Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 506: The invitation

Messengers from Blackmare.The king accepted the scroll, his expression unreadable as he unrolled it and scanned its contents. A brief silence followed, the kind that stretched just long enough to confirm what had already been suspected.

"They have issued a formal invitation," he said, his voice steady, though there was a faint weight behind it that had not been there before.

"As expected," she said. "It seems my actions achieved the desired result."

"It worked," he admitted, though there was no warmth in the acknowledgment. "That does not change what it was."

"Reckless," he countered immediately.

"Results matter," she said evenly. "Without decisive action, we would still be waiting for a response that may never have come."

A brief silence followed his words.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly, her expression calm, almost indifferent to the concern he raised. "But it did not," she said.

The king exhaled slowly, folding the scroll as he turned his gaze away for a moment, as though grounding himself before continuing. When he looked back, his expression had settled, though the underlying tension had not disappeared.

"And now," the Empress replied, "we have ensured that they will listen."

The invitation lay between them, a quiet confirmation of both success and risk, and a reminder that what had been set in motion could no longer be undone.

"Summon Captain Varran and Commander Alexander," he ordered, his voice firm and controlled. "And bring Lucas and Henrietta as well."

They wasted no time, departing at once to carry out the command, their footsteps fading quickly into the night beyond the tent.

Within a short time, the summoned individuals began to arrive.

The king’s gaze passed over each of them, measuring, confirming.

A brief pause followed, allowing the weight of his words to settle.

Captain Varran bowed slightly. "Understood, Your Majesty."

Lucas said nothing, but his focus sharpened, while Henrietta acknowledged the order with quiet resolve.

"We depart at first light," he added.

The next morning arrived with a quiet heaviness that settled over the camp long before the sun had fully risen. Preparations had already been made through the night, and by the time the first light stretched across the horizon, the escort stood ready. King Highmoor emerged from his command tent in full composure, the Empress already waiting nearby, her presence calm and unwavering as though the events of the previous day had been nothing more than a necessary step. Lucas and the others gathered in formation behind them, each aware that this was not a simple visit, but a movement into uncertain ground where every gesture would be watched and remembered.

The journey toward Blackmare’s inner provinces was not long. The closer they drew, the more visible the aftermath of the Empress’s actions became. What had once stood as an imposing defensive line now bore the unmistakable marks of forced destruction and hurried repair. Sections of the great walls were still under reconstruction, large stone segments being lifted and fitted back into place by coordinated teams, while the massive gates, once symbols of strength, were partially restored, their damaged framework still exposed in places where the work had not yet been completed.

Workers continued their tasks, though many slowed just enough to look up, their expressions tightening the moment they recognized who had come. Soldiers stationed along the walls stood firm in their positions, but their eyes followed every movement of the approaching party with an intensity that made their feelings impossible to misinterpret.

Fear.

The gates, though not fully restored, were opened enough to allow passage, and as King Highmoor and the Empress led the way forward, the shift in atmosphere became even more pronounced. Citizens within the inner provinces had already gathered along the streets, drawn by word of their arrival, and the silence that greeted them was far from welcoming. Faces turned as they passed, some openly glaring, others watching from a distance with guarded caution, while a few simply lowered their gaze, unwilling to meet the eyes of those they now associated with the destruction of their defenses.

Another responded under his breath, though no less bitter. "What do you expect. People like them do not answer to anyone."

The Empress, however, did not react.

"They do not hide what they feel," Lucas said quietly, just enough for the king to hear.

A brief pause followed before Lucas added, "Fear is there too."