After several days of steady marching, the group finally arrived before the tall gates of Liraeth's fortress. The banners fluttered above the walls, and the sound of the guards' horns echoed through the air.

"Open the gates!" one of the watchmen shouted.

From atop the walls, Baron Roland, Captain Derrek, and Eldric stood shoulder to shoulder, watching as the approaching figures came into view.

Derrek squinted. "Who are those beautiful women beside Lord Lumberling?"

Eldric leaned forward, eyes widening. "Wait… are those… pointy ears?"

Roland's expression shifted from disbelief to astonishment. "Elves," he said quietly. "Those are elves."

The news spread fast through the fortress. When the gates creaked open and the group marched inside, the streets were already lined with people. Men, women, and children filled the paths, cheering and waving as they saw their lord return.

"They're back!"

"Lord Lumberling and Viscount Liraeth have returned!"

"And they brought another allies with them!"

The cheers grew louder, filling the air with warmth and celebration. Even the soldiers on the walls smiled and struck their chests in salute.

"Hehe, they're all cheering for me," Gobo2 said proudly, puffing out his chest as he waved at the crowd with both hands.

"Idiot," Gobo1 muttered, smacking the back of his head. "They're cheering for all of us."

"That's right, they love my muscles," Skarn said, flexing with a grin. The nearby children gasped and laughed, cheering even louder at his show-off pose.

Lumberling couldn't help but chuckle quietly at the sight of his goblins bickering as usual. The elves beside him walked gracefully, their steps light and measured. Wherever they passed, whispers followed. Their serene beauty and calm expressions seemed almost unreal like living legends.

Even Baron Roland had to compose himself before stepping forward. "Welcome home, Lord Lumberling, Viscount Liraeth," he said, bowing slightly. "It's an honor to see you return safely… and with such allies at your side."

Liraeth returned the gesture with a soft nod. "The honor is mine as well, Baron Roland."

Eldric stepped forward, grinning from ear to ear. "You've done it again, lad."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the great gates slowly closed behind them. The cheers lingered in the air, echoing through the fortress.

…..

Inside Liraeth's mansion, the faint glow of crystal lamps bathed the room in a warm, gentle light. The soft aroma of brewed tea filled the air as Lumberling sat with Liraeth, Skitz, and the three elves around a long polished table.

"So," Lumberling began, leaning back in his chair, "how are our products doing?"

Thessalia straightened slightly, her lips curling into a proud smile. "Quite well," she said. "The light bulbs sold out faster than we expected. Human nobles were especially fond of them. As for the batteries, we've already secured steady deals with several merchant houses. The income's been consistent."

Lumberling grinned. "So we're rich now, huh?"

Thessalia chuckled softly. "In a way, yes. But with the war spreading, trade routes are getting unstable. That might slow things down."

Liraeth nodded in agreement. "True, but that also means our goods will be even more valuable later. Everyone loves something new, and we have that advantage."

Lumberling smirked, swirling the tea in his cup. "That's one way to look at it."

The light mood slowly faded as the conversation shifted, the air in the room turning heavier.

"So," Lumberling began, setting his cup down, "you're saying the Sengolio and Aetherborn Empires are now moving with full force?"

Vaenyra nodded. "Yes. Both sides have started large-scale movements. They're going all out to claim that artifact."

Liraeth leaned forward slightly. "Where did you hear that from?"

"From the officials back in our empire," Vaenyra replied. "They said even our emperor, the archmage, and the Sengolio emperor are preparing to take action themselves."

The room fell silent.

Their Pentaline emperor might have been powerful, but facing two rulers and their armies, it was clear they were at a disadvantage.

Thessalia then added, her tone grave, "And it's not just them. We've also heard that one of the Four Kings of the Sea, Hroldir the Dreadwake has entered your empire. A ruthless Viking conqueror who commands black-hulled longships and thousands of elite warriors. That's why we rushed here… to make sure you were safe."

Liraeth's brows furrowed, her expression tightening with worry. "Even the Vikings are joining in? This is getting out of hand. At this rate… our empire won't hold for long."

"That's actually why we came," Aurelya said, her tone gentle but firm.

Lumberling looked at her curiously. "What is it?"

"Come with us to the Aetherborn Empire," she said. Her gaze then shifted toward Liraeth, making it clear that the invitation extended to her as well.

Liraeth's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She hadn't expected that, but there was warmth in her expression, a silent gratitude for the offer. Still, a brief hesitation crossed her face. Leaving meant safety, but it also meant abandoning what they'd built.

Lumberling, however, went quiet. His gaze drifted toward the flickering firelight, thoughts turning inward.

'Lucian… Daigo… Silas…

I wonder how they're planning to stop this chaos,' he mused. 'Unless Lucian somehow reaches Knight 5 overnight, they won't stand a chance.'

He exhaled softly and leaned back in his chair. 'Well… it's not my problem.'

A faint grin tugged at his lips, one that made the others pause. It was the kind of grin that meant he'd already decided on something.

"We won't be returning with you," he said at last.

The three elves frowned slightly, exchanging looks.

"Not yet," Lumberling added, his smile calm but confident. "I don't think our empire will fall that easily. Besides, there's still a lot I need to do here, and this war will give us plenty of chances to grow stronger."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Aurelya gave a slow nod, her expression softening. Vaenyra and Thessalia followed, a quiet understanding passing between them.

If that was his decision, they would stand by it. After all, the man before them wasn't someone who wavered once he'd decided his path, especially now that they knew the power he carried.

"Skitz," he began, his tone calm but steady, "take the captains and vice-captains with you. I want you to start hunting that blessed Lizardmen. If there are others like them nearby, hunt them too."

Skitz raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile forming on his lips. "So, we're finally going after that one, huh?"

"Yeah," Lumberling replied. "But don't get careless. If you sense anything strange, anything like what happened with that priestess, don't think twice. Run. I don't want anyone dying over a single hunt."

Skitz chuckled softly. "Relax, we'll be careful. I'll make sure of it."

Lumberling nodded, then turned his gaze toward the others. "As for us," he said, "we're heading to the Duchy of Stonepalm."

Liraeth's brows lifted slightly. "Stonepalm? You mean that place where you said they train in another path… what was it called again? Martial arts?"

Aurelya tilted her head, curious. "Martial arts?"

"They're warriors who use something called qi," Lumberling explained. "They don't rely on mana like mages. Instead, they cultivate their inner energy to strengthen their bodies and sharpen their senses."

As he spoke, a faint glow rippled through his skin, subtle, but enough for them to feel the shift in the air. The pressure from his qi pulsed softly before fading.

Thessalia's eyes widened slightly, then she nodded with recognition. "Ah… so it was that power."

Vaenyra crossed her arms, her calm eyes studying Lumberling for a moment before she spoke. "You're planning to strengthen your martial path?" she asked softly. "That's good… but remember, it's better to master one path fully before walking another. Mixing too many might slow your growth."

Lumberling nodded with a small smile. "I know. I'm not trying to take another path just for the sake of it. I want to find a way to advance my mind cultivation faster. And if it's true that not just their Duke, but even their common folk can train in martial arts, then I need to understand how they do it."

He leaned back slightly, his eyes thoughtful. 'Do they also have blessings? Or maybe they've developed another way to temper the body and spirit…' he wondered silently.

After a brief pause, he looked around the table. "Do you all want to come with me?"

Aurelya grinned without hesitation. "Of course. We came to walk beside you, not behind you. We're not leaving you."

Liraeth smiled warmly. "Thanks for the invite. I'd be glad to come along too, it's been a while since I've been to Stonepalm."

Lumberling nodded gratefully, his expression softening. "Thanks, everyone. The Duke of Stonepalm isn't someone ordinary, so I might need your help dealing with him."

Vaenyra smirked slightly. "You always do."

Lumberling chuckled under his breath. "Yeah… I probably do."

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