Chapter 400: Destiny 2

Lucy’s eyes sparkled with that dangerous confidence as she stepped closer to Noah, "It’s destiny, Noah. Can’t you see it? The universe brought you here, to me, at exactly the right moment."

Noah shifted uncomfortably, taking a half-step back. "Lucy, I appreciate... whatever this is, but I’m not leaving Sophie. We’re together."

"Why?" Lucy asked, tilting her head like she was genuinely curious about his reasoning. "Is she more beautiful than I am?"

The question hung in the air like a trap. Noah felt his cheeks warm as he scrambled for words. "It’s not about... I mean, beauty isn’t..."

"More womanly then?" Lucy continued, her gaze studying him with analytical interest. "I have to admit, she seems lovely from what I saw, but I am a princess of Raiju Prime. Surely that counts for something?"

"It’s not any of those things," Noah said quickly, hoping to shut down this line of questioning before it got worse.

Lucy’s smile widened. "Then what is it?"

Noah took a breath, trying to find solid ground in this increasingly awkward conversation. "For one thing, we just met. Like, literally today. And with all respect, you’re older than me."

"I’m twenty-four," Lucy said with a laugh that made the air around her shimmer with heat. "Hardly ancient."

"I’m nineteen."

"And Sophie is turning twenty-one, correct?" Lucy’s voice carried a note of triumph, like she’d just scored a point in some game Noah didn’t understand. "So age clearly isn’t your primary concern, is it?"

Noah opened his mouth, then closed it again. How the hell had she turned that around on him so quickly?

"Besides," Lucy continued, now moving around the training area as she spoke, her movements fluid and predatory, "on Raiju Prime, age differences are quite common in relationships. Enhanced lifespans mean we think in terms of centuries, not years. A five-year gap is basically nothing."

"It’s not just the age thing," Noah said, desperation creeping into his voice. "We don’t know each other. We have nothing in common. You live on a different planet."

"We’re both human," Lucy countered smoothly. "We both care about Lucas. We’re both fighters who understand the burden of protecting others. And as for living on different planets..." She gestured around them. "You’re here now, aren’t you?"

Noah rubbed the back of his neck, feeling like he was losing ground in an argument he never wanted to have. "Lucy, that’s not how relationships work. You can’t just decide you want someone and expect them to—"

"Can’t I?" Her voice took on a dangerous edge. "I’m Princess Lucy Grey of Raiju Prime. I’ve never been told I can’t have something I wanted."

"Well, I’m telling you now," Noah said, trying to inject some authority into his voice. "Look, you seem like a... formidable person. I’m sure there are plenty of guys who would love to—"

"I don’t want plenty of guys," Lucy interrupted, moving closer again. "I want you. There’s something about you, Noah Eclipse. The way you carry yourself, the power you command, the loyalty you inspire. You’re not like the soft princes and diplomats I’m usually surrounded by."

Noah held up his hands. "Lucy, please. I already have a girlfriend. I love Sophie. We’ve been through things together that—"

"Love?" Lucy’s laugh was sharp. "You’re nineteen. What do you know about love?"

"More than you think," Noah shot back, his patience finally starting to fray. "And definitely more than someone who just decides she wants a person like they’re a new piece of equipment."

Lucy’s expression shifted, something dangerous flashing in her eyes. "Careful, Noah. You’re in my family’s home."

"And I’m grateful for the hospitality," Noah said, forcing his voice to remain respectful. "But that doesn’t change anything. I’m asking you, politely, to find someone else. I already have a girlfriend, and I’m not interested in changing that situation."

He turned toward the exit, hoping to end this conversation before it got any more uncomfortable.

"I understand," Lucy said quietly behind him.

Noah paused at the doorway, something in her tone making him glance back. Lucy was standing perfectly still, her face composed, but there was something in her posture that reminded him of a particular girl he met on the academy back on earth who was blonde.

"I understand what I have to do," she said simply.

Before Noah could ask what she meant, Lucy spun and launched a devastating lightning-enhanced punch at one of the training dummies. The impact was so violent that the dummy didn’t just break—it disintegrated, leaving nothing but scattered metal and synthetic fragments smoking on the floor.

Noah stared at the destruction for a moment, then quietly left the training room.

---

"She what?" Kelvin’s fork clattered to his plate as he stared at Noah in disbelief. "Princess Lucy actually proposed to you? Like, marriage-style proposed?"

The dining hall buzzed with the team’s laughter as Noah finished recounting his awkward encounter. Even Diana was chuckling, which was particularly notable given that she’d just confessed her feelings to Kelvin earlier and was still waiting for his response.

"It should have been me," Kelvin wailed dramatically, throwing his hands up. "I’m rich, charming, devastatingly handsome, and I come with my own entertainment system." He gestured to his cybernetic arms. "What more could a princess want?"

"The ability to win a fight?" Lyra suggested dryly, which earned another round of laughter.

"Hey now," Kelvin protested, "I’ll have you know these arms come with seventeen different combat modifications. I could totally hold my own against royalty."

"Sure you could," Diana said, but she was smiling as she said it.

Noah noticed that Sophie had been unusually quiet throughout dinner, methodically working through her meal while the others joked about his situation. She sat close enough to him that their shoulders touched, but there was a tension in her posture that worried him.

"Seriously though," Kelvin continued, "what did you tell her? Please say you let her down gently. I don’t want to get electrocuted in my sleep because you hurt her feelings."

"I was polite," Noah said. "I just explained that I wasn’t interested and already had—"

He was cut off by the approach of familiar footsteps. Lucy entered the dining hall with the kind of casual confidence that made conversations stop mid-sentence. She wore simple clothing, but somehow managed to make it look regal. Her hair was pulled back, and she carried herself with the easy grace of someone completely comfortable in her own skin.

"Good evening," she said pleasantly, nodding to the table. "I hope you’re all enjoying dinner."

The responses were polite but cautious. Everyone could sense the tension, even if they didn’t understand its source.

Lucy walked directly to their table, producing a small crystal vessel filled with what looked like wine. The liquid inside had an unusual shimmer to it, catching the light in patterns that seemed almost hypnotic.

"Sophie," Lucy said warmly, as if they were old friends, "I brought you something special."

She poured the shimmering liquid into Sophie’s water glass with courtesy, the motion so natural and hospitable that it took a moment for anyone to react.

The guards stationed around the dining hall went rigid. Several of them exchanged glances that spoke of significant concern.

Lucas dropped his fork.

"Lucy," he said carefully, "what are you doing?"

Sophie looked down at the glass, then up at Lucy with confusion. "What is this?"

It was Diana who spoke up, her voice tight with realization. "She’s challenging you to combat."

The dining hall went dead silent except for the soft hum of the building’s energy systems.

"What?" Sophie asked, still staring at the glass like it might explode.

Lyra clutched her tablet as she analyzed the situation. "Diana is right. It’s an old tradition from the early settlement days. When there was a dispute that couldn’t be resolved through normal means, the offended party would offer the ritual drink. If it was accepted, it meant both parties agreed to settle the matter through single combat. I came across something like that during our investigation,"

"Only men did it back then," Lucy said, her voice carrying across the now-silent hall. "But my reign is going to be different. Women can go after what they want too." Her gaze fixed on Sophie with predatory intensity. "And I want Noah."

Kelvin’s whispered "Damn, she looks scary" was audible in the stillness.

Noah started to stand, but Sophie’s hand on his arm stopped him. Her eyes never left Lucy’s face as she asked, "What happens if I refuse?"

"Then you acknowledge that your claim to Noah isn’t worth fighting for," Lucy replied smoothly. "And I take that as your forfeit."

"And if I accept?"

Lucy’s smile was all teeth. "Then we settle this properly. Tomorrow at dawn, in the ceremonial arena. Winner takes all."

The implications hung in the air like smoke from a fire. Sophie’s hand tightened on Noah’s arm, but her expression was calculating rather than afraid.

"Sophie, don’t," Noah said quietly. "This is insane."

But Sophie was already reaching for the glass.

"Wait!" Lucas stood up so quickly his chair fell over backward. "Mother! Father!"

As if summoned by their son’s urgent call, Damien and Vivian Grey entered the dining hall. They took one look at the scene—Lucy standing over Sophie with the ritual vessel, the stunned expressions of the guards, their son’s obvious distress—and Damien’s casual demeanor evaporated completely.

"Lucy," Vivian said, her voice carrying the kind of maternal authority that could stop armies, "what have you done?"

"I’ve issued a formal challenge for the right to court Noah Eclipse," Lucy replied, as if she were discussing the weather. "Sophie Reign has not yet responded."

Damien ran both hands through his hair, his "Galaxy’s #1 Dad" shirt somehow making the gesture more rather than less serious. "Honey, you can’t just challenge our guests to ritual combat."

"I can and I have," Lucy said simply. "The law is clear, Father. A formal challenge issued in good faith cannot be withdrawn once the vessel is offered."

Vivian looked like she wanted to strangle her daughter, but Noah could see the resignation in her posture. They really were scared of Lucy, or at least of what she was capable of.

"The challenge has been issued," Damien said heavily, his casual friendliness replaced by formal authority. "By the laws of our ancestors and the traditions of House Grey, Sophie Reign may accept or decline. But be aware," he looked directly at Sophie, "that either choice carries consequences."

Sophie lifted the glass, studying the shimmering liquid. Around the table, her friends watched with various expressions of concern, fascination, and in Kelvin’s case, what looked suspiciously like excitement.

"What are the terms?" Sophie asked.

"Single combat, no weapons, no outside assistance," Lucy replied immediately. "First to yield or be rendered unconscious loses."

Sophie nodded slowly, then raised the glass toward Lucy in what was clearly a formal gesture.

"I accept your challenge, Princess Lucy Grey."

She drank the entire contents in one smooth motion.

The dining hall erupted in murmurs and shuffling as guards repositioned themselves and servants began clearing unnecessary personnel from the area. But Noah barely noticed any of it. All he could see was the satisfied smile on Lucy’s face and the determined set of Sophie’s shoulders.

This was really happening.

---

Hours later, after the formal procedures had been completed and the combat scheduled for dawn, Noah found himself alone with Lucas in one of the palace’s quieter corridors. The others had dispersed to their rooms, but sleep felt impossibly distant.

"This is a bad idea," Lucas said without preamble. His usual easy confidence was nowhere to be found. "Noah, I don’t think you understand what you’ve gotten Sophie into."

"I didn’t get her into anything," Noah replied, but even as he said it, he knew it wasn’t entirely true. "Lucy did this."

"Lucy set the trap," Lucas agreed. "But you walked right into it. And now Sophie’s going to pay the price."

Noah leaned against the wall, exhaustion finally catching up with him. "She can handle herself, Lucas. Sophie’s been training just as long as the rest of us."

"Not like Lucy has," Lucas said grimly. "My sister has been preparing for war her entire life. She’s not just strong, Noah—she’s ruthless. She’ll do whatever it takes to win, and the rules of formal combat here..." He shook his head. "They’re not as restrictive as you might hope."

"Are you saying Sophie’s going to lose?"

"I’m saying this is a lose-lose situation," Lucas explained. "If Sophie loses, Lucy wins her claim to you. If Sophie wins, she’ll have publicly humiliated the princess of Raiju Prime, which carries its own political consequences. And knowing my sister..." He paused. "Lucy doesn’t lose gracefully."

Noah studied his friend’s face. "There’s something else, isn’t there?"

Lucas was quiet for a long moment. "Lucy’s been asking about you since we got back. Not just casual questions—detailed ones. Your abilities, your fighting style, your psychological profile. I thought she was just curious, but now..."

"Now you think she’s been planning this from the beginning."

"I know she has," Lucas said heavily. "This whole challenge thing? She probably had it mapped out before we even sat down for dinner. Lucy doesn’t do anything without a plan."

Noah felt anger building in his chest. "So what, I’m just supposed to let her manipulate my girlfriend into a fight?"

"I don’t know," Lucas admitted. "I honestly don’t know how you get out of this one. I’m sorry, Noah. I should have warned you about her, should have seen this coming."

Noah clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Don’t worry about it. My girl won’t pummel your sister too much tomorrow."

Lucas stared at him. "What?"

"Sophie’s stronger than you think," Noah said with a confidence he absolutely believed. "And if Lucy wants to play games, she’s about to learn that Earth girls don’t back down from bullies."

He left Lucas standing in the corridor and made his way through the palace’s winding passages. As he walked, he couldn’t help but think about how ridiculous this entire situation was. Here they were on a world that had mastered beast core energy, created cities that flowed with living light, and developed technology that made Earth’s greatest achievements look primitive. But when it came to settling disputes, they were basically acting like cavemen with a formal dress code.

Though, considering their ancestors actually were cavemen who’d gained superpowers and fled to space, maybe it did add up.

He found Sophie on one of the palace’s observation decks, looking out over the city’s energy streams. She didn’t turn when he approached, but he could see the tension in her shoulders.

"You should have let me handle it," Noah said quietly.

"Handle what, exactly?" Sophie’s voice was sharp. "Let you fight my own battles while I stood there like some helpless princess?"

"That’s not what I meant."

"Isn’t it?" She finally turned to face him, and he could see the hurt in her eyes. "Noah, I’ve been fighting beside you for months. I’ve faced down Harbingers, survived impossible missions, proven myself over and over again. But the moment some royal bitch decides she wants you, you immediately assume I can’t handle her?"

Noah opened his mouth to protest, but Sophie continued.

"Do you think I’m going to lose? Is that it? You’re afraid your girlfriend isn’t strong enough to defend your honor?"

"Of course not," Noah said quickly. "Sophie, you’re one of the strongest people I know. It’s not about your strength."

"Then what is it about?"

Noah struggled to find the right words. "It’s about the fact that this is my problem, not yours. Lucy wants me, so I should be the one dealing with her. You shouldn’t have to fight my battles."

Sophie’s expression softened slightly. "Noah, in case you haven’t noticed, your battles are my battles. That’s how this works when you care about someone."

She stepped closer to him, her voice growing warmer. "Besides, I wanted the opportunity. That woman needed to be taught some manners, and I’ve been looking forward to being the one to do it."

Despite everything, Noah found himself smiling. "You’re looking forward to fighting a princess?"

"I’m looking forward to kicking her ass," Sophie corrected. "I love Lucas, but his sister needs some serious schooling tomorrow."

Noah pulled her into his arms, feeling some of the tension leave his body. Whatever happened tomorrow, at least he knew Sophie was entering the fight on her own terms.

"Just promise me you’ll be careful," he said.

Sophie’s answering smile was sharp enough to cut glass. "Oh, I’ll be careful. Careful to make sure Princess Lucy remembers this lesson for a very long time."