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"I appreciate your generosity," Lucavion began, his voice steady but carrying a hint of reluctance. "But I\'ve already received what I need from you. Any further gifts would make things... complicated."

Before he could finish, the Baron\'s wife spoke up, her voice gentle but firm. "This isn\'t just about fulfilling a debt," she said, her eyes filled with warmth. "It was a family decision, Mister Lucavion. You saved our son, the most precious thing in our lives. There is no way we can ever repay you for that.

This gift isn\'t about compensation—it\'s about showing our gratitude in the only way we know how."

She smiled kindly, and even though Lucavion was not one to easily sway, her sincerity was palpable. "Please," she continued, "accept it. This is something that will be very helpful to you in your future endeavors."

Lucavion paused again, glancing at the box in his hands. It was clear that refusing at this point would only insult their gratitude. After a moment of consideration, he gave a small nod. "Very well. I\'ll accept the gift," he said quietly.

Ron, who had been watching the exchange with wide, eager eyes, piped up almost immediately. "Can you open it now, Mister Lucavion?" he asked his excitement barely contained.

Lucavion gave the boy a faint smile before nodding. With careful hands, he lifted the lid of the small box, revealing a sleek silver ring nestled inside. The design was simple yet elegant, with faint etchings along the band that gave it an air of craftsmanship. However, what stood out most was the subtle aura of magic radiating from the ring.

"It\'s a spatial storage ring," Edris explained with a smile. "Roderick mentioned you didn\'t have one, so we thought this would be useful for you. A gift not from the Barony but from our family to you."

Lucavion held the ring delicately between his fingers, studying it for a moment before slipping it onto his hand. He could immediately sense the vast storage space within, far more convenient than carrying his belongings through traditional means. It was a valuable gift indeed and one that would aid him greatly in the future.

\'Roderick, that bastard. I just conventionally mentioned him when he was asking me how I had traveled, but to think that he would pick my words up and would not forget that.\'

He looked back at the Baron and his family, nodding his appreciation. "Thank you. I\'ll put it to good use."

The Baron\'s wife smiled warmly, and even Ron looked satisfied, his eyes filled with admiration for the man who had saved him.

"That\'s all we ask," Edris said, his voice filled with sincerity. "That it helps you as much as you\'ve helped us."

As the meal wound down, the Baron smiled warmly and gestured to the servants. "Mister Lucavion, before you leave, allow us to serve you tea along with our traditional dessert. It\'s a specialty of our Barony, and I\'d like for you to experience it."

Lucavion, having already received much from the Baron and his family, was tempted to refuse, but knowing it would be disrespectful to decline such hospitality, he gave a polite nod. "Thank you, I\'ll stay for dessert."

The dessert was soon served, a small plate of delicate pastries infused with a sweet, fragrant filling. Lucavion took a bite, the subtle flavors of honey and spices blending pleasantly on his tongue. As they sipped their tea, Ron, who had been stifling yawns, finally excused himself.

"It\'s getting late," Edris said, his voice gentle as he ruffled his son\'s hair. "Go to bed, Ron."

Ron nodded, but not before casting one last admiring glance at Lucavion. "Goodnight, Mister Lucavion!" he said brightly before hurrying off.

With the boy gone, the conversation turned to more practical matters. Edris leaned back in his chair, studying Lucavion with curiosity. "How long do you plan to stay in Rackenshore?"

Lucavion set his tea down, his expression thoughtful. "Not long," he replied. "At most a week or two. Once I\'ve finished my business here, I\'ll be moving on."

The Baron nodded, understanding but also sensing the underlying restlessness in Lucavion. "If you\'d like," Edris offered, "I can arrange for better accommodations here at the mansion. You\'d be more comfortable, and we\'d be honored to host you."

Lucavion smiled slightly, appreciating the gesture but already knowing his answer. "I appreciate your offer, Mister Edris, but my current accommodations are sufficient. Besides," he added with a hint of amusement, "it\'s all part of my training."

Edris chuckled, though he seemed a little surprised. "Training, you say? You truly are dedicated."

Lucavion nodded, his eyes gleaming with quiet determination. "Every aspect of my life, even where I stay, contributes to my growth. I need to keep my focus sharp."

The Baron smiled, clearly impressed. "Then I won\'t press the matter. But know that the offer stands, should you change your mind."

"Thank you," Lucavion said with a respectful nod. "I\'ll keep it in mind."

The evening continued quietly after that, the air filled with a sense of mutual respect between the two men. As Lucavion finished his tea, he felt that, while he had refused the Baron\'s offer of a more comfortable stay, he had made a valuable connection. The Baron had given him more than just hospitality—he had offered trust, and that was something Lucavion could appreciate.

*********

As Lucavion stepped out of the mansion, the cool night air greeted him, a stark contrast to the warm, candlelit dining room he had just left. The stars twinkled above, and the streets of Rackenshore were quiet, save for the occasional flicker of lamplight in the distance. Just as he adjusted his cloak, there was a sudden weight on his shoulder, followed by a soft yawn.

Vitaliara had returned, her sleek black form draping lazily across his shoulder. [Finally,] she murmured, her voice carrying a hint of teasing annoyance. [I was bored waiting all that time.]

Lucavion glanced at her from the corner of his eye but said nothing. He had expected her impatience, and in truth, he couldn\'t argue with her. The dinner had dragged on longer than he anticipated, though it had been important.

[You know,] Vitaliara continued, yawning again as she lazily swished her tail, [the Baron is quite a decent man. He may have wanted to form connections with you, but he didn\'t push you or demand anything. He simply let you be and offered what he could.]

Lucavion couldn\'t help but agree. The Baron had handled the situation with surprising grace, offering Lucavion respect rather than coercion. Edris had wanted to form ties, yes, but not at the expense of Lucavion\'s independence. For a noble, that was rare.

"He is," Lucavion said quietly, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. "But that doesn\'t change my goals."

Vitaliara purred in agreement. [Of course not. But at least he didn\'t try to manipulate you, like many of his kind would. He simply gave you the freedom to choose.]

Lucavion nodded, appreciating that subtle distinction. It had made the evening bearable, even pleasant in some ways. Edris had shown sincerity, which was something Lucavion could respect, even if he wasn\'t seeking long-term alliances with noble families.

As they walked away from the mansion, Vitaliara curled herself comfortably on his shoulder. [So, what\'s next? Back to the inn for some rest, or straight into more training?]

Lucavion smirked at her question. "We\'ll see." He glanced up at the sky, feeling the pull of his ambitions tugging at him once more. Rest would come, but only when it was earned.

*******

Three days had passed, and Lucavion once again found himself in the familiar clearing just beyond the town walls. The early morning light filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows across the ground as he moved through his training forms. Each strike, thrust, and parry flowed seamlessly, the estoc in his hand a natural extension of his body.

The rhythm of his movements was calm yet powerful, the mana circulating within him, merging with the physical effort as he focused on balancing vitality and death energy through the [Flame of Equinox]. Sweat dripped down his brow, but he hardly noticed it, his mind entirely consumed by the precise control over his energy.

With each passing day, his connection to his cultivation deepened. The balance between life and death became clearer, his body responding more naturally to the flow of mana as his core strengthened. Today felt different, though. There was a clarity to his training, a sharpness to his movements, as if something had clicked into place.

After what seemed like hours, Lucavion finally lowered his blade, his breathing steady but his muscles burning with exertion. He glanced up at the sky—dawn had only just broken, the soft light signaling the end of his training session.

\'Not bad,\' he thought to himself, satisfied with his progress.

[Are you done yet?] Vitaliara\'s voice chimed in, lazily drifting into his thoughts as she stirred from her slumber.

"Yes," Lucavion replied aloud, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He had grown used to her timing. She always seemed to wake up right when he was finishing his training. With a soft sigh, he sheathed his estoc and made his way toward the river, the cool breeze refreshing against his heated skin.

Reaching the riverbank, he wasted no time shedding his training gear and stepping into the water. The cold water rushed over him, sharp at first but gradually easing the tension in his muscles. He submerged himself fully, letting the river cleanse him of the morning\'s effort, both physically and mentally.

As he resurfaced, the cold air prickling against his skin, he couldn\'t help but appreciate the quiet moments like these. Alone with his thoughts, with nothing but the sound of flowing water and the distant chirping of birds, he felt a sense of clarity that wasn\'t often afforded to him.

After drying off, Lucavion dressed quickly and began his walk back to the inn. The town was still waking up, the streets slowly coming to life with merchants setting up their stalls and townsfolk beginning their day.

When he arrived at the inn, the familiar scent of breakfast greeted him as he stepped inside.

But before the smell, there was something else who welcomed him.

"Are you the man named Lucavion?"

Someone stood right before him.