A night to be remembered

Chapter 13:A night to be remembered

The soft hum of conversations and the gentle clinking of silverware against fine porcelain filled the elegant dining hall. The glow of hanging silver lanterns gave the room a warm, intimate atmosphere, while the faint scent of roasted herbs and aged wine lingered in the air.

Lucian leaned back in his seat, stretching his legs slightly under the table as he took in the quiet luxury of the restaurant.

Eleanor, seated across from him, had finished her Crimson Tuna, and now she was casually sipping her Blackwood Wine, watching the people in the dining hall with an amused expression.

Lucian pushed his empty plate aside, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"That," he said, "was probably the best meal I've had in this city."

Eleanor smirked, swirling the deep reddish-black wine in her glass. "Told you this place was worth it."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, but did you really have to flex on me with the wine?"

Eleanor chuckled. "It's not my fault you're too young to drink."

Lucian sighed dramatically. "I'm starting to think you're enjoying this a little too much."

Eleanor leaned on the table slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "You're easy to mess with."

Lucian narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sure if that's a compliment or an insult."

Eleanor smirked. "A little of both."

Lucian rolled his eyes but couldn't help the small grin that tugged at his lips.

For a while, neither of them spoke, letting the soft ambiance of the restaurant settle between them.

It was… nice.

Lucian glanced down at the empty cup of warm water he had been drinking. His fingers traced the rim absentmindedly as his thoughts drifted.

"I've been meaning to ask," he said, looking up at Eleanor, "why did you choose to become an investigator instead of joining the Silver Guard?"

Eleanor raised an eyebrow at his sudden question. "Why? Do I look like someone who should be swinging a sword in the streets?"

Lucian smirked. "I mean, you do enjoy beating me up on a daily basis."

Eleanor chuckled, taking another slow sip of her wine before answering.

"I was actually supposed to join the Silver Guard," she admitted. "That was the plan when I first awakened my silver energy. But things… changed."

Lucian tilted his head. "Changed how?"

Eleanor set her glass down, tapping a finger lightly against the rim.

"My teacher—back when I was training—was an investigator," she said. "He was the one who taught me how to properly use silver energy, how to survive in a world where power doesn't always come from swinging a blade."

Lucian listened carefully, noting the small softness in her expression.

"He was the one who convinced me that strength isn't just about fighting. It's about understanding. Finding the cracks in the world before they turn into something bigger."

Lucian exhaled, leaning forward slightly. "Sounds like he had a big impact on you."

Eleanor nodded. "He did."

Lucian hesitated before asking, "What happened to him?"

Eleanor was silent for a moment.

Then, she picked up her glass, took a slow sip, and said, "He died on an assignment."

Lucian immediately regretted asking.

"…I'm sorry."

Eleanor shook her head. "It was a long time ago." She met his gaze, her usual smirk returning. "But now you understand why I chose this path."

Lucian nodded.

"I get it," he said. "It's not just about power—it's about knowing where to use it."

Eleanor smirked. "See? You're learning something already."

Lucian sighed. "Yeah, but does it have to come with getting thrown around the training hall every day?"

Eleanor grinned. "Absolutely."

Lucian leaned back in his chair, looking at the silver chandelier above them.

"You ever think about what comes next?" he asked.

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "For you or for me?"

Lucian shrugged. "Both, I guess."

Eleanor hummed in thought before answering.

"For me, things won't change much. I'll keep doing what I do—investigating, making sure Alexandria doesn't collapse from the inside." She gave him a teasing smirk. "And, of course, making your life difficult."

Lucian sighed. "I'm getting the worse end of this deal?"

Eleanor chuckled. "you are."

Lucian shook his head. "And here I thought mentors were supposed to be supportive."

Eleanor leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table. "I am supportive," she said. "I support your survival by making sure you don't die from incompetence."

Lucian smirked. "Fair enough."

There was a brief silence before Eleanor tilted her head slightly.

"And what about you?" she asked. "What do you want?"

Lucian hesitated.

That was a question he had been avoiding ever since he arrived in Alexandria.

What did he actually want?

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I've been… just taking things one step at a time. Learning, surviving, figuring things out as I go."

Eleanor nodded, as if she had expected that answer.

"You're still young," she said. "You don't need to have everything figured out yet."

Lucian sighed. "Yeah, but it feels like the world around me already has plans in motion, whether I want to be part of them or not."

Eleanor gave him a knowing look.

"Then it's up to you to decide where you stand," she said.

Lucian met her gaze.

And for some reason, those words stayed with him.

Their conversation continued in a comfortable rhythm, shifting between casual banter and deeper discussions about the world, power, and life in Alexandria.

Lucian found himself relaxing more than he had in a long time.

He had spent so much time training, thinking, analyzing, that he had forgotten what it felt like to just sit down and enjoy a quiet night.

At some point, Eleanor ordered another drink, and Lucian just shook his head in amusement as she casually sipped, looking like she had all the time in the world.

For a moment, Lucian wondered—

'Was this what it felt like to have a real mentor?'

The thought was strange… yet not unwelcome.

Eleanor was tough, sarcastic, and borderline sadistic when it came to training—but she was also reliable, sharp, and honest.

And somehow, through everything, she had become someone Lucian could trust.

As the night stretched on, and their conversation slowed into a quiet, shared silence, Lucian realized something else.

For the first time since he had arrived in this strange, mist-covered city—

He didn't feel like an outsider anymore.

-------------

---

The carriage rolled smoothly through the fog-covered streets of Alexandria, its wheels moving in a steady rhythm against the stone pavement. The glow of silver lanterns lining the roads flickered softly, their light barely cutting through the dense mist of the night.

Lucian sat in the cushioned seat, his body relaxed from the warmth of the meal but his mind still lingering on the conversation he had shared with Eleanor.

Across from him, Eleanor leaned slightly against the side of the carriage, her usual composed expression softened by the effects of the wine.

She wasn't drunk—not entirely.

But there was a certain unfiltered looseness in her demeanor, the usual sharp edge in her gaze replaced by something warmer, more at ease.

Lucian had never seen her like this before.

And, if he was being honest, it was… distracting.

---

A Different Side of Eleanor

"You're quiet," Eleanor said suddenly, tilting her head slightly to look at him.

Lucian blinked, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh. Just thinking."

Eleanor smirked lazily. "That's dangerous for you."

Lucian rolled his eyes. "Wow, your sarcasm really doesn't take a break, huh?"

Eleanor chuckled, resting her elbow on the armrest as she studied him for a moment.

Then, in a quieter tone, she said, "Tonight was nice."

Lucian turned to her, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her voice.

"…Yeah," he admitted. "It really was."

Eleanor exhaled, gazing out the carriage window, watching the silver-lit fog drift past.

"You've changed a little, you know," she said, her voice softer now.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Eleanor turned back to him, her piercing blue eyes meeting his.

"When you first came to Alexandria, you were cautious. Always analyzing, always guarded. You still are, but…" She paused, tilting her head. "Now, you don't feel as lost."

Lucian blinked, absorbing her words.

He had never really thought about it.

Had he changed?

Or had he simply found a place where he belonged?

He wasn't sure.

But before he could respond, Eleanor chuckled, shaking her head.

"Never mind. Maybe I'm just talking too much."

Lucian smirked. "The wine's making you sentimental."

Eleanor smirked back. "Maybe."

The carriage slowed down, signaling that they had arrived in front of Lucian's apartment.

Lucian sighed and reached for the door handle, but just as he was about to step out—

Eleanor suddenly leaned forward.

Before he could react, she pressed a soft kiss against his cheek.

Lucian froze.

His mind short-circuited.

Heat rushed to his face, and for a brief moment, he couldn't even process what had just happened.

Eleanor pulled back, her smirk turning teasing as she watched his reaction.

Lucian, still in shock, stammered, "W-Wait… What was—"

Eleanor cut him off.

"I told you," she said smoothly, "I'll make sure you're strong enough to choose your own path."

She leaned back into the seat, her smirk softening.

"My stupid student."

Lucian, still blushing furiously, quickly stepped out of the carriage, his movements stiff and awkward.

The moment the door closed behind him, he stood there, staring blankly at the empty street in front of him.

His heart was pounding, his thoughts in complete disarray.

'What… the hell just happened?'

The carriage slowly pulled away, and as it did, Eleanor watched him from the window, her smirk lingering.

Lucian, still reeling from the unexpected moment, barely registered it when the carriage disappeared into the fog.

He rubbed his cheek absentmindedly, feeling the lingering warmth of her lips.

"I am never going to be able to sleep tonight."

---

Despite his late-night thoughts tormenting him, Lucian woke up the next morning feeling oddly energized.

His training was finally progressing, he had gained a deeper bond with Eleanor, and for the first time since arriving in Alexandria, he felt like he was moving forward.

And, of course, there was last night.

Lucian shook his head rapidly, trying to push that thought aside before it got out of hand.

He brushed his teeth, drank his Silver Cocoa Coffee, and prepared for another long day of training.

After throwing on his black shirt, silver cloak, and combat-ready boots, he stepped outside, greeted once again by the hazy dawn-lit fog of Alexandria.

As he walked through the familiar streets, shopkeepers nodded at him, merchants greeted him, and even a few Silver Guard members recognized him from his recent training.

He wasn't just a wandering outsider anymore.

He was part of this city now.

It took him about thirty minutes to reach the outpost, but when he stepped inside, he felt a strange sense of anticipation.

His training was getting harder. His body was adapting. He was getting stronger.

And for the first time in a long while, he wanted to push himself even further.

As he stepped into the main reception area, his eyes immediately landed on someone he hadn't seen in days.

Standing at the reception desk, flipping through documents with a lazy expression, was Reze.

Lucian smirked, stepping toward her.

"Look who's back from the dead."

Reze looked up, her sharp eyes meeting his.

She blinked once, then smirked.

"Well, well. If it isn't Captain's favorite punching bag."

Lucian sighed. "You really need to work on your greetings."

Reze leaned on the desk, tilting her head. "And you need to work on looking less proud of yourself. What happened? Did something good happened to you?"

Lucian opened his mouth—then immediately shut it.

Because he really, really didn't want to explain what actually happened last night.

Reze narrowed her eyes.

"…Wait. What did you do?"

Lucian immediately turned away. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Reze stared at him suspiciously.

But before she could pry further, Eleanor's voice cut through the room.

"Lucian."

Lucian turned to see Eleanor approaching from the hallway, her usual composed expression back in place.

But there was something else there, too.

Something subtle.

A faint, knowing amusement in her gaze.

Lucian swallowed.

'Nope. Not thinking about it.'

Eleanor stopped in front of him, crossing her arms. "You're unusually energetic today. Good. You'll need that for today's training."

Lucian exhaled. "That doesn't sound promising."

Eleanor smirked. "It isn't."

Reze, watching their exchange, slowly narrowed her eyes.

"…Why do I feel like I missed something important?"

Lucian immediately walked past her. "Anyway, time for training!"

Reze stared at him.

Then at Eleanor.

Then back at Lucian.

"…I am going to find out what happened," she muttered.

Eleanor simply smiled as she followed Lucian down the hall.

And so, another day of brutal training began.

But no matter how exhausting it would be—

Lucian knew one thing for sure.

Last night would never leave his mind.

---

End of Chapter 13