The four legendary beasts stiffened the moment they saw him clearly.
Eldrin was the first to react. His calm eyes widened just a little.
"…You," he said quietly. "Weren't you still in the Demon World?"
Silvar took a half step forward, claws lightly scraping the ground. "Just what's going on?"
Cindor tilted his head, embers flickering once along his wings. "I can't understand it at all."
Bastor and Varyn remained silent, but the ground beneath them subtly shifted, as if acknowledging a familiar presence.
Garion looked at all of them and broke into an easy smile.
He shrugged. "Yeah. I was."
He waved a hand casually. "One way or another, I made it back."
He took a few steps closer, completely relaxed despite the pressure they naturally released.
"Let's skip the small talk," Garion said. "We already know each other."
Silvar's eyes narrowed. "You speak as if this is a reunion."
Garion snorted. "It is."
