A Will Sovereign Chapter 3: Chapter 3 — Lanterns and Blood.

Read chapter 3 of A Will Sovereign by Sloche on NovelPedia.

Morning sunlight poured quietly through the windows of the dining hall. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat lingered in the air while servants moved back and forth carrying trays of food toward the table. Soldret silently sat in his seat. Across from him, Lyanna stared blankly at him as though she had just witnessed the impossible. "…You actually woke up early?" Soldret calmly took a sip from his cup. "What's wrong with waking up early?" Lyanna immediately pointed at him dramatically. "Get out of my brother's body, you vile thing!" She covered her face as though she were crying. "The Soldret I know would never wake up this early. Reveal yourself!" Their mother lightly tapped Lyanna's forehead before sighing helplessly. "Don't point at your brother while eating." "But he really is strange today," Lyanna muttered. "He usually sleeps like a dying pig." Soldret's father chuckled softly while reading through several transaction records. "That's true." Lyanna immediately gestured toward him triumphantly. "See? Even Dad agrees!" "And he isn't even belching from that tonic for his pathway solidification like he usually does." Their mother finally noticed Soldret's silence. "That's true… you are unusually quiet today. Are you feeling under the weather?" She placed her palm gently against his forehead. In truth, Soldret had been awake since before dawn. The sound of servants moving through the corridors had pulled him from sleep long before the others woke. His senses seemed heightened. A familiar feeling. A familiar sign of his pathway stirring back to life. "No, it's nothing," Soldret replied calmly. "I'm just not in the mood to banter with a stuffed squirrel." He looked toward Lyanna with a faint smile. "Y-you—!" Lyanna looked at him with teary eyes. Their mother lightly hit Soldret on the head. "Stop making fun of your sister's puffy cheeks." Lyanna gasped dramatically. "Mom—!" "Shh. Don't talk while eating." Lyanna immediately turned toward their father with pitiful eyes. He scoffed lightly. "Listen to your mother." "You're all just jealous," Lyanna pouted. "Yes, my love," their mother replied with a soft smile, wiping food from Lyanna's lips. "We're all jealous we aren't as cute as you." Lyanna instantly brightened again. "Now hurry and eat," Seraphina continued. "Weren't you looking forward to the trade fair today?" Lyanna's eyes immediately lit up. She quickly turned toward Soldret, her gaze filled with expectation. Soldret simply nodded. Caelon folded the documents in his hand before looking toward Soldret calmly. "The city has become more crowded recently," he said. "Several merchant groups from the Central Continent arrived yesterday." His expression grew slightly serious. "Stay close to your sister." Soldret nodded quietly before opening his mouth as though he wanted to say something. Then stopped. Caelon noticed immediately. "Is something wrong?" Soldret shook his head. "I'll talk to you both about it when we get back." — After breakfast ended, Lyanna immediately dragged Soldret outside before he could properly digest his food. The streets of Vareth were overflowing with life. Colorful banners hung between buildings while countless lanterns swayed gently above the streets. The trade district was even more crowded than earlier. Merchants shouted endlessly while pathway cultivators moved openly through the city without restraint. The noise of bargaining, laughter, music, and conversation mixed together into chaotic harmony. The entire city felt alive. Lyanna excitedly moved from stall to stall while endlessly talking. "Look at this!" "And this!" "Oh! Big brother, look! That beast fur is so fluffy!" Soldret quietly followed behind her while chewing on skewered beef. Then— his brows frowned slightly. A strange feeling suddenly prickled at the back of his neck. Several figures stood near the edge of the street watching them. No— watching Lyanna. At first glance, they looked ordinary. Just rough-looking men blending