Linya quietly fell asleep in Natiya's arms, her breathing becoming even and gentle, as though all her exhaustion and emotions had been released in that moment.
Natiya's gaze was tender and full of motherly love. She lowered her head and gently stroked Linya's hair, as if she had returned to Linya's childhood, when she had held her like this and softly hummed lullabies to put her to sleep.
Ang and Dana stood silently to one side, watching the touching moment between mother and daughter.
Dana casually took a dark hide blanket from his backpack and quietly covered Linya with it, worried that she might catch a chill.
The hide blanket was made from Hellhound Hide, tough and warm.
Seeing this, a trace of gratitude flashed through Natiya's eyes. She gave Dana a slight smile to express her thanks.
Dana simply smiled back in response to her gaze.
"Did you escort Linya here?" Natiya suddenly asked, shifting her gaze from Linya's sleeping face to Ang and Dana.
Her voice was gentle, carrying a hint of curiosity.
Only then did Ang finally take a careful look at Natiya's face.
She resembled Linya. Their features were sixty percent alike, but Linya's temperament carried slight human traits, while Natiya possessed the wholly typical features of an elf.
Her face seemed exquisitely sculpted. Her delicate oval face and fair, supple skin gave her an indescribably youthful air.
Natiya was also very tall, at least over 1.8 meters, about the same height as Ang. She stood straight and elegant, like an upright tree.
"We happened to meet Linya on the road, so we traveled with her to the World Tree to find you," Ang said calmly, though there was a trace of caution in his eyes.
"You must have encountered many hardships along the way." Concern