While his core—[Devourer of Stars]—remained sealed, unmoving like a moon behind clouds, his flame had grown feral. Focused.
"Still," he said, voice low, "even now, I haven't broken through. Four-star peak… and stuck."
[You've absorbed more than most do in a decade,] Vitaliara said. [Monsters, spells, battle essence. But your core is different. It wasn't made to follow rules. And you—]
She gave a small huff. [You've never been good at staying on a single path.]
Lucavion chuckled under his breath. "No. I suppose I haven't."
He flexed one hand idly, watching the faint tendrils of Equinox flame swirl between his fingers—black tinged with silver, and the silver shot by shadows.
"But even if I wanted to push forward, there's nothing left that's strong enough. Nothing willing to feed me the last drop I need to crack this."
[Or maybe it's not about strength,] she said softly. [Maybe it's something else you're lacking.]
Lucavion didn't answer at first. The quiet spoke for him.
