thief of fate-Chapter 53: Welcome

Evening cloaked the sky in its crimson robe when the carriage wheels halted before the heavy iron gates of the palace. Sunset shimmered over the polished stone, reflected in the dark glass of the Lockard carriage, as if time itself bowed for a moment to whisper: You have returned.

The guard opened the gate without a word, and although silence dominated the palace grounds, a faint tremble stirred the air... as if the walls were watching and waiting. Valerian took a deep breath and looked at Claire sitting beside him her features almost still, but her eyes betrayed currents that wouldn’t settle in their depths.

He didn’t know what he had expected... perhaps a warm welcome? Or just official silence? But he wasn’t prepared for what was to come.

When the carriage stopped before the stone steps leading to the main entrance, the door opened slowly, preceded by the scent of cold marble and the faint perfume that always lingered in the halls of House Lockard. Their steps were heavy, burdened with all they had been through.

Suddenly, the front hall door opened, and out came a tall man with elegant gray hair and eyes like blades.

"Father," Valerian murmured in a barely audible voice.

Edgar looked at him for a moment, his features betraying nothing. There was no running, no embrace, no tearful longing just a solid gaze and a voice as cold as ice:

"It’s good that you’re alive."

Time froze at that moment. Long seconds passed between the sentence and Valerian’s heartbeat, something dimming within him. He hadn’t expected a hug, but... maybe a longer sentence, or a warmer tone.

Claire was better prepared. She bowed slightly and said with a professional tone, "Thank you for receiving us."

Before Edgar could reply, another voice rang out behind him, sarcastic and sharp as a blade.

"If I had been sent, I wouldn’t have taken this long. And I would’ve left no place standing."

Raien was leaning against a marble pillar, arms crossed, a tilted smile on his lips.

He smiled calmly, but his eyes gleamed with disdain. "I think we need to reevaluate some standards at the academy, don’t you think?"

Valerian didn’t respond just stared at him, at that annoying smile. But he didn’t have the energy now. He didn’t even have the desire. He turned to Edgar again, trying to ignore Raien.

"We’re back. And I’ve grown stronger."

"Good." Edgar said simply, then turned his back: "Rest tonight. It seems you need sleep more than anything else."

Before they could take a single step, quick footsteps echoed in the side corridor, and out came a man in elegant servant’s attire, his face lighting up as if he’d seen a ghost return to life.

"Valerian! My lord!" Carlos shouted as he ran toward him, then suddenly stopped and nearly bowed, but settled for placing his hand on his chest, his voice trembling: "By the heavens... I never thought I’d see you again."

Valerian laughed a real laugh.

"Carlos... still fast despite your age."

"For you, I’d run to death, my lord." the man said, eyes glistening, then approached and carefully placed a hand on his shoulder, as if to confirm he wasn’t a mirage. "Are you alright? Did they hurt you? Was the food any good? Do you need..."

"I’m fine, Carlos. Just... happy to see you."

"And the palace is happy for your return, my lord. I’ll prepare your quarters immediately. I’ll have a hot bath ready, and your favorite tea... or maybe something stronger?"

"Everything will be wonderful. Thank you."

Carlos suddenly turned to Claire and bowed gracefully: "Lady Claire, welcome back. It’s an honor to see you in the palace again."

Claire was about to respond, but another voice cut in.

"Oh, milady? You’re back?" said a young girl with a white scarf and a light apron, emerging from another corridor, wiping her hands with a towel. It was Lisa.

She looked at Claire with a mixed gaze part joy, part exhaustion.

"So that means I’ll be working more now, right?" she muttered with a half-smile. "I promise I’ll be quiet this time."

"I doubt that, milady." Lisa said, then approached and hugged her briefly, before quickly stepping back. "But... glad to see you alive. Really."

"And I as well," Claire whispered.

There was something comforting about returning... something familiar, even if not warm.

"Where’s Alexis?" Valerian asked, looking around.

Carlos answered quickly: "In his lab, as usual. Hasn’t come out in three days. Refused to eat and said he had a discovery too urgent to delay."

"Of course..." Valerian sighed, "That crazy genius."

Claire looked at Valerian for a moment, then whispered: "Do you think he’ll be happy to see you?"

He smiled lightly: "In his crazy way... yes."

Glassware clinked, vapors rose. In the corner, Alexis was mixing materials.

His eyes gleamed, wide as if chasing a thought he knew would escape him if he blinked. His hair looked messier than usual, and his white coat bore traces of ink, ash, and perhaps... something else not entirely identifiable.

"Just one more drop... just one," he whispered to himself, pulling out a small vial and adding it to the mix.

But what happened next wasn’t part of the equation.

BOOOOM!

The walls shook, a column of thick green smoke rose, accompanied by violet sparks and a muted explosion that made the metal doors rattle and emit a terrifying screech.

"Damn... damn damn damn!" Alexis shouted, stumbling back, coughing heavily, waving his hand in the air as if chasing off ghosts.

The lab’s warning system let out a sharp siren: "Type-Five gas leak. Active toxin. Evacuation recommended."

But of course, Alexis never left. Never ever.

He coughed, but he laughed too. "Type-Five poison? Damn, that means I’m close!"

Above, in the palace halls, Edgar was the first to move. He stopped reading a report, looked up, then said simply, without changing his tone: "Something happened in the lab."

Raien raised an eyebrow, leaning against the wall: "Did he finally blow up?"

Carlos, who was guiding Valerian and Claire on a short tour of the west wing, froze when he heard the siren faintly echoing in the walls, then said anxiously: "The lab... we must seal the ventilation immediately!"

He ran to a control panel, skillfully tapped some short incantations, and protective barriers began descending around the lab door.

Valerian was about to dash down, but Edgar raised a hand to stop him, eyes calm.

"If he was going to die, he’d have died long ago. Wait."

Moments later, the noise subsided. The siren faded, and the barriers absorbed the green smoke in a series of shimmering bubbles. Silence reigned.

Then... the door opened.

And out came Alexis, hair messier than ever, his coat partially torn at the arm, a dark smudge on the side of his face. But he was smiling.

"The air still contains nitrous gases. Excellent." He breathed deeply, then finally looked at the others.

His gaze stopped at Valerian... then Claire.

Only then did his smile fade, just for a moment.

"You..." he said quietly.

He approached—not hugging, not opening his arms—but stopped in front of Valerian, and stared into his eyes for long seconds.

"You’re alive." he said it like he hadn’t expected it.

Then looked at Claire, with the same coldness:

"And you too. Strange... odds were below 20%."

Valerian whispered: "Missed you too, you maniac."

A flicker passed through Alexis’s eyes, but he hid it with a sarcastic huff: "This explosion was your fault, by the way. Just saying."

Then, for a fleeting moment, his reflection appeared in one of the hallway mirrors, and something inside him trembled.

He saw his face, behind him the faces of Valerian and Claire, and... he saw other shadows. Shadows from the past. The metal chair. The shackles. Ethan screaming, his face covered in blood, eyes filled with terror.

He had said that day, with the same coldness as now:

"You hurt them... and now, you’ll pay the price."

He didn’t kill him. Didn’t just torture him. He turned him into a slave. Planted poison in his body, made him a tool... silent like the rest of his instruments, obedient, knowing nothing of freedom.

"No one will ever know," he told himself as he slipped back into the shadows.

Now, seeing Valerian standing there, tired eyes scanning the corridor... he felt something strange. Not regret. But... a cold comfort. He did what needed to be done.

"Alright," Alexis said finally, in a neutral tone, patting his chest to brush off ash.

"Welcome back... idiots."

Then turned his back, adding: "I need a bath, coffee, and something for my left shoulder."

Raien called from afar, sarcastically: "Not dead yet?"

"You’re the one who should worry about that, dear brother," Alexis muttered without turning.

Valerian laughed. Truly laughed.

And in his heart, despite everything... he felt at home.

Valerian laughed. He really laughed.

But amidst the laughter, a fleeting thought crossed his mind... a question he couldn’t ignore.

Since when did everyone become friendlier?

Edgar wasn’t affectionate, but his tone was less harsh.

Carlos was his usual self, but even Alexis....It seemed like something had changed.

Was it because of his absence?

Or because of what they’d all been through?

Or...just because they were no longer sure what might happen tomorrow?