CHAPTER 37-The Last Phase

***Varick’s POV***

The eve of the wedding was upon us, and Lulu was there to support me, making sure that everything we had planned was going smoothly. His enthusiasm was contagious, and the excitement in his eyes grew even more when he realized how much he had made from the king’s sword.

"Oh my God! I can't believe I made this much from the king’s sword!" Lulu exclaimed, his face lighting up in pure joy. He pulled out the cash and handed it over to me, practically vibrating with excitement.

I raised a hand, shaking my head. "No, keep it. You earned it. I don’t need it. You said you needed the money to mobilize the rogues, and now you’ve got more than enough. Do whatever you need with it."

I offered him a small smirk, trying to hide the satisfaction that bubbled up at seeing him so happy. But as I watched him, his face soon fell, his smile fading into a frown.

"What’s wrong?" I asked, genuinely puzzled by his sudden shift in mood. 

Lulu’s brow furrowed, and he held the money in his hands, looking down at it. "I didn’t do this for the money, Varick. I don’t need it. I need your help. I need to get out of here! We agreed you would help me, remember?"

I frowned. I hadn’t expected him to ask for more, and I hadn’t promised him anything specific beyond the possibility of helping him. "I never said I would take you with me. I only said I’d think about it. And now that you're bringing it up… I don’t think it’s a good idea. Your people will come looking for you, and we can’t afford that. I’m heading into a faraway land called Azura."

"Azura?" Lulu’s brow furrowed in confusion. "I’ve never heard of it."

"Neither have I," I replied, my voice calm, but something cold stirred inside me. "Exactly. We’re both heading into the unknown. It wouldn’t be a good idea to take someone with me when neither of us knows the way."

"But they say two heads are better than one," Lulu countered, determination growing in his voice. "You need me. Besides, I know how to read a map really well. I learned that from my aunt. You’re going to need me on this journey."

At that point, I realized it was pointless to argue any further. Lulu had already made up his mind. He was going to follow me, no matter what I said. Trying to convince him to stay behind felt like trying to win a battle on a steep hill.

"You have your whole life here, Lulu. What are you going to do when you leave your family? What will you do if you come with me on this journey? I don’t even have a destination yet. I’m searching for some old people, and after that, I’m heading back to Drakinia to avenge my mother’s death and take back my throne." I said it all in the hopes that my words would make him reconsider. But as I looked at his face, I realized it only made him more resolute.

"I’ve got a lot to do here, Varick. You don’t understand. I’ve never been comfortable with my clan and their practices. Look at what they’re doing to you! I don’t want to be part of that anymore. I want a new identity. I want to learn how to fight. I want to master my inner wolf. Only you can help me do that." Lulu’s voice softened, and the sincerity in his eyes was clear. He spoke with an innocence that made my heart ache.

I couldn’t help but stare at him, his words striking something deep inside me. Since I was a child, I’d always wanted a younger brother—a bond that was never there with Kyrous, who had always been a bully. Seeing Lulu now, hearing his plea, brought back those childhood dreams, and I realized that I could never leave him behind.

"Alright, fine," I said with a deep sigh, my heart softening. "I’ll take you with me."

Before I could even finish my sentence, Lulu leapt toward me, throwing his arms around me in an enthusiastic hug. It was an unexpected gesture, and for a moment, I just stood there, caught off guard. I wasn’t much of a physical touch person, but I allowed him to express himself. I hugged him back, even though the whole thing felt strange. 

"It’s okay! You need to hurry and mobilize your people now. It’s almost nightfall," I instructed, pushing him gently toward the door. 

Just as he was about to leave, I called out his name, a sudden concern creeping up inside me. 

"Lulu, be careful. You have to keep this as discreet as possible. Don’t let anyone know about this. Don’t trust anyone. Pay everyone what you owe them, and make sure you get all the tools you need. Understood?"

He nodded, his face serious for the first time in our conversation. "You don’t have to worry, Varick. I’ve got it all under control." With that, he turned and left, locking the door behind him. 

I sat back down, trying to focus on the training I had planned. I needed to build my strength—physically, mentally, emotionally. I felt better after getting a fresh haircut and a clean shave. My reflection was a reminder of who I was becoming, the man I needed to be. 

But even as I worked, thoughts of Juno kept creeping into my mind. Had she managed to escape? Was she still alive? I hoped she had made it out, that she would be able to take back her father’s land from Kyrous. The very thought of my brother, of everything he had done, made my blood boil with rage. 

My heart pounded, and a fire ignited deep inside me. He was going to pay for everything—every lie, every betrayal, every hurt he caused me. I wouldn’t stop until he did.

"He’s going to pay," I whispered through gritted teeth, the words dripping with venom. "Kyrous is going to pay."

I didn’t know how long I had been working out, but the sound of a knock on the door snapped me from my thoughts. I recognized the knock—it was Lulu, who had a secret knock. Two sharp raps followed by a longer second knock. I stood up and made my way toward the door, unlocking it for him.

"That was fast," I remarked, arching an eyebrow. "Did you forget something?"

Lulu stepped inside, looking worn but satisfied. "Fast? No, I was out for almost four hours." He gave me a knowing smile. "I’ve got everything ready. We’re good to go."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Was the money enough?" I asked, sitting back down.

"It was more than enough," Lulu said with a grin. "I didn’t even spend half of it. Everything’s set. We’ve got everything we need. By tomorrow, we attack. And after that, we head through the forest."

I leaned back, allowing a small smile to form on my lips. "Good. The first phase is done. Now, we wait for phase two—the execution."