Chapter 152: What She Needs

Morning light spread slowly across the Darkmoor training grounds.

The packed earth still held the coolness of night. A thin mist clung to the far edges of the field before the rising sun began to burn it away. Soldiers trained in orderly lines farther down the grounds, the sharp crack of wooden weapons and the low, controlled rhythm of Battle Energy circulation filling the air with familiar discipline.

Closer to the northern edge, away from the main drills, Lyra moved with the Darksteel Spear.

Andras stood a short distance away, arms loosely folded, violet eyes tracking every motion without interruption.

Her stance had improved. The feet that once crowded too close together now maintained a more stable width, distributing her weight properly through each transition. Her grip on the dark-gray shaft was no longer rigid with tension. Her fingers adjusted naturally when she shifted from thrust to sweep, allowing the spear to move with her rather than against her. Battle Energy flowed through her limbs with fewer breaks, gathering around the spearhead in a thinner, cleaner line than the scattered bursts she had produced only days earlier. Her breathing remained controlled even after repeated sequences, and her stamina no longer collapsed after a handful of exchanges.

Small gains.

Consistent ones.

Andras did not correct her.

Lyra finished a full form, planted the spear butt firmly against the ground, and exhaled. Sweat darkened the collar of her training clothes and traced a thin line along her temple. She glanced toward him, waiting for instruction or correction.

Andras only gave a slight nod.

Lyra reset her stance and began again.

Her improvement was not dramatic. She had not suddenly transformed into a skilled warrior, nor had her talent produced some convenient breakthrough. She was simply applying what she had been taught. Every correction Andras had given her remained in her mind. She did not always apply it perfectly, but she rarely repeated the exact same mistake without trying to fix it.

That quality alone made her worth continuing to train.

A low rumble of carriage wheels reached the training grounds from the main approach road.

Andras turned his head slightly.

An official carriage bearing the imperial crest rolled through the outer gates, followed by two smaller escort vehicles. Reinforced mana wards covered the dark lacquered wood. Several figures in formal robes and practical uniforms sat within.

The Imperial Magic Division had arrived.

Exactly as Evelyne had predicted.

Andras remained where he was. There was no reason for him to greet them. That responsibility belonged to the Duchess of House Darkmoor.

---

Evelyne met the investigators at the base of the main residence steps.

She wore a simple but impeccable dark-blue gown, the Darkmoor crest worked in fine silver thread at the collar. Her golden hair was neatly arranged, and her expression carried the quiet authority of someone accustomed to being obeyed without needing to demand it.

The lead investigator, a middle-aged man with sharp features and a neatly trimmed beard, inclined his head respectfully.

"Duchess Darkmoor. I am Investigator Harlan of the Imperial Magic Division. This is Senior Mage Voss and our verification team. We received your report regarding the dungeon incident."

"Welcome to Darkmoor," Evelyne replied evenly. "I assume you wish to examine the site and the recovered materials."

"That is correct. Protocol requires on-site verification whenever a dungeon is discovered and a high-ranking monster is reported within it." Harlan paused briefly. "Your report identified the creature as an S-Rank."

Evelyne nodded. "Yes."

"We will need to confirm the residual mana signatures, examine the location where the portal appeared, and inspect any materials recovered from the dungeon."

"Of course." Evelyne turned slightly and gestured toward the outer path. "I will take you there myself."

The investigators exchanged brief glances. Most nobles of her rank would have delegated such work to a steward, a subordinate mage, or a military officer. Evelyne had chosen to handle it personally.

They followed her without further comment.

---

The former portal site lay a short distance beyond the managed forest line, where the outer trees thinned and the ground opened toward the boundary road.

At first glance, little remained.

A roughly circular patch of withered grass covered the ground. The soil beneath it was darkened and cracked in irregular patterns—evidence of the sudden mana discharge that had accompanied the dungeon’s appearance and collapse. Faint residual energy still clung to the area. Thin threads of violet-tinged mana drifted close to the ground before gradually dispersing into the surrounding air. A faint metallic trace of void energy lingered whenever the wind shifted.

No spatial tear remained. The portal had collapsed completely.

Investigator Harlan stepped into the damaged area and crouched, pressing two fingers against the earth. Senior Mage Voss released a diagnostic spell. Pale light spread across the ground in concentric rings before revealing several layers of residual mana signatures.

Voss studied the readings carefully.

"Residual mana signature," he murmured. "The spatial fracture was exceptionally dense. The portal was forcibly collapsed after the dungeon’s central entity was eliminated." He moved his hand slightly. The light shifted. "The residual mana scarring is consistent with a high-ranking dungeon event. There is no sign of lingering spatial instability."

Harlan rose and looked toward Evelyne.

"Your report stated that the creature inside was an S-Rank monster."

"Yes."

"How was it eliminated?"

Evelyne’s expression remained unchanged.

"General Selene and I handled it."

The answer was simple. The investigators studied her for a moment before Harlan nodded. He understood. A Peak Eighth Circle Mage possessing an S-Rank talent, accompanied by General Selene, was more than enough to explain how an S-Rank monster had been eliminated.

"We will also need to examine the recovered core and the other materials."

"They are secured within the estate," Evelyne replied. "You may inspect them under supervision."

"Thank you."

The verification continued for some time. Measurements were taken. Residual mana was recorded. The surrounding terrain was examined. The investigators carefully compared the physical evidence with the details contained in Evelyne’s report. Everything matched—the location, the residual void signature, the damage to the surrounding earth, the traces left behind by the dungeon’s collapse.

Eventually, Harlan stepped away from the damaged area and closed his notebook.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Duchess. We will complete the internal assessment and notify House Darkmoor if anything further is required."

Evelyne inclined her head. "Darkmoor remains available should the Empire require additional clarification."

The investigators began returning toward the estate with her. Their quiet discussion shifted toward procedural matters, documentation, and the examination of the recovered materials.

---

Back on the training grounds, Lyra continued her forms without knowing anything about the imperial investigators.

The morning sun had climbed higher, burning away the last of the mist. Her movements remained deliberate. Each thrust was slightly cleaner than the last. Each recovery came a little faster. Battle Energy gathered more reliably along the Darksteel Spear, and her footwork was becoming less hesitant.

Andras watched from the edge of the field.

A few minutes later, footsteps approached from behind. Selene stopped beside him. Her crimson eyes followed Lyra’s movements for several seconds.

"She has improved."

"Somewhat," Andras replied.

Selene continued watching. Lyra completed another sequence, then adjusted the position of her rear foot without being told. Selene noticed.

"She remembers corrections."

"Yes."

"She’ll improve quickly if that continues."

Andras remained silent for a moment. Then Selene asked, "Why did she start training in the first place?"

Andras’s gaze remained on Lyra.

"When the assassin attacked me, she nearly died trying to intervene. That night, she told me she refused to remain a burden." He paused. "She asked me to teach her personally."

Selene raised an eyebrow. "And you agreed?"

"I thought it was interesting."

A faint trace of amusement appeared in Selene’s eyes. "Of course you did."

Andras ignored the comment. He continued watching Lyra.

"She had no combat experience at the time. Her talent was useful, but her foundation was weak. I wanted to see how far she could develop if she actually learned how to fight."

Selene nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

Andras finally turned toward her.

"Since we’re discussing her training, I want you to take over from here."

Selene’s expression became slightly more serious. "Why?"

"I can teach her Battle Energy. I can identify weaknesses in her technique, and I can correct the fundamentals I’ve observed." His gaze returned to Lyra. "But I can’t give her what she actually needs."

Selene understood immediately.

"A proper warrior instructor."

"Exactly."

Andras’s voice remained calm. "I’m not a warrior. I understand the principles of their cultivation, but I don’t have the practical experience of developing one over the long term."

Selene glanced toward Lyra again. She watched the maid complete another sequence before resetting her stance.

"You’re asking me to take responsibility for her development."

"Yes."

"And you’re certain?"

"I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t."

Selene was silent for a few seconds. Then she nodded.

"All right." Her eyes remained fixed on Lyra. "I’ll train her."

"Thank you."

Selene glanced sideways at him.

"Does she know about this?"

Andras looked toward Lyra.