The Devouring Knight

Vaenyra remained silent for a moment, a hint of surprise in her emerald eyes. "Maybe I am," she finally said.

Thessalia rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Luck and fate... That really is interesting."

The three elves were mages who valued logic and reason, yet none of them dismissed what Lumberling and Liraeth were saying. After all, Lumberling himself and his abilities were already strange enough to defy logic.

Skitz suddenly grinned. "So, if I understand correctly, the plan is to join Lucian’s side and let his ridiculous luck keep us out of trouble?"

"That’s about it."

Aurelya crossed her arms and pouted. "I still don’t like it."

Thessalia shook her head with a small smile. "If his luck really is that strong, then maybe we won’t have to worry about dying so easily either."

"I won’t rely on luck," Vaenyra said seriously. "Whatever happens, if a fight comes, we’ll win it with our own strength."

Lumberling smiled. "We will."

.....

A few days later, Lumberling walked down the hallway with Thessalia at his side. They soon arrived at the room where the three elders were staying.

"Lord Lumberling," Grand Elder Tian greeted him with a small bow.

Lumberling nodded. "Grand Elder Tian. Have you decided what you want to do now?"

Grand Elder Tian exchanged a look with the other two elders before sighing. "Not yet. We still haven’t reached a decision."

"Then join us."

The three elders looked at Lumberling in surprise. "Join you?"

"Yes." Lumberling nodded. "I’m inviting all of you. In fact, there’s something important I want to tell you."

He gave them a respectful bow before continuing. "It concerns the origins of Duke Hadric."

The moment they heard their Duke’s name, the elders became serious. They quickly took their seats, while Lumberling and Thessalia sat across from them.

"What do you mean by his origins?" Grand Elder Tian asked.

"To tell you the truth, Duke Hadric and I came from the same land."

"What?" The three elders stared at him in shock.

"You don’t need to be so surprised. That is also why he was willing to share some of his most guarded cultivation techniques with me."

Elder Shen slowly nodded. "Now that you mention it... that does explain a lot."

Elder Hanxu’s eyes lit up. "Then there are other cultivators in that land as well?"

"There were," Lumberling replied. "That place was where the cultivation methods you practice today first came from."

The elders immediately became excited. "Lord Lumberling, where is this place?" Elder Hanxu asked eagerly.

Lumberling’s expression became slightly gloomy. "Unfortunately, you can no longer find it."

The elders’ excitement faded. "What happened?"

"The land was destroyed, and almost everyone there was killed." Lumberling paused for a moment before continuing. "By Dragons."

"Dragons?" Grand Elder Tian’s face turned pale.

"Yes. Duke Hadric was one of the few who survived. My grandparents came from that land as well, so I am a descendant of those people."

He lowered his gaze, making his voice quieter. "After losing his home, Duke Hadric traveled far from that place and eventually settled here in the empire. He was always afraid that the dragons might find him again. My grandparents lived the same way."

Lumberling gave a small sigh. "That was also why I came as soon as I heard Duke Hadric’s name. I wanted to meet someone who came from the same place as my ancestors."

He paused. "But now... even he is gone."

The elders fell silent.

"So that’s why Duke Hadric always seemed to be hiding something," Elder Shen muttered.

Lumberling nodded.

Beside him, Thessalia’s mouth twitched slightly. ’What a smooth liar...’

She quietly watched him, looking every bit like a swindler trying to trick a group of old men.

Lumberling continued before the elders could ask more questions. "I’m not only doing this because Duke Hadric was my friend. We came from the same land, and now that he is gone, I feel that I have a responsibility to carry on what he left behind."

He looked at the three elders. "I want to continue his legacy and protect the people who survived. They have already lost their home once. I don’t want them to lose everything again."

The elders looked at one another.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then Grand Elder Tian slowly nodded. "Duke Hadric always wanted to protect us. If you truly intend to continue what he started..."

He looked at the other two elders. "We’ll join you, Lord Lumberling."

The other elders nodded in agreement. "We’ll join you."

...

As they walked down the corridor, Thessalia gave Lumberling a small smile.

"All that speech just to convince them to join you and teach us their cultivation knowledge?"

"Of course," Lumberling replied without hesitation. "Duke Hadric left us too soon, and now we don’t have anyone to guide them. If they stay with us, they’ll have to help fill that role."

He shrugged. "And it’s not like I completely lied to them. Now that they’ve chosen to follow me, I’ll do what I can to keep them safe. If they prove themselves useful and loyal, I’ll truly make them my subordinates."

Thessalia looked at him for a moment before smirking. "Isn’t my husband an ambitious man?"

"Husband, huh?"

Lumberling’s eyes lit up. "I like that."

Before Thessalia could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer as they continued walking.

"You really are shameless."

"You’re the one who called me your husband."

Thessalia rolled her eyes, but the smile on her face remained.

.....

Later that day, Lumberling gathered several of his subordinates.

Shade stood at the front, its sharp mandibles clicking softly. Beside it were Kaeldron, the remaining lizardmen, Rud, and the Viking goblins and kobolds he had chosen.

"I want you to return to the village and help Grokk. Protect our home and the rest of our people who remained there."

Lumberling’s gaze swept across them. "Don’t let Grokk die. And I don’t want any of you dying either. Understood?"

Shade clicked its mandibles in response. Kaeldron, Rud, and the others immediately saluted. "Yes, My Lord!"

"When we meet again, I want to see all of you stronger than you are now."

He stepped aside and waved his hand. "Go."

Without hesitation, Shade, the lizardmen, Kaeldron, Rud, and the goblin warriors set off toward the goblin village.

Skitz watched them leave before turning to Lumberling. "Are you sure they’ll be fine? Don’t you need me to go with them?"

Lumberling shook his head. "They’re strong enough to take care of themselves. And if they’re not, then they need to get stronger."

Skitz thought about it for a moment before shrugging. "Your choice."

With that, his body faded into the shadows.

"I’m going back to training."