In truth, it had only been a misunderstanding on Seraphine's part.
The ring Lucien had given her was nothing more than a storage ring filled with useful drops as thanks for the book she had entrusted to him.
Inside were medicine-related drops, seeds of the rare crops from the ruins of Stillness, and even a few recipes he had bought from the system.
And yet…
Lucien could not deny that, for some reason, he had still wanted to tease her.
That part was strange.
He did not dwell on it.
•••
When Lucien opened his eyes again, the world had changed.
The transfer was complete.
Below him lay the linked Waystone Fragment, still faintly glowing where it had anchored his arrival.
The numbers ticked down to zero.
And before him—
People.
Familiar ones.
For a brief instant, it felt as if the entire world had paused.
The farewell from the Liberators had left warmth in his chest.
But this…
This was different.
This was the jolt of return.
