As if answering Xion's unspoken wish, the healers, who had been tending to patients across the cities and villages, arrived at the Northern border.
Most of them looked battered, dressed in thick but old, worn-out clothes.
Among them, Bard stood at the forefront. He was dressed in a big brown coat that covered his entire frame like a second skin.
But it couldn't hide the changes in his body. The once thin, sharp-nosed man had grown firmer with the passage of time.
Even with the thick stubble on his face, he was easy to recognize. His features had become more refined, giving off the vibe of a genius about to succumb to the dark side.
Why such a bad impression all of a sudden?
It was mostly due to the dark circles almost reaching his cheeks.
"Bard!" Xion waved excitedly. "You're finally here."
Though he hadn't expected many of the healers to return, he was sure about this person. Seeing him again was like seeing a long-lost friend.
