The bustling streets of Andelhei were filled with the vibrant energy of the city, but Valeria''s thoughts were fixed on the inn as they made their way toward it. Lucavion, walking beside her with his usual carefree stride, seemed more curious than ever, and Valeria couldn''t help but wonder what he was expecting.


    Soon, the familiar sight of the inn came into view—the same ce where the tense confrontation between the Cloud Heavens Sect and the Silver me Sect had unfolded. The sign bearing the inn''s name swung gently in the breeze as they approached, and Valeria could already feel the lingering tension of the previous night.


    As they neared the entrance, Lucavion''s eyes gleamed with interest, his usual smirk widening. "So, this is the ce, huh? Doesn''t look like the scene of a grand battle."


    Valeria rolled her eyes. "It wasn''t a grand battle. Just a lot of tension and one ruined meal."


    Lucavion chuckled. "A shame about the meal. But I guess we''ll see if the legend of the Iron Matron holds up."


    With that, they stepped inside the inn. The atmosphere was quieter than the night before, with only a few patrons seated at tables, enjoying their meals. The warm scent of roasting meat filled the air, mingling with the rich aroma of fresh bread.


    Valeria scanned the room briefly, her eyesnding on the same innkeeper who had diffused the situation the night before. The Iron Matron stood behind the counter, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room as if she were silently assessing every person who entered.


    Despite the rtively peaceful morning, she still carried herself with the samemanding presence that had sent shivers down Valeria''s spine the previous night.


    Lucavion followed her gaze and let out a low whistle. "So, that''s the infamous Iron Matron, huh?"


    Valeria nodded slightly. "Yes, that''s her. Be respectful."


    Lucavion raised an eyebrow, a yful grin dancing on his lips. "I''m always respectful. But I can''t wait to see if she lives up to her reputation."


    As they approached the counter, the Iron Matron''s eyes flicked toward them, her expression unreadable but her presence unmistakable.


    "Well, well," she said, her voice steady but carrying a weight of authority. "Back again so soon? And withpany this time."


    Valeria straightened while looking at him with a side nce.


    ''Companion?''


    The way how it was worded certainly bothered her to quite an extent. The fact that he was regarded in such a way as if they were close….


    "That…..He is not myp-"


    Just as Valeria began to protest, Lucavion, ever the opportunist, smoothly intervened.


    "Ah, she told me all about this ce," he said with a grin, gesturing around the inn. "Valeria was curious, and I figured, why note along? Thought I might see the famous Iron Matron in action myself."


    His words rolled off his tongue with such ease that, for a moment, Valeria could only stand there, slightly stunned. She red at him from the corner of her eye, but Lucavion, ignoring her frustration, turned his attention to the innkeeper with an air of casual curiosity.


    The Iron Matron''s sharp gaze remained fixed on Lucavion. There was no warmth in her expression as she assessed him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if to say she wasn''t easily impressed. She didn''t seem to be someone who enjoyed idle chatter, especially from people like him.


    Without missing a beat, she spoke, her voice calm butced with a subtle edge. "You know, it''s rude to look someone directly in the eyes like that. Particrly when you''re in the presence of another martial artist," she said, her words cutting through the air with authority.


    Lucavion''s grin didn''t falter, but for a brief moment, something in his gaze shifted. It wasn''t his usual yful look; it was as if he recognized something in her that few others could see. The tension between them felt different, something unspoken passing between their eyes.


    "My apologies," Lucavion said, raising his hands in mock surrender again. "I suppose I got a little carried away. I didn''t mean any disrespect."


    The Iron Matron held his gaze for a few more seconds before letting out a small, dismissive snort. "See that you don''t," she replied curtly. "This isn''t the kind of ce where you can afford to misstep."


    "Ahahaa….I can see that."


    He smiled shaking his head, but at that moment she had read his lips.


    ''She is just as Master had talked.''


    There was no voice that reached her ears, but she still was able to get a little bit of information from those lips.


    ''Master?''


    She asked herself.


    And then, as she stood beside Lucavion, her thoughts began to wander back to the strange aura that surrounded him, so simr to the other martial prodigies she had encountered recently—Lira and Varen. There was something about Lucavion that felt… off. Not in a malicious way, but in a way that hinted at depth beyond what he let on.


    His yful,id-back demeanor was just a mask, hiding something far more dangerous andplex underneath.


    She remembered their duel—the casual way he had disarmed her, the unsettling intensity that had shed in his eyes for just a moment before he masked it again with that infuriating grin. Even though she hadn''t gone all out in that duel, she couldn''t shake the feeling that if it had been a real fight, she would have lost. The realization stung, but more than that, it intrigued her.


    ''Who is he?'' Valeria wondered.


    It was strange for someone so young to be so talented, so in control of his abilities while projecting such an air of carelessness. His skill with the sword was undeniable, but beyond that, there was the mystery of his origin. He had mentioned a "master" just now, but who could that be? If Lucavion''s teacher was anything like him, then whoever trained him was someone remarkable.


    She had been nning to do some background research on him for a while now. Even the moment they met she decided to order the men in her family to do it.


    But now that she had decided to leave her knights behind ande here, that n was naturally prolonged, and she was left here like this.


    The more time she spent with him, the more suspicious she became. He was too talented, too mysterious. Even when she thought she was getting a read on him, he would do something unpredictable that threw her off bnce.


    ''He acts like he has no responsibilities,'' she thought, frowning slightly as she recalled all their interactions. ''But no one with that level of skill gets there without intense discipline. He''s not a mercenary, that''s for sure. So who is he really?''


    That question was a mystery that needed to be answered, but it was not the time right now, as she felt like if she were to ask the question all she would get would be abunch of teasing remarks.


    As Valeria''s thoughts continued to swirl around Lucavion and the growing mystery of his identity, she didn''t notice the faint glow that began to emanate from his eyes. A soft, ethereal purple light flickered in his irises for a brief moment—barely noticeable, but unmistakable to anyone attuned to mana.


    The change was subtle, yet sharp. The Iron Matron''s eyes widened ever so slightly, her usually calm demeanor breaking for the briefest second as she caught sight of it.


    Valeria, feeling the sudden shift in the air, turned her head just in time to catch the fading glow in Lucavion''s eyes. She blinked in confusion, her instincts immediately sharpening. "What was that?" she asked, her voice edged with suspicion.


    But Lucavion, as always, yed it off with ease. His yful grin returned full force as he leaned casually toward her, clearly unfazed by what had just happened. "Oh,e now, Valeria. You''re being awfully rude. You bring me to this fine establishment, and you don''t even let me sit? How cold of you," he teased, his voice smooth, brushing away her suspicion with his light-hearted tone.


    "What? I was not the one whobrought you here, you wanted me to do so."


    "So what? In the end, weren''t you the one who brought me here?"


    "..."


    Valeria''s scowl deepened, though she couldn''t deny the growing sense that something was off. Before she could retort, the Iron Matron, nowposed once again, straightened herself and offered them a smile—one that was far warmer than the one she had given earlier.


    "Please," the Iron Matron said, gesturing to one of the empty tables near the window, her tone suddenly much more weing. "Feel free to sit. I''ll have someone bring you a drink."


    Valeria blinked in surprise, her eyes flicking between Lucavion and the Iron Matron. Something had changed, but she wasn''t sure what.


    Just a moment ago, the Iron Matron had been stern and authoritative, but now… it was as if she had shifted, offering them hospitality.


    …..as if Lucavion were m vl _emp y,r the story tform


    Someone she knew?