The Path Of A True King.-Chapter 7: Call For Help.

Chapter 47

Lucas gripped his phone tightly, his jaw clenched as he listened to the voice on the other end.

His breathing was steady, but the weight in his chest only grew heavier.

He needed help.

He needed someone to step in before things got worse.

And so, he made his way to Kai’s office.

Pushing the door open, he found Kai seated behind his desk, flipping through some documents with an uninterested expression.

Without looking up, Kai spoke. "What do you want?"

Lucas exhaled sharply. "I need your help."

Kai finally looked at him but leaned back lazily in his chair. "Go ask Elijah."

Lucas scowled. "If I could ask Elijah, I wouldn’t be here."

Kai shrugged, clearly uninterested. "Then figure it out yourself." With that, he turned his attention back to his papers.

Lucas clicked his tongue in frustration before storming out. Fine. If Kai wouldn’t help, then he’d deal with it on his own.

—

He found himself walking.

Without much thought, his feet carried him farther and farther from the city’s noise, leading him toward the outskirts.

The scent of damp earth filled his nostrils as he neared the dense woodland area.

That’s when he saw her.

Mai lay against a tree, her body coated in sweat, her chest rising and falling as she muttered something under her breath.

Her hands were still slightly curled into fists, her knuckles bruised.

Lucas crouched down, frowning. "Mai?"

Her eyes fluttered open, dazed, before she recognized him. "Lucas...?"

"What are you doing here?"

She exhaled, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Training... with Jack... then Elijah showed up... they’re sparring now."

Lucas followed her gaze.

Just ahead, beyond the trees, the sounds of impact echoed through the clearing.

He turned his head—and his breath hitched slightly at what he saw.

—

Elijah and Jack stood face to face.

Their bodies were steady, their stances firm, but the intensity between them was suffocating.

Jack was breathing heavily, but his eyes burned with sharp focus.

Elijah’s red eyes gleamed under the dim light, his posture still relaxed but ready to move at any second.

Then, they moved.

Jack launched forward, his speed terrifying for someone still at the Beginner Knight Stage (Peak).

His fist cut through the air, aiming for Elijah’s ribs.

Elijah dodged at the last second, countering with a quick elbow strike.

Jack twisted his body, just barely avoiding the hit before retaliating with a sharp kick.

Elijah blocked it with his forearm, the force making his muscles tense.

Without hesitation, he stepped in, his fist aiming straight for Jack’s jaw.

Jack ducked, his instincts sharp, and immediately went for a sweeping kick.

Elijah jumped back, creating distance. For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then, Elijah exhaled deeply, his breathing technique steadying his body.

His Intermediate Knight Stage (Initial) gave him the edge in power, but Jack was keeping up.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. ’How?’

Jack shouldn’t be able to match Elijah in speed or strength. And yet, he was holding his ground.

The fight continued.

A blur of movement, fists clashing, dodges that came at the last possible second.

Each strike was calculated.

Each move was precise.

Neither was overpowering the other, yet Elijah’s blows carried more weight—forcing Jack to rely on sheer adaptability.

Finally, Elijah stopped, rolling his shoulders. "That’s enough."

Jack smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I was keeping up, huh?"

Elijah nodded. "How?"

Jack cracked his knuckles. "You rely too much on instinct. I was reading you—your breathing, your body movements. Every time you were about to strike, I could see it before it happened."

Elijah frowned slightly, his red eyes narrowing. "So you’re saying I’m predictable?"

"Not exactly," Jack replied, tilting his head. "But if someone watches you closely enough, they can anticipate your movements. You need to mix things up—be unpredictable."

Elijah absorbed the words in silence, his expression unreadable. He wasn’t the type to argue over advice, especially when it was useful.

Instead of responding, he turned his attention toward Lucas and Mai, his gaze sharp. "Come here, both of you."

Lucas and Mai exchanged a glance before stepping forward.

Elijah reached into his bag, pulling out a small, worn book. The cover was plain, but the weight of it felt anything but ordinary.

Before Lucas could ask, Jack let out a low whistle, his grin widening.

"Is that what I think it is?" He leaned closer, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"A high-level breathing technique? Damn, this is way better than the trash we scrape off the black market." Jack chuckled, rolling his shoulders.

"I can already feel it—just a few more days, and I’ll be creating my core. Then, Elijah, you won’t even be able to keep up with me."

Elijah smirked faintly but didn’t answer.

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Where’d you even find this, anyway?"

Elijah merely shrugged. "Somewhere."

Lucas scoffed at the obvious dodge, but his attention was already locked onto the book.

His fingers twitched before he reached for it, flipping through the pages with growing intensity.

His breathing hitched as he took in the carefully written techniques, his mind already racing with possibilities.

This was exactly what he needed.

Beside him, Mai remained silent, her eyes scanning the book but her thoughts elsewhere.

She had been training under Jack for weeks now—pushing herself harder than ever.

She refused to feel weak again, refused to be powerless like when her father died.

And now, with this technique in her hands...

She finally had a chance.

Elijah studied their reactions, his expression unreadable, before his gaze shifted back to Lucas.

"Lucas, what’s up?" Elijah’s voice dropped slightly, his tone more serious now. "I don’t think I told Kai where I was going."

Lucas hesitated, gripping the book tightly. His knuckles whitened as he exhaled, as if steadying himself.

"It’s my home," he muttered. "That place is falling apart, Elijah."

Elijah’s expression darkened. "How bad?"

Lucas clenched his jaw before speaking again. "The last time I was there, they were just talking—threats, warnings. But now..."

His voice wavered for a split second before he pushed forward. "The gang attacked. They hurt someone—someone who’s like a mother to me." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The weight in his voice was enough to make the air feel heavy.

Elijah’s red eyes sharpened. "Where is she now?"

"Hospital," Lucas muttered. "She was the head of the orphanage, but since she’s out, the police are planning to take the kids.

If she can’t come back, they’ll be scattered. Some will end up in places worse than the streets." He swallowed hard, his grip tightening on the book.

"And the hospital bill... I don’t even know where to start with that. I can’t lose them, Elijah. I can’t let them be taken."

His voice trailed off, but he didn’t need to say more.

Elijah already understood. Lucas wasn’t just stressed—he was desperate.

A heavy silence settled between them. Then, Elijah leaned back slightly, exhaling through his nose.

"Then we’ll help you," he said, his voice carrying an edge of finality.

Lucas looked up, surprise flickering across his face.

Elijah’s red eyes glowed faintly.