Chapter 158

A few months had slipped by before Ludger even realized how much time had passed.

When he finally stepped out of his quarters that morning, the sunlight caught him square in the face — pale gold and clear, not the weak, cold shimmer of winter. He yawned once, stretching his arms overhead until his joints cracked. The familiar weight of his armguards hung from his belt, and his boots sank slightly into the soft earth instead of frozen ground.

It took him a moment to realize why the morning felt… different. Then it clicked.

“Right,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “My birthday.”

Ten years old.

He stood there for a moment, letting the thought sink in. The number felt strange —

small

, almost out of place with the things he’d already done. At ten, most kids were still learning to hold a sword without dropping it. He’d been commanding soldiers, forging alliances, and fighting monsters that stood taller than houses.

Still, when he looked down at himself, the perspective was humbling. Compared to the northern giants he fought beside every week, he barely reached their chests. Even so, his frame was lean, solid, and already defined by the work and combat that filled his days.

He gave a faint smirk. “One-sixty, huh? Not bad for a kid.”

The air smelled cleaner now — sharp with the scent of thawed soil and faint traces of grass. Winter had finally passed, leaving the borderlands wide and alive again. The heavy white blanket that had buried the fields for months was gone, revealing stretches of green that rolled toward the distant mountains. Not really, but his magic changing the terrain pushed the snow around three hundred meters.

Ludger stepped outside fully, his boots crunching lightly on the gravel path. From this vantage point on the rise, he could see everything — the fields spreading wider than ever before, the cattle grazing in slow, content herds, and the faint shimmer of irrigation channels glinting under the sunlight.

But what truly stood out was the horizon beyond.

The labyrinth’s jagged silhouette was still there, half-buried in ice and shadow, but something new had risen before it — something alive, structured.

The northerners’ town.

Where once there had been only tents and scattered longhouses, now a thriving settlement stood in clear view. Wooden halls, stone forges, and trading posts lined the new streets. Smoke rose steadily from chimneys, and the sound of construction carried faintly on the wind — rhythmic, constant.

A wide, dirt-packed road now connected their settlement to the southern fields, cutting clean through the land Ludger had once reshaped himself. What had begun as an empty, frozen border now looked like the start of a real province.

Ludger crossed his arms, taking it all in. “Hard to believe this used to be a wasteland.”

He let the silence stretch for a moment, the wind brushing through his hair. He wasn’t the kind to dwell on dates or celebrations — there were always too many things to do — but the sight before him, the sheer change in only a few months, made something tighten faintly in his chest.

He smiled, just a little.

“Guess not bad for ten,” he muttered, turning toward the path that led downhill.

The day was just beginning, and with it, a dozen new tasks — but for once, the world ahead didn’t look like endless struggle. It looked like progress.

Ludger stood on the edge of the terrace overlooking the fields, the breeze carrying the smell of thawed soil and damp grass. He exhaled softly, his breath curling faintly in the cool morning air.

What should I even do today…

The thought drifted lazily through his head as he watched the workers moving across the fields below — Torvares soldiers giving instructions to a few newly arrived settlers, cattle being herded toward the fenced grazing grounds, and construction crews patching up a new section of the irrigation channels.

He rubbed his chin. “If I’m heading home next week, I should probably skip the labyrinth for a while,” he murmured. “Might as well speed up the last bits of work here before leaving.”

The past few weeks had been almost peaceful — which, for Ludger, was strange enough to be unnerving. The alliance was stable, the weather was finally improving, and even the labyrinth had quieted down. It almost felt

too calm.

He was still lost in thought when he spotted Darnell coming up the slope, his usual brisk pace cutting through the morning haze. The captain barked a few last orders to a group of newcomers before heading straight for Ludger.

The newcomers, from the look of their clothes and rough hands, were farmers — probably from the south. It was about time, Ludger figured. The soldiers had done enough heavy lifting for one lifetime; letting proper farmers handle the fields was long overdue.

“Morning, Captain,” Ludger greeted, his tone light. “Looks like we’re finally getting people who know which end of a shovel to use.”

Darnell gave a short chuckle. “About time, yeah. They’ll make the place run smoother.” He paused for a moment, his expression shifting to something a little more serious. “By the way, you should head to the border town.”

Ludger raised an eyebrow. “Now? Why?”

Darnell hesitated. “Can’t say.”

Ludger blinked. “Can’t or won’t?”

“Can’t,” Darnell said flatly. “Orders. You’ll find out when you get there.”

Ludger’s frown deepened. He studied Darnell for a moment — the captain’s stance was casual, but his tone had that clipped, careful edge that meant this wasn’t just some formality.

“Fine,” Ludger said at last, crossing his arms. “I’ll go. But if this turns out to be another ‘inspection,’ I’m sending

you

down into the labyrinth next time.”

Darnell smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Just… trust me. You’ll want to see this one yourself.”

That only made Ludger more suspicious, but he didn’t press further. If Darnell wasn’t talking, there was a reason — and probably one worth walking a few kilometers for.

He sighed, glancing once more at the busy fields before turning toward the road leading north. “Alright. Guess I’ll bite.”

As he started down the dirt path, the wind shifted slightly, carrying with it the faint sounds of hammers and voices from the direction of the border town. Whatever was waiting for him there, it had the whole place buzzing.

And knowing his luck, it wouldn’t be anything simple.

After saying hi to the newcomers, Ludger swung by the town where Kharnek was overseeing a sparring match between two young northerners. The ground shook with every clash of wooden weapons.

“Hey, Chief,” Ludger called out as he adjusted the strap of his gauntlet. “I’ll be gone for a couple hours. Heading to the border town.”

Kharnek turned mid-yell — right as one of the trainees used his distraction to smack him square in the chest. The northerner winced, then roared a laugh that echoed across the field. “Ha! Serves me right! Fine, boy, go. Just don’t get dragged into another fight down there.”

“No promises, as usual,” Ludger said with a faint smirk before turning toward the main road.

Once he hit the open dirt path, he started running — a steady, loping stride that quickly turned into a full dash. His boots thudded softly against the packed earth, the wind tugging at his coat as the rolling fields blurred past him.

The road stretched far ahead, lined by patches of spring-green grass and the distant shimmer of the town’s rooftops. It wasn’t far — maybe a thirty-minute run at full pace — but the motion helped him think.

What could Darnell be hiding…?

he wondered.

No danger warnings, no emergency patrols…

Then another thought crept in — one that made his pace falter for a second.

Don’t tell me they’re throwing me a birthday party.

He grimaced. The mere idea made his shoulders tense.

Sure, he knew nobles did that sort of thing — grand halls, silverware, expensive clothes, people pretending to care about each other’s bloodlines. But up here? Among the northerners and soldiers? The image of Darnell trying to organize a “party” was almost painful to imagine. He wasn’t noble anyway.

He snorted under his breath. “Yeah, right. The only thing they’d celebrate with me is finishing the fences ahead of schedule.”

Still, the timing lined up. Today

was

his birthday. Not that he’d told anyone — but people like Darnell had a habit of finding out everything.

He sped up again, the cold wind brushing past his hair.

Even if they did plan something, it’s not like I’d stop them,

he thought reluctantly.

Just… keep it small, that’s all I ask.

A wry smile crossed his face.

“Besides,” he muttered, half to himself, “I’m technically rich, but the guild’s money disappears faster than I can blink. Guess that makes me rich on paper only. Can we afford a birthday party?”

The thought made him chuckle as he crested the final ridge. Below him, the border town spread wide and alive — chimneys smoking, merchants shouting, soldiers moving along the walls.

Whatever waited for him there, it was probably better than paperwork.

“Alright,” he said under his breath, breaking into another sprint. “Let’s see what this is about.”

When the walls of the border town finally came into full view, Ludger slowed his pace to a jog. The town had grown guard posts reinforced, merchant carts lining the gate, the Lionsguard banner fluttering proudly alongside the Northerner crest.

He lifted a hand to greet the sentries on the wall, but before he could even shout, someone waved back — a familiar figure with long short brown hair, leaning casually over the battlements.

“Hey! Took you long enough!”

Selene’s voice carried easily through the air.

Ludger barely had time to blink before she vaulted over the wall, landing with a thud and a small swirl of dust that made the nearby guards flinch. She straightened, brushing off her cloak with a grin that was equal parts playful and dangerous.

“Still making dramatic entrances, I see,” Ludger said dryly as he approached.

She flashed him a teasing smirk. “What can I say? Old habits.”

It had been a while since they’d last trained together — his “martial arts teacher,” as she liked to call herself, though half their sessions felt more like attempted murder with lessons attached. Seeing her here, full of energy and with that trademark glint in her eyes, made him wonder if she was planning to test how much he’d improved.

He raised an eyebrow. “So… what’s the occasion? You the one who called for me?”

Selene crossed her arms, her grin widening. “Me? No.”

Ludger frowned. “Then what’s with the smile?”

“The surprise’s ahead,” she said, tilting her head toward the center of town. “Right beside the guildhall. You’ll see soon enough.”

Ludger squinted suspiciously. “A surprise?”

Selene only hummed, clearly enjoying herself far too much. “Mm-hmm. And no, I’m not telling you what it is. Spoils the fun.”

He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “You realize that every time someone says the word ‘surprise,’ it usually means trouble, right?”

Selene chuckled, already turning toward the main road. “Oh, don’t worry. This one won’t punch you in the face. Probably.”

“That’s not as comforting as you think,” Ludger muttered, following her down the dirt path.

As they walked, townsfolk nodded respectfully to him, some smiling, others giving quiet salutes. The place felt alive — bustling in a way that hadn’t existed a few months ago. Still, the fact that

Selene

looked this amused didn’t exactly put him at ease.

He shot her a sideways glance. “Whatever this is, if it ends with me wearing something ridiculous, I’m walking back to the fortress.”

They walked side by side through the main street, and for the first time in months, Ludger barely recognized the place.

The border town had transformed completely — no longer a rough outpost, but a proper settlement. The streets were lined with cobblestones now, market stalls were open and lively, and the air smelled faintly of roasted grain and smoke from blacksmiths’ forges. Children ran between houses, laughing and chasing each other with sticks, while vendors shouted over one another, arguing about prices in half a dozen different accents.

It felt… alive.

Ludger slowed as they reached the central plaza. His eyes caught something in the distance — the old sculpture that he called a guild he’d carved out of earth back when this place was little more than a half destroyed town. Someone had taken care of it. The rough edges had been polished, and the place actually looked

good

now.

But that wasn’t what made him stop.

Next to the plaza, where there had once been nothing but trash, stood a

house

. Two stories tall, whitewashed walls, tiled roof, and a proper gate — far too refined for this part of the world. It was obviously brand new

Ludger blinked. “That wasn’t there last month.”

Selene’s grin widened. “Yeah, funny how fast things pop up around here.”

He turned to her, suspicion clear on his face. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”

She clasped her hands behind her back, pretending innocence. “Maybe. But you’ll find your answers inside. Some people wanted to see you.”

He frowned slightly. “People?”

She nodded, that infuriatingly playful smile stretching from ear to ear.

Ludger sighed.

No point asking. She won’t say a word.

“Fine,” he muttered, walking toward the new house. The gate opened easily, the hinges freshly oiled. The faint scent of cooked food and firewood drifted out from inside, warm and inviting in a way that instantly felt familiar.

The moment he stepped through the doorway, everything stopped.

His eyes widened.

“...You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Arslan and Elaine stood in the middle of the room — his parents — each holding a baby wrapped in soft white cloth.

The sight hit him harder than any monster ever could.

Elaine turned first, smiling in that soft, tired way only a mother could manage. “Surprise, sweetheart.”

Arslan chuckled, looking equally exhausted and proud. “You’re late. We were about to send Kharnek to drag you here.”

For a second, Ludger just stood there, frozen between disbelief and awe.

Around them, familiar faces filled the room — Harold, Aleia, Cor, Aronia, Yvar — all smiling, relaxed, as if the entire north had taken a break from its battles just to breathe for a day.

His gaze dropped back to his parents — and the two tiny bundles in their arms.

Two.

“Wait…” he started slowly. “

Two?

”

Elaine’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Twins. A boy and a girl.”

Arslan laughed, shaking his head. “I told her one would be enough trouble, but apparently the gods disagreed.”

Ludger let out a breath that was somewhere between a laugh and a sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was expecting one sibling, not a duo.”

Cor chuckled from the corner. “Seems like your family’s doubling its output.”

“Shut up, Cor,” Ludger muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice. His eyes softened as he stepped closer, the warmth of the room slowly sinking in.

Elaine carefully turned so he could see the twins better — both tiny, both sleeping soundly. “You’ll meet them properly later,” she said gently. “For now, just… be here.”

Ludger exhaled slowly, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I think I can do that.”

Behind him, Selene leaned casually against the doorway, watching the scene unfold with a grin that had lost its teasing edge. “Told you the surprise was worth it.”

Ludger didn’t even turn around. “For once, I’ll admit you were right.”

The house filled with laughter — soft, warm, and real — a sound that carried through the open windows and into the town outside. For the first time in a long while, the young commander of the north wasn’t thinking about labyrinths, alliances, or the Empire.

He was just home — ten years old, surrounded by people who mattered — and for a rare, fleeting moment, that was enough.

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