And then…
Lumberling's body jolted awake. His icy blue eyes snapped open, wide with shock. His breath came in ragged bursts, chest rising and falling like a man dragged out of drowning.
"Huff… huff… huff…"
"Lumberling!"
"My Lord!"
Two familiar voices broke through the haze. Lumberling turned his head and found Skitz and Liraeth close.
Slowly, fragments pieced themselves back together, the battle with Agathis, the spear piercing her heart, the surge of foreign memories and essence crashing into him, then the void.
"What's wrong? What happened to you?" Liraeth asked, her brows furrowed. Her hand hovered as if she wanted to steady him but held back. His skin was pale, his eyes clouded, as though his soul had wandered too far and only just returned.
Lumberling shut his eyes, forcing his breath steady. The pounding in his chest eased bit by bit, until finally a faint clarity returned to his gaze.
