked. "Of course. He\'ll try to buy my loyalty with whatever he can offer. "But well, we will see."

He made his way out of the inn as he went to meet with Roderick.

*******

Lucavion walked with measured steps toward Roderick\'s quarters, his mind already anticipating the conversation that would unfold. As expected, when he entered, Roderick was waiting for him, standing by the window, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Ah, Lucavion," Roderick greeted, turning toward him with a slight nod. "The Baron wishes to meet with you tonight."

Lucavion\'s lips curled into a faint smile. "Dinner, I assume?"

Roderick nodded, his expression serious. "Yes. The Baron wants to show his gratitude for what you did with the bandits. He\'s invited you to dine with him at his manor."

Lucavion couldn\'t help but chuckle softly. "I expected as much," he said, his tone light.

Roderick\'s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked Lucavion over, his gaze sweeping from head to toe. "But... are you really thinking of meeting the Baron dressed like that?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Lucavion glanced down at his attire--his usual practical and slightly worn travel clothes, suited for battle and rough terrain but hardly fitting for a noble\'s dinner. He raised an eyebrow, an amused smile playing at his lips. "It\'s not like I\'m meeting the emperor, is it?"

Roderick frowned, unable to argue with the logic, but his disapproval was evident. "Still," he pressed, "you should make a good impression. This isn\'t just a formal meal--it\'s a chance to build a relationship. Appearances matter."

Lucavion smirked, clearly unconcerned. "Don\'t worry, Roderick. I know how to make myself presentable when it counts." His tone carried a hint of playful arrogance, as though he found the entire concern amusing.

Roderick let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "Please... make sure you do. I was the one who recommended you to him."

"Heeeeh.....Really?" Lucavion\'s smirk widened as he looked at Roderick, his eyes gleaming with playful mischief. "Really?" he drawled, his tone dripping with amusement. "You went out of your way to recommend me? How touching."

Roderick\'s face flushed slightly, a bead of sweat forming on his brow as he shifted uncomfortably. He knew all too well that Lucavion could be unpredictable, and the thought of him behaving out of line in front of the Baron clearly weighed on his mind.

"You don\'t need to get any ideas," Roderick muttered, trying to maintain his composure. "Just... try not to do anything too out of the ordinary. The Baron\'s a reasonable man, but he expects certain formalities."

Lucavion chuckled softly, his teasing smirk never fading. "Don\'t worry, Roderick," he said, his tone still light. "I won\'t do anything that\'ll reflect badly on you. After all, I wouldn\'t want you to lose face with your precious Baron."

Roderick\'s shoulders tensed as he watched Lucavion, fully aware that controlling this man\'s actions was nearly impossible. Still, he nodded, though his expression remained wary. "I\'m holding you to that, Lucavion."

With a casual wave, Lucavion turned to leave, still wearing that teasing smirk. "Relax, Roderick. I know when to play the part."

Roderick let out a long sigh as the door closed behind Lucavion, muttering under his breath, "I sure hope so."Top of Form

*******

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow across the small city of Rackenshore as Roderick and Lucavion made their way toward the Baron\'s mansion. The streets were quieter now, the bustle of the day winding down, but the presence of guards stationed at various points was a clear reminder of the Baron\'s vigilance.

Lucavion walked alongside Roderick, his posture relaxed, though his eyes were sharp, taking in the details of the town as they approached the mansion. Unlike many nobles, the Baron\'s residence wasn\'t an opulent estate set apart from the common folk. Instead, it was nestled within the city itself, practical and close to the people he governed.

The mansion wasn\'t overly grand, but it exuded a sense of quiet authority. Its stone walls were sturdy, and though there was a small garden at the front, it was clear the Baron had prioritized security and functionality over extravagance.

The Baron\'s modesty, in contrast to many of his peers, spoke volumes about his leadership style--someone grounded, with no delusions of grandeur, and someone who understood the importance of being close to his people.

As they approached the entrance, the guards stationed outside straightened immediately upon seeing them. Their eyes flickered to Lucavion, and without hesitation, they bowed their heads respectfully. It was clear they had been instructed to treat him with the utmost respect.

Lucavion didn\'t react outwardly, though a faint smirk tugged at his lips, amused by how quickly things had shifted after his role in the bandit subjugation.

Roderick glanced at Lucavion, watching his reaction carefully, but Lucavion remained composed. The smirk was gone as quickly as it had appeared.

One of the guards stepped forward, gesturing toward the large wooden doors of the mansion. "Sir Roderick, Sir Lucavion, the Baron is expecting you," he said, his voice steady and formal.

Roderick gave a brief nod and motioned for Lucavion to follow him. As they entered, Lucavion couldn\'t help but notice how the interior of the mansion mirrored its exterior--tasteful but unpretentious. The Baron was clearly not one for excess, something Lucavion appreciated in its own way.

It made it clear that this noble wasn\'t concerned with flaunting wealth but focused more on the practicality and safety of his city.

They were led through a few corridors by a steward before arriving at a set of double doors leading to what appeared to be the dining hall. The steward paused, bowing slightly before opening the doors with a quiet creak.

CREAK!

And then the dining room was revealed.

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