After walking across the scorching sand beneath the blazing sun for what felt like hours, Lucien was beginning to reach his limit. His muscles trembled with every step, and an unpleasant emptiness gnawed at his stomach despite the mana berries he had eaten in the forest. He had no idea how much longer he could keep going like this.
Beside him, Zephyr continued walking as though the journey had barely affected him. Lucien had been so preoccupied with his own exhaustion that he had hardly considered how Zephyr was holding up. Just as he turned to glance at him, however, Zephyr suddenly bent down and slipped one arm beneath his knees.
Before Lucien could react, his feet left the ground.
"Wh-What are you doing?!"
Zephyr had picked him up as effortlessly as though he weighed nothing.
