Lumberling had considered the idea before, their return to the world under the guise of mercenaries. But he hadn't expected the war to swell so quickly, consuming the borderlands and gnawing into the empire's heart. Reports of pirates and mages joining the fray had sounded like drunken tavern talk at first, until Eldric himself stood before them asking for aid.
Helping meant risk. But it also meant opportunity.
This was his chance to see firsthand what this world could truly offer, and perhaps carve out a place for themselves in the empire.
Lumberling surveyed the gathered faces, Uncle Drake, Celine cradling Evelyn, the wary villagers leaning in to listen. The weight of Eldric's request settled heavily on his shoulders.
This isn't charity and also not a noble cause. The thought pressed at the back of his mind. It's a gamble, risking blood and steel for coin and influence. But in this fractured world, profit and survival are two sides of the same blade.
