The afternoon sun beamed down upon the pine-covered ridgeline, bathing the ancient stone redoubt in crisp sunlight.
Hajin crested the final grassy knoll with slow, deliberate strides, his feet leaving faint impressions in the damp mountain soil.
His traveling shirt was shredded to ribbons across his left shoulder, stained with dried venom and smelling faintly of ozone and crushed limestone.
His shattered right arm remained secured inside its rigid splint, held tightly against his ribs by the boiled leather harness.
Standing guard upon the granite parapet of the redoubt, Loccy froze, her two divine wings flaring in sheer, disbelieving shock.
The demihuman brawler leaned over the rough parapet, her fierce animalistic eyes widening to the size of saucers as she stared at the lone summoner walking up from the valley floor.
