Chapter 256: Eve of Departure

After the two fights, Clavor remained silent for several minutes, his eyes fixed on his son, who was still sitting in the middle of the clearing. The warrior watched Lukas with an attention that went beyond simple assessment, his eyes scanning the boy’s exhausted posture, his heavy breathing, and the sweat that still glistened on his forehead.

Lukas kept his arms resting on his knees, his head slightly tilted forward, his chest rising and falling at a rhythm that had still not completely stabilized. His entire body seemed to have been squeezed until the last trace of energy had been drained from it, every muscle protesting against the extreme effort to which it had been subjected.

The sword fight had already demanded quite a lot from his muscles, every strike and block consuming a portion of his endurance. The close-quarters combat had taken things much further, forcing him to move with a speed and intensity he had never experienced before.

And when he had finally activated the Lunar Reinforcement throughout his entire body, he had consumed practically all the mana stored within his Source, leaving it empty and pulsing weakly.

Even so, there was something different in his gaze. Exhaustion, certainly, but also satisfaction. A sense of accomplishment that transcended physical exhaustion.

Clavor noticed that light in his son’s eyes, recognizing it as something he himself had felt many times. Perhaps this was exactly what he had hoped his son would feel, the certainty that he had taken an important step on his journey.

“Rest here for a while before returning.” He finally said, his voice calm and measured.

Lukas raised his eyes, meeting his father’s gaze.

“You’re not staying?”

“No.” Clavor briefly looked at the sky, assessing the position of the sun. The celestial body had already advanced considerably, and the time of departure was approaching quickly.

“I still have many things to take care of before we leave tomorrow morning.”

Lukas nodded, understanding the urgency.

“Understood.” His voice came out low and hoarse, still affected by the exertion.

Clavor remained standing there for a few more seconds, his eyes scanning his son one last time. Then he added, his tone softer.

“Don’t force your recovery. Your body needs time.”

Lukas gave a small affirmative gesture with his head, a movement that required more effort than it should have.

“I’ll be careful.”

Clavor nodded one last time, a gesture of approval. Then he turned around, his steps firm as he disappeared among the trees, following the same trail the two of them had used that morning.

Lukas watched his father with his eyes until his silhouette completely disappeared among the trunks, merging with the shadows of the forest. Only then did he release the breath he hadn’t even realized he was holding.

“Finally…”

He rested his back against the grass, feeling its soft texture against his skin. For several seconds, he simply remained there, allowing his body to rest. The sky above him was blue and clear, without a single cloud to mar its expanse. The treetops swayed slowly in the wind, causing the sunlight to move across the ground in golden patches that danced like liquid fire.

Lukas closed his eyes, sinking into the darkness within.

His body seemed to weigh twice as much as normal, every limb complaining about the extreme exertion. His shoulders were sore, his joints creaking with every slight movement.

His arms trembled slightly, the muscles still recovering from the repeated strain. His legs were heavy as lead, every fiber protesting against excessive use. Even breathing seemed to require more effort than it should, the air moving in and out with a difficulty he had not felt in weeks.

But it was not a bad pain. It was the pain of someone who had surpassed his own limits, who had pushed himself beyond what he thought he was capable of. A pain that carried with it the certainty of progress.

Lukas remained like that for nearly half an hour, allowing his body to recover slowly. Then he dragged himself toward a nearby tree, his movements slow and careful, and sat down with his back against the trunk, the rough bark pressing against his back.

He tried to recover his mana. He closed his eyes and searched for that familiar sensation in the environment, the energy that filled the world around him.

Lunar mana, during the night, was usually much more abundant and receptive, flowing like a calm and steady river. It was the energy that had allowed the formation of his Lunar Source and, since then, had become the foundation of his cultivation.

But now it was daytime, and the sunlight dominated the forest. The energy Lukas was searching for seemed to be hidden beneath several layers of matter, distant and difficult to reach like an echo in a cave.

He tried to draw it in, extending his consciousness in search of that familiar presence. Nothing. He tried again, more slowly, more carefully. A minuscule flow responded, so small that it could barely be perceived, a drop in a desert.

Lukas waited, his breathing calm and controlled. A few more seconds passed, nothing. Then he gave up, recognizing the futility of the effort.

“This isn’t going to work…”

Natural recovery would have to be enough. His body would need to heal on its own, without the help of mana.

He rested his head against the trunk, feeling the wood against the back of his neck, and closed his eyes again. Another half hour passed, the silence of the forest filling the space around him.

When he checked his Lunar Source again, he noticed that a small amount of mana had returned, a slow but steady flow that was beginning to fill the emptiness.

It was little, very little compared to what he had possessed before the fights, but it already made a difference. The sensation of absolute emptiness had diminished, replaced by a subtle presence.

Lukas took a deep breath, feeling the air fill his lungs.

“Much better.”

He slowly moved his arms, testing the response of his muscles. Then his legs, carefully bending his knees. His joints cracked, a dry sound echoing through the quiet.

“Ouch…” He grimaced, but the discomfort was bearable. He was still sore, every movement reminding him of the morning’s exertion. But he could walk, he could move, he could return home.