Chapter 259: Eve of Departure (4)

Lukas fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon, his body finally giving in to the exhaustion accumulated during the two intense fights against Clavor.

The physical and mental effort of that morning had taken its toll, and even after resting for several hours in the clearing, his body still felt as heavy as lead.

The muscles in his arms and legs throbbed with every movement, while a deep fatigue remained hidden behind his eyes, as if his very essence were exhausted.

As soon as he returned to his room, he did not even feel like changing his clothes. He simply collapsed onto the bed, his body sinking into the soft mattress as if he were being swallowed by the fabric.

Rourke, who had followed Lukas back to the mansion, approached the mattress and slowly climbed up, his tiny paws gripping the fabric. The little rat sniffed the boy’s face for a few seconds, as if checking his condition, before settling down near the pillow, his body curling into a ball.

Astra remained atop the wardrobe, her golden eyes fixed on the sleeping boy. Prata was absent, probably once again in the forest, following his hunting instincts. Tilbo rested in his usual corner, his enormous form motionless like a statue.

Lukas closed his eyes. It took only a few minutes for sleep to completely overtake him, his consciousness dissolving like ink in water. This time, there were no dreams, no images, and no memories. His consciousness simply disappeared, sinking into a deep and restorative darkness.

…

When Lukas opened his eyes again, he could not tell how much time had passed. The room was completely different from the last time he had seen it, the bright daylight having disappeared, replaced by an orange glow that entered through the window in gentle waves.

The last rays of the sun passed through the trees outside and cast long shadows across the walls, transforming the room into a mosaic of light and darkness.

Lukas blinked several times, his eyes adjusting to the new light. For a few seconds, he remained motionless, his mind still clouded by the deep sleep. Then he suddenly sat up, a sudden movement that made his head spin.

“Huh…?” His heart was beating a little faster, the confusion of awakening still lingering over him. He ran a hand over his face, rubbing his still-heavy eyes, trying to dispel the drowsiness that stubbornly remained.

“How long did I sleep?”

He looked out the window, judging the position of the sun. The sky was tinged with orange and gold, the colors blending together in a spectacle that announced the end of the day. It must have been close to nightfall, the transition between day and night already underway.

Lukas let out a sigh, feeling the air fill his lungs.

“I guess I really needed this.”

Beside the pillow, Rourke moved, his tiny body uncoiling. The rat raised his head, his black eyes focusing on Lukas, and immediately approached him, his snout sniffing the air.

“Hey.” Lukas extended his hand, and Rourke sniffed his fingers before climbing onto his palm and walking up his arm, his tiny body warm. The boy smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of his companion.

“You stayed here this whole time?”

The rat reached his shoulder and settled there, as if that were his natural place.

Astra also awakened, moving on her perch. The eagle spread her wings, stretching herself atop the wardrobe in a movement reminiscent of a morning stretch, before descending with a soft flap and landing on the bed, her bright eyes fixed on Lukas.

Lukas looked at the two of them, his eyes moving over each one. For several minutes, he did absolutely nothing, simply playing with Rourke, letting him run between his fingers, and stroking Astra’s head, feeling the texture of her feathers. It was a simple moment, but after an entire day of training, that was exactly what he needed.

He ran his fingers through Rourke’s soft fur, feeling its softness against his skin.

“Tomorrow, I will be traveling.”

The little rat continued playing with his sleeve, apparently indifferent to his words.

Lukas smiled, a smile that was both affectionate and melancholy.

“You have no idea what that means, do you?”

Perhaps they did, perhaps they did not. The connection between them had become strange enough that Lukas did not completely dismiss the possibility. Affinity with Beings created bonds that went beyond rational understanding, and he had already learned to trust his intuition.

But, at that moment, he did not want to think about it. He simply wanted to enjoy the last peaceful moments before the departure.

After some time, there was a knock on the door.

“Lukas!” It was Judite.

“Dinner!”

Lukas stood up, his movements still a little slow.

“Coming.”

He opened the door and found his sister waiting in the hallway, her eyes shining with the energy that always characterized her.

“You slept all afternoon.” She commented, a hint of amusement in her voice.

“I was tired.” Lukas’s explanation was simple but true.

“I know.” Judite smiled, a smile that illuminated her face.

“Come on. The food is ready.”

The two began descending the stairs, their footsteps echoing through the silence of the mansion. Before they even reached the first floor, the smell of the food reached Lukas, a delicious mixture of roasted meat, fresh bread, grilled vegetables, seasoned sauce, and something sweet that he could not immediately identify.

“Helga went overboard.” He murmured, recognizing the cook’s handiwork.

Judite’s eyes widened, her expression surprised.

“She said it would be a special dinner.”

Lukas stopped for a moment, the words echoing in his mind. A special dinner. Then he remembered the last dinner before the journey, the last meal they would share as a family in the Dmond Mansion for quite some time.

Lukas’s expression became a little more serious, the reality of the situation imposing itself upon him.

“It really is.”

The two entered the dining room, where the table was completely prepared. Aurora was already seated, her eyes lighting up when she saw her children. Clavor was there as well, his face calm and serene.

There were dishes that each member of the family liked, Clavor’s favorite stew, the seasoned fish that Aurora always ordered, Judite’s favorite fruit pie, and a large roast that Lukas immediately recognized as his favorite dish.