Elder Hanxu exhaled in relief. "Thank you for saving me, Grand Elder Tian," he said, then looked at Lumberling. "And you as well, Lord Lumberling."
Lumberling gave a faint smile. "It's fine. I'll leave the rest to you, see you soon."
He hoisted the unconscious Viking over his shoulder and began moving, the storm-torn battlefield still echoing with distant clashes and cries.
As he made his way across the battered field, the storm slowly faded into distant rumbles.
Soon, he found Liraeth in a quieter part of the battlefield. Around her lay fallen Vikings, likely the ones who had tried to attack her but were killed instead.
"Lumberling, you're back!" Liraeth exclaimed, rushing toward him and wrapping her arms around his chest. "Where's Aurelya?"
"Maybe she's still fighting," Lumberling replied, his voice calm and steady. "But I'm sure she'll be fine."
