Jenny shook her head. "You want to go there alone, again."
"I will be with Robi and Celia."
That did not comfort her. For some reason, it made her even more worried.
Celia Marovain was powerful and from a duke family, but she was also involved in the disaster now. Robi was powerful, but he was also the target. Lucard was walking into a place where two old rivals might try to kill each other with traps, and he spoke of it like a morning walk.
Jenny sat down slowly.
Her voice became softer. "Why are you doing all this?"
Lucard looked at her.
She continued, "You could have sold the spell and hidden. You could have taken the money and left the city. But you keep pushing stronger families against each other. You keep standing where danger is greatest. Why?"
Lucard did not answer immediately.
The honest answer was simple. He needed power. He needed blood. He needed chaos. He needed House Ravencroft, House Velkhur, and House Marovain to move in ways that benefited him. He needed to rebuild his strength faster than this lower world expected. He needed to prepare for real enemies that would come later. Most of all, he needed to control the situation before it swallowed Jenny and Jake.
But none of that was something Jenny could fully understand yet.
So he gave her the answer she could use.
"Because hiding will not save you."
Jenny’s eyes trembled slightly.
Lucard continued, "Ravencroft will not stop. Karswell will not stop. Velkhur will not stop after Dorian’s death. If we run now, we run as prey. If we make them fight each other, we move as hunters."
Peter lowered his eyes.
Jenny became silent.
Jake looked between them and said softly, "I do not want to be prey."
Lucard looked at him. "Then become useful."
Jenny frowned. "He is ten."
"Then he should start early."
Jake straightened a little. "What should I do?"
"First, stop crying when people mention death."
Jake thought about it very seriously. "Can I start tomorrow?"
"No."
Jake sighed. "Training is hard."
Jenny wanted to scold Lucard, but she could not. Jake’s fear had lessened because Lucard spoke to him like he could improve, not like he was only a child to protect. That was harsh, but there was strength in it.
Lucard stood again.
"Rest. Tomorrow will be loud."
Jenny looked at him. "Will you rest?"
"Yes."
She did not fully believe him, but she accepted it.
The night passed slowly.
Lucard did not sleep much. He sat near the window and reviewed every line of the altered trap spell in his mind. He thought about Black Barrow Hill, the flow of death mana, Garran’s fire, Robi’s defensive style, Celia’s barrier, Ravencroft’s fear, Adrian’s blood spell, and the hidden killing step sleeping inside the formation. Every piece had a place. Every place had a use.
Before dawn, a Marovain messenger arrived.
He gave Lucard a short note.
The materials had been gathered.
Lucard burned the note after reading it.
When the first gray light touched Gravehold, he left the inn again. This time, he did not sneak. A Marovain carriage waited near the back street. Celia stood beside it wearing a dark travel dress with silver patterns and a short cloak. Her hair was tied back, and a thin sword hung at her waist. She looked calm and ready.
She looked at Lucard’s face first, then his chest.
"You look better."
"I healed."
"That is not an explanation."
"It is enough."
Celia’s eyes narrowed. "You enjoy making people annoyed."
"No. It happens naturally."
She stared at him for a moment, then looked away before her face could betray anything foolish. She had promised herself during the night that she would not lose focus around him again. She had even washed her face three times, though the blood had been gone after the first. It had not helped as much as she wanted.
Robi was already inside the carriage.
"Get in," he said.
Lucard entered and sat across from him. Celia entered after him. The carriage started moving toward the eastern gate. Two other carriages followed behind them. Those carried Marovain mages, guards, and the materials Lucard had listed.
Robi looked at Lucard. "You slept?"
"No."
"Good. Neither did I. Misery should be shared."
Celia sighed. "Uncle."
Robi ignored her and handed Lucard a folded paper. "Garran’s known habits."
Lucard opened it.
The list was long.
False opening attack. Hidden second flame mark. Delayed fire ring under the feet. Poisoned wine. Bribed witnesses. Fake injury. Blade hidden in servant tray. Explosive charm under chair. Trap stones painted to look like normal floor. Fire thread attached to handshake. One time, he had placed a sleep spell inside incense during a peace talk.
Lucard read silently.
Then he said, "He is shameless."
Robi smiled. "That is the polite word."
Celia looked at the list with disgust. "How did he get away with so much?"
Robi’s expression became flat. "Because he often won."
Lucard looked up. "Winning forgives many ugly methods."
Robi’s metal fingers tapped his knee. "You understand that too well."
Lucard folded the paper. "I understand winning."
The carriage left Gravehold through the eastern gate.
Black Barrow Hill rose beyond the tomb road.
It was not a true mountain like the great peaks far from the city, but compared to the low grave hills around Gravehold, it stood tall and dark. Its slopes were covered with dry grass, old stone markers, dead trees, and broken tomb entrances. Near the middle terrace, a wide stone platform jutted out from the hillside. Above it, higher up the path, stood the ruins of an old shrine. Only three cracked pillars remained of that shrine, and even from a distance, the place looked like it remembered too many dead names.
The air changed as they approached.
The horses slowed.
One of them snorted and pulled against the reins. The coachman had to calm it with a trembling hand.
Celia looked through the carriage window. "The death mana is thicker than I remember."
Lucard said, "Good."