Lyerin walked further into the encampnt of the Stonehooves Tribe, feeling the familiar warmth of ho settle over him.
The sturdy figures of Pig Orcs of the tribe moved around him with purpose, their lives continuing as they always had, but the arrival of Lyerin drew imdiate attention.
He could sense their respect and anticipation.
They knew sothing was different; they always knew.
Yet, even in their curiosity, they remained focused, trusting him to bring clarity in ti.
As Lyerin approached the central gathering space, the quiet atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by a flurry of familiar voices.
"Lyerin!"
Corora's voice, sharp and filled with relief, was the first to break through.
One by one, they all appeared—Corora, Cornelia, Maria, Elena, Sophia, Lydia, Fiona, Emily, and Natalie—moving toward him with a mixture of concern and confusion etched on their faces.
These were the won who had fought by his side, strategized with him, and shared in the burdens of leadership.
Each of them was strong, brilliant, and vital to the tribe's survival.
Corora was the first to reach him, her piercing eyes scanning him up and down as if searching for injuries or any sign of distress.
"Where have you been?" she asked, her voice steady but edged with worry.
Lyerin, ever nonchalant, waved a hand dismissively, a casual smile tugging at his lips. "I was kidnapped."
The word fell from his lips so casually, as though it was an everyday occurrence.
The stunned silence that followed was almost comical.
Their eyes widened in shock, and for a brief mont, none of them knew how to respond. Lyerin continued walking, as though he hadn't just dropped a bombshell on them.
Cornelia blinked, her usually composed face unable to mask her surprise. "Kidnapped?" she repeated, disbelief dripping from her tone.
Maria, always the most quick-witted among them, crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. "And you're just saying that so casually? Kidnapped by who?"
Lyerin shrugged, still grinning. "The Shuras."
A collective gasp rose from the group, and the won exchanged uneasy glances.
They had learned that the one they saw in the sky was as Shura, and Shuras were no trivial threat as they are always in the books.
They were known across the universe for their ruthlessness and warrior-like nature.
For Lyerin to have been taken by them—and yet, here he was, standing before them with not a scratch on him—was nothing short of miraculous.
Elena stepped forward, her face pale with concern. "The Shuras? How did you escape? What did they want from you?"
Lyerin chuckled, waving off her concern. "It's already resolved. You don't need to worry about it."
Sophia, ever the calm and analytical one, stepped closer, her brow furrowing in thought.
"Resolved by you? What did they want with you, Lyerin? And why were they interested in you specifically?"
Fiona, who had been silently watching the exchange, couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.
"Did they... torture you? Threaten you?" Her voice trembled slightly, though she tried to maintain her usual stoic deanor.
Lyerin's grin only widened as he turned to face them all, his eyes twinkling with amusent.
"Torture? No, not really." He paused, glancing around at their expectant faces before finally elaborating.
"The Shuras were curious about my tribe. They wanted to understand why we're so... difficult to kill."
He let the words hang in the air for a mont before continuing.
"But they were too afraid to do anything more. I might've played with their fears a little, made them think we're more invincible than we are."
Natalie, standing at the edge of the group, finally spoke up, her voice full of skepticism. "So, they just let you go? Just like that?"
Lyerin nodded, still grinning. "More or less. I convinced them that keeping around would be more trouble than it's worth."
Lydia stepped forward, her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing slightly. "What did they really do to you, Lyerin? You always make things sound easier than they are."
Lyerin sighed, tilting his head as if pondering how much to reveal. "They asked a lot of questions. Tried to figure out our secrets—why we're so resilient, why we can co back from the dead so many tis. But, in the end, I told them enough to keep them satisfied. Nothing to worry about."
Emily, who had been watching quietly until now, spoke up with a gentle tone. "Did they hurt you, Lyerin? I know you're strong, but the Shuras are... they're ruthless."
Lyerin turned to her, his expression softening for just a mont before he shook his head. "No, Emily, they didn't hurt . They were more afraid of what I represent than anything else. I played along, gave them just enough to keep them at bay. But I made sure to leave them with more questions than answers."
Cornelia, still looking bewildered, exchanged glances with the others before speaking again. "What do they think of you now? What do the Shuras think of the Stonehooves Tribe?"
Lyerin's eyes glead with a mixture of mischief and confidence. "They think we're untouchable. I made sure of that. They won't co after us, not directly. They're too afraid of what we might do, and I let them believe that. For now, we're safe."
The group fell silent for a mont, processing his words. Despite their relief, there was an undercurrent of unease. The Shuras were a powerful race, and the fact that Lyerin had dealt with them so casually left them with more questions than answers.
Maria finally broke the silence, her voice low and thoughtful. "So... they see you as a threat, but they're too scared to act on it?"
Lyerin nodded, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. "Exactly. And that's the way we'll keep it."
Sophia, still deep in thought, spoke up again. "But, Lyerin... what if they co back? What if they find out more about us?"
Lyerin shrugged, his carefree deanor never faltering. "Then we'll deal with them. But for now, we've bought ourselves ti. They won't be back anyti soon."
Fiona stepped closer, her eyes filled with a mixture of respect and concern. "And you're sure about this? You're sure they won't try sothing?"
Lyerin gave her a reassuring smile. "Positive. The Shuras are cowards at heart. They might be strong, but they won't act unless they're certain of victory. And right now, they're far from certain."
The won exchanged glances, still processing the weight of his words. Despite their lingering concerns, they trusted Lyerin. He had never led them astray before, and they knew he wouldn't start now.
Cornelia, ever the voice of reason, finally spoke. "We believe you, Lyerin. But we also know you too well. There's more to this, isn't there?"
Lyerin's smile widened, a playful glint in his eyes as he t her gaze. "Perhaps. But for now, all you need to know is that we're safe. The Shuras won't be bothering us anyti soon."
The conversation lingered in the air, the tension slowly dissipating as the won accepted his words. Though they had more questions, they knew Lyerin well enough to trust his judgnt.
In the end, it was Elena who voiced what they were all thinking. "You really are sothing, Lyerin. To deal with the Shuras like that... only you."
Lyerin chuckled, glancing up at the sky for a mont before turning back to them. "What can I say? I like to keep things interesting."
The won smiled, their faith in him unshaken despite the chaos that surrounded them. For now, at least, they could breathe easy.
As the conversation drew to a close, Lyerin simply smiled.
However, suddenly, his eyes would went wide.
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