ShadowBound: The Need For Power

"Quite the kid, huh?" Mystica said, watching as Lucy's eyes followed Liam down the hallway.

"Indeed," Lucy replied, her gaze drifting to the wrecked training hall. "And today, I got a proper glimpse of what he's capable of."

"You know…" Dove chimed in with a mock-serious look, "he's destroyed two sections of your palace today, and yet no one's even thinking about arresting him? Really? How much privilege are you planning to hand over?"

Lucy cast her a sideways glance. "Have you sworn some kind of lifelong vendetta against him? Or are you still mad I refuse to let you use Ember in your experiments, and now Liam's catching the fallout?"

Dove blinked in mock offense, then grinned. "Honestly? Bit of both. Yeah. Definitely both."

"You're unbelievable," Mystica muttered, shaking her head.

Lucy gave a small laugh, then looked back at the ruined hall before her eyes settled on Mabel, still standing upright, composed despite the aftermath. "Liam's truly remarkable. Producing this much destruction as a five-star mage? That level of control and power… is rare."

She smiled faintly. "Now I know where my next investment lies."

"Oh?" Dove arched a brow, lips curling. "And by 'investment,' you mean adopting him and calling him your second son? That'd be awkward—can't imagine this mother hen"—she gestured to Mystica—"letting another one steal her chick."

Lucy chuckled softly. "I already have a son, Dove. Chris. Though he inherited far too much of his father's arrogance, I still love him. I wouldn't make the mistake of creating a rivalry between the two by 'adopting' Liam on impulse."

"How lucky for you, mama hen," Dove teased, nudging Mystica. "You get to keep doing your maternal thing, uninterrupted."

"How many times must I say Liam isn't my son?" Mystica said, smiling through a twitching eye.

As their banter continued, Lucy turned her attention to Mabel. "Tell me something, Mabel. You were supposed to observe Liam discreetly, yes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Mabel replied at once.

"Then how did he manage to draw you into a fight, if he wasn't even supposed to know you were there?"

There was a beat of silence before Mabel answered, her voice even. "It is… a little embarrassing to admit. But he sensed me. Despite the Invisibility spell. Not just sensed—but pinpointed my exact location."

She paused, then added with a nod, "With that kind of awareness, I can only assume he's taking the assassin-class courses at the academy."

Lucy studied Mabel with serene eyes for a moment—silent—until Mystica spoke, voice velvety with curiosity.

"How fascinating. A fifteen-year-old boy able to sense and locate a member of the Queen's Royal Corps," Mystica said with a soft smile. "Looks like Seraphina's training is finally showing results."

Then her gaze flicked to Mabel's uniform—torn in places, her arms nicked with light cuts. "Though I must say… for a 7-star mage, you're looking a little roughed up after going toe-to-toe with a 5-star."

Mabel didn't flinch. "He was going all out. I held back, but even at half-strength… Liam's a problem, regardless of the mystic gap."

Mystica gave a slow, knowing nod. "He is a problem. A special kind."

Lucy stepped in then, her voice even. "Having fought him directly… do you have any thoughts or opinions?"

Mabel blinked. "Me?"

"Yes, Mabel. You." Lucy gave a faint, amused smile. "Speak freely."

Mabel straightened slightly, giving the question some thought before answering. "Honestly, Your Majesty… I recommend you consider him for the Royal Corps."

There was a murmur of surprise behind her, but Mabel continued, voice clear. "With a talent like his embedded in the most secure force of the Tempest Kingdom… you wouldn't just have a soldier. You'd have a wildcard. A trump card."

She hesitated, then added, "And he's the last dark magic user. That in itself is... significant."

A quiet pause followed before Lucy finally replied, "I see. That aligns with a few things I've been considering."

"If that's your aim," Mystica interjected with a sly smile, "then be prepared to offer Liam the same freedoms you give Galen. The boy doesn't like being followed… and he despises orders. You can't leash him and expect him to bite on command."

Lucy met her gaze, calm and confident. "I've accounted for that. I'm not planning to bring him into the Corps immediately."

She turned back to the ruined hall, eyes glinting. "There's value in letting him grow. By the time he graduates, I intend to have more than a soldier. I want an asset forged in the fires of real experience."

Dove made a face. "Would you just listen to yourselves? All of you—plotting how to make use of the brat. And when I try to do something similar, I'm the villain? Tsk-tsk. No shame at all."

"What I plan for Liam isn't what you plan," Lucy said coolly. "There's a difference between scientific exploitation… and strategic investment."

"Yeah, yeah," Dove scoffed. "Keep telling yourself that."

As Lucy and Dove continued their banter, Mystica's gaze drifted to Mabel, a mischievous spark in her eyes.

"You know," she said, tapping her chin with a smirk, "you're quite pretty without that mask. Makes me wonder—does Liam like you for that quiet, simple beauty… or is it your love for combat and that strength of yours?"

Mabel blinked. "Excuse me?" she asked, evenly, though the surprise in her voice caught Lucy and Dove's attention.

Mystica smiled, her tone almost playful. "Oh, you might not realize it, but Liam's not one to smirk during a fight. Grin? Even rarer. Doesn't matter who he's facing—he's all focus, no fluff. But with you… he was different. Relaxed and loose."

She paused, then continued with a deliberate lilt. "And that little flirt you tossed at him—'I might just be getting into you'—normally, that'd earn you one of his signature death glares. Maybe even a threat. Seraphina couldn't even get that kind of reaction out of him. But with you? He smiled. Now isn't that something?"

Mabel's eyes widened slightly as the memory replayed. She had said that… caught up in the fight, the thrill of it. But she hadn't expected Liam to actually respond.

"Wait—what?" Dove said, her brow furrowing. "So the kid's into strong, older women now? Great. He better not have any ideas about me."

"You wish he would," Mystica teased, barely restraining a laugh. "You're one of the few people who get under his skin just by breathing."

"That's a talent," Dove said proudly.

"Of course you'd be proud of that," Mystica muttered, shaking her head. Then she turned back to Mabel. "But seriously. There's something about you that's caught his attention—even if he hasn't figured it out yet. I doubt he's let himself feel anything real in years. You might've stirred something… unexpected."

Lucy raised a brow, then smiled. "Now that's interesting. Looks like you'll be playing a bigger role in helping me recruit Liam than you thought."

"Your Majesty, you can't seriously believe that," Mabel said quickly.

"Oh, but I can," Lucy replied, tone light and teasing. "Mystica's basically his mother. If she noticed something, I'm inclined to believe it."

Mystica groaned softly. "Really? You too?"

"Told you—you're a mother hen," Dove added with a grin.

In response, Mystica flicked her fingers, launching a tiny shard of ice that smacked Dove on the forehead with a crisp thwack.

"Ow—damn it!" Dove winced, rubbing the spot.

Lucy turned toward the exit, giving Mabel a nod. "You're dismissed for now. Oh—and set the crystal to repair the hall."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Mabel replied, though her mind still buzzed with everything she'd just heard.

"Bye, Mabel," Mystica said sweetly, waving over her shoulder.

"B—bye?" Mabel echoed, raising a hesitant hand in return.