They closed in from every direction until escape was no longer a possibility, horses skidding and stamping as the squad formed a tight ring around the lone figure, weapons lowered but ready, qi humming through the air with restrained violence. The young man stood his ground at the center on his horse, his cultivation unmistakable now that they were close, Ascendant rank and already refined enough to be dangerous, yet his expression was unnervingly calm as though he had been expecting this moment all along.
Lucas dismounted slowly, the silver mask catching the light as he stepped forward, his presence alone pressing down on the space between them. He studied the young man carefully, noting the steady breathing, the relaxed shoulders, the eyes that did not flicker even once as they met his gaze. There was no fear there, no surprise either, only a quiet defiance that unsettled him more than panic ever could.
