CHAPTER 320: CHAPTER 319: THE TRUTH BENEATH THE LIGHT

Lumberling turned to Liraeth, who stood quietly beside him, her posture a little stiff, hands clasped before her. "Right," he said casually, his tone light. "Introductions."

He pointed toward the golden-haired elf, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "This here is Aurelya, the beautiful woman with hair like sunlight. A genius mage who commands light and golden fire. She’s a bit grumpy sometimes, but deep down, she’s got a good heart."

Aurelya narrowed her eyes at him, her lips twitching.

Liraeth gave a small, polite smile and dipped her head slightly. She could feel the sharpness in Aurelya’s gaze, not openly hostile, but not welcoming either. It was the kind of look that came from someone protective, someone uncertain of newcomers, and Liraeth understood that perfectly.

Lumberling laughed softly, unable to help himself. "I love you, you know," he said, turning to Aurelya with that same easy grin, his voice light yet sincere.

Aurelya’s cheeks tinted faintly. "Hmph." She turned her head away, pretending to ignore him, though the corner of her lips betrayed a faint twitch.

Lumberling chuckled under his breath, clearly amused, before nodding toward the next elf. "And beside her is Thessalia," he said. "A mage who wields nature and sound magic. Smart, calm, and a bit of a merchant on the side. I’m sure you two will get along."

Thessalia offered a gentle smile. "So, you’re good with trades as well?"

"Yes," Liraeth replied politely, returning the smile. "It’s nice to meet you, Lady Thessalia."

"Nice to meet you too," Thessalia said with a light nod, her tone friendly and calm.

Lumberling then turned his attention to the last figure in the room, the quiet one seated near the bedside. "And lastly," he said, his voice softening a little, "this is Vaenyra."

There was a hint of pride in his tone as he continued, "She might look cold at first, but she’s warmer than she seems once you get to know her. And she’s also the strongest among us."

He leaned slightly toward Liraeth, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret, though he made no real effort to hide it. "She’s a bit unpredictable and hard to read," he said with a faint grin. "So... be careful. You never really know what she’s thinking."

Vaenyra’s eyes slowly lifted to meet his. The air seemed to cool just from that look alone. Lumberling froze for a moment, a chill crawling down his back before he awkwardly coughed and looked away.

"Anyway," he said quickly, forcing a small laugh to break the tension, "all three of them are mage-knights, high-ranking ones at that. When I’m not around, you can learn from them. Knight training, magic, or whatever you need."

Aurelya frowned, her golden brows knitting together. "Now you want us to teach your lover?" she asked, her tone sharp.

Lumberling turned to her, the playful grin he usually wore fading into something more honest. "Please," he said quietly. "Teach her like you taught me."

For a brief moment, Aurelya just looked at him. Then she exhaled softly and turned away. "We’ll talk later," she said curtly. "Alone."

Silence settled over the room.

Thessalia was the first to speak, her voice calm but laced with concern. "Lumberling," she began, "what exactly happened back there? Why did you fell unconscious... and it looked like you were trapped in a nightmare."

He rubbed the back of his neck and gave a small, awkward smile. "You mean my injuries? Nothing serious. I just... pushed myself a little too far."

But his words didn’t convince anyone. Thessalia’s eyes narrowed slightly, Aurelya crossed her arms, and even Vaenyra’s quiet stare seemed to weigh him down. Only Liraeth stayed silent, her gaze gentle but knowing, she already understood what he was hiding.

Vaenyra finally spoke. "You’re hiding something from us."

Lumberling met Vaenyra’s eyes, then looked at the others. The air grew heavy, so heavy it almost pressed on his chest. None of them spoke, but their gazes said enough. They wouldn’t let him brush it off this time.

He let out a slow sigh. "Do you really want to know?"

All three nodded, their faces serious.

"Do you not trust us?" Aurelya asked softly. The anger she had earlier was gone, only worry and a hint of hurt remained in her golden eyes.

"I trust every one of you," Lumberling said firmly. "With my life."

He paused, taking in a breath. Then, finally, he spoke.

"I have an ability... something that allows me to absorb the essence of those I kill."

Thessalia blinked, her brows furrowing. "Essence? What do you mean exactly?"

Lumberling leaned back slightly. "Essence," he said slowly, "is the raw life force that exists in every living being. It’s what’s left when the flesh fades away, the breath of life itself. The spark that ties the body, soul, and will together."

He looked at his hand for a moment, flexing it as if he could still feel that invisible energy pulsing there. "When someone dies, their essence scatters. But because of my skill... I can take it in and absorb it."

The three elves exchanged confused glances. Thessalia frowned slightly, trying to grasp his words. Aurelya tilted her head, curiosity in her golden eyes, while Vaenyra simply watched in silence.

Seeing their expressions, Lumberling chuckled softly and continued in simpler words.

"Basically... when I absorb someone’s essence, I take a part of them, their memories, their skills, their elements, even their blessings. Anything they possessed in life... a portion of it becomes mine."

The air seemed to still at his words. The soft rustle of the tent faded, replaced by silence.

Their eyes widened almost in unison. Even Liraeth, who had already known of his ability, couldn’t hide her astonishment hearing it again.

"You mean..." Aurelya’s voice trembled slightly. "You can inherit the abilities of those you kill?"

Lumberling met her gaze and nodded. "Something like that," he said quietly. Then, after a brief pause, a faint smile crossed his lips. "But maybe it’s easier if I show you."

He turned and reached for the spear resting against the tent wall. With one steady motion, he planted its butt into the ground. The air shifted. Mana rippled outward like a living current.

A faint golden light spread beneath his feet, forming intricate rings that pulsed and grew wider with every heartbeat.

"Spear Domain," he said softly, his eyes glinting. "Circle of Eternity."

The words left his lips like a command.

In an instant, a bright ring of mana burst outward, rippling through the ground in a wave of golden light. The air trembled, the tent flaps rustling as a pulse of power swept through the space like a small quake.

Aurelya’s eyes widened, her mouth parting in disbelief. "T-That... that’s the Legate’s skill!" she stammered, her voice rising.

Thessalia took a step back, her brows shooting up as she stared at the glowing circle beneath his feet. Even Vaenyra, usually composed let a hint of surprise flicker across her calm face.

The energy that filled the tent was heavy, carrying that same rhythm, the same biting pressure they had once felt from the Legate himself. It was unmistakable.

Though the circle was smaller, no more than four feet wide compared to the massive one that had engulfed the battlefield, its structure, its pulse, its presence... it was identical.

No one spoke. The only sound was the hum of the fading mana.

Lumberling stood tall in the center of it, the glow slowly dimming until only faint motes of light lingered around him. "It’s not perfect yet," he said, his tone calm, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "But it’s getting there."

"This... this is insane."

Aurelya took a step forward, her golden eyes wide as she stared at the fading ripples of mana. "A skill like this shouldn’t even exist," she whispered, her voice trembling between disbelief and awe. "How can something like this be possible?"

She slowly reached out, her fingers brushing through the space where the glowing ring had been, as if trying to feel the remnants of its power.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled only by the faint hum of mana still lingering around Lumberling.

Thessalia exhaled softly, her expression unreadable at first, then shifting into quiet awe. "You’re... a monster," she said, her tone steady, not as an insult, but as a truth spoken aloud. Her emerald eyes met his, searching. "Is that why you carry so many elements within you?"

Lumberling met her gaze and nodded slowly. "Yes. I’ve fought and devoured mages before," he said. "That’s how I gained them."

Vaenyra, who had remained quiet until now, finally spoke. Her voice was calm, but there was a faint edge of wonder in it. "Such power..." Her emerald eyes glimmered faintly as she studied him. "If you can truly absorb essence, then it means there’s no limit to how far you can grow. As long as you keep fighting... you can become anything you want."