The gates creaked open, and for a heartbeat the courtyard held its breath. Then the first whispers began to ripple through the ranks of weary soldiers.

"They're back..."

"Look, it's them..."

Helmets turned, spears lowered, men and women who had been hollow-eyed for weeks now stood straighter, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten.

Liraeth stood waiting, her hands folded tightly in front of her. She didn't show it on her face, but inside she had been restless ever since Thalia had suddenly followed after them. Countless thoughts had gnawed at her, what if they didn't return?

When her eyes finally fell on them, a wave of relief washed over her. Most of them had come back. The casualties were far fewer than she had braced herself for. She exhaled softly, the weight on her chest easing.

"I'm glad you've all returned," she said, her voice calm though her heart still beat fast.

Unlike her, Sorrin's gaze sharpened. He could feel it, their auras were different. Lumberling and his group carried a pressure that hadn't been there before, stronger and heavier. His brow furrowed.

'What happened in there?' he wondered silently.

Lumberling, however, gave a small grin, stepping closer. "I hope you haven't forgotten about my special reward, Lady Liraeth."

The unexpected boldness made a faint color rise to her cheeks. She quickly looked away, clearing her throat. "We'll speak of that… later."

Gordon stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "My Lady, allow me to report." He recounted the events of the battlefield, the clash, the desperate struggle, and the sudden appearance of a Knight Two that had nearly tipped the balance.

The others, exhausted, began dispersing to rest, their bodies weary but their hearts carried by the knowledge they had survived and achieved something far greater than just victory.

….

Meanwhile, when Lumberling got into his room, he opened his status window.

Name: Lumberling

Race: Human

Age: 26 years (8 months, 1 week)

Level: 11

Essence Point: (5,824 / 31,900)

Power: 9,081 (Skills: 7,505 | Level: 1,576)

Fragment of Divine Blessing: Qi Adaptation

(A trait bestowed upon beings from the Martial Realms, allowing them to thrive in foreign energy systems.)

Fragment of Naxxiriss' Blessing: Blessing of the Pale Dream

(You become resistant to illusion and fear. Your own aura causes low-level terror in the weak-minded. (Effects weakened))

Cultivation Realm: Unranked

Beginner Imperial Mindseal Meditation Level 1 (868/1000)

Beginner Ironblood Tempering Scripture Level 1 (782/1000)

Knight Stage: Knight One

Active Skills

Beginner Sprint Lv2 (378/1000)

Beginner Hammer Shock Lv1 (0/1000)

Beginner Thundering Lunge Lv.0 (21/1000))

Beginner Spearheart Thrust Lv. 0 (16/1000)

Beginner Steel Tempest Lvl 0 (1/1000)

Beginner Essence Weave Lv0 (961/1000)

(Derived from Essence Devour. Allows the user to bind the essence of a fallen enemy and channel it into another chosen vessel.)

Passive Skills

Essence Devour

Low Level Spearheart Doctrine Lv1 (4/1000)

Beginner Shadow Glide Lv6 (789/1000)

Beginner Flowing Edge Lv4 (526/1000)

Beginner Bowmanship Lv2 (250/1000)

Beginner Shield Bash Lv1 (683/1000)

Beginner Bonecrush Method Lv1 (503/1000)

Beginner Dual Wielding Axe Lv1 (251/1000)

Resistances

Beginner Poison Resistance Lv1 (761/1000)

Elements

Fire Element Lv.0 (1/1000)

Earth Element Lv.0 (1/1000)

Chaos Element Lv.0 (1/1000)

Einherjar Stage: Unranked

(Týr's Blessing Lv.0 (251/1000))

(Odin's Blessing Lv.0 (1/1000))

"In terms of strength… I can stand against a Knight Two," he murmured. But he knew better than to fool himself, Kaelvar, the one he faced, had long been stagnant at the early stage. Against someone in the mid or Peak Knight Two, he wouldn't last.

Even so, a small smile tugged at his lips. For him who started with nothing, this was already a step few could dream of reaching.

He leaned back on the bed, muscles aching but his mind oddly clear. "Still far away," he whispered, "but far enough from where I began."

With that thought steady in his heart, Lumberling closed his eyes, and for the first time in weeks, sleep came easily.

...

By morning, the camp stirred with movement. Thalia and the Church soldiers were already awake, armor gleaming faintly under the rising sun. They moved with practiced discipline as they packed supplies and readied their horses.

Thalia stood at the center, issuing instructions with her usual calm tone. "As we agreed upon, Viscount Liraeth, the Church will be expanding its influence in your territory. There should be no other Churches allowed to compete within your lands."

Liraeth, maintaining her composed grace, gave a small bow. "You have my word, Lady Thalia. I will honor our agreement."

But as she straightened, her eyes drifted toward Lumberling. He had come to see them off, standing a few steps away with his arms loosely crossed. Thalia's expression softened when she noticed him.

"Can I speak with you in private?" Thalia asked gently.

Lumberling nodded without hesitation.

Liraeth's brows drew together ever so slightly. She said nothing, but her thoughts whispered sharply, 'When did they get close?' The faint crease in her forehead lingered as she watched the two walk off together, her fingers curled into her palm, nails pressing faint into her skin.

...

They found a quiet place away from the bustle, where the breeze rustled the grass and distant sounds of clattering armor faded. Facing each other, there was no tension in Thalia's gaze, only a calmness that felt almost too steady.

"Have you had a good rest, Lord Lumberling?" she asked, her voice carrying a rare softness.

"I did," Lumberling replied. Then with a faint smile, he tilted his head. "Did you?"

A small laugh escaped her, light and quick. "Sleep comes harder for me, but last night... I think I did better than usual."

Lumberling studied her for a moment, noticing how her eyes softened when she said that. "That's good to hear. You'll need your strength for what's ahead."

For a brief second, silence settled between them, an easy, comfortable silence that said more than words could.

She smiled lightly, eyes narrowing with that mysterious calm she always carried.

"Whenever I close my eyes, I see pieces of a puzzle," she murmured. "Images scattered, broken… yet somehow they always fit together in time. And last night, I saw something…"