The Flying Fortress slowly decelerated in the sky, then took a turn and headed in Deluo's direction. Two shadows left the tower and flew towards him. Since the distance was too far, Deluo couldn't see what they were. The warrior had no choice but to rein in his horse and hide it in the nearby woods. However, the reddish-brown pony was hard to conceal in the white world.

"Looks like they're looking for me." Deluo drew the Double-headed Sword from his back, gripping it in his hand, and tightened the strings of the short crossbow in his sleeve. Together with a few bottles of coma smoke in his pocket, these little gadgets prepared by Nimo filled Deluo with confidence.

The two figures drew nearer, and Deluo could already see a pair of wings unfold behind one of the shadows. The flying city had moved out of the sun's range, and the sudden sunlight made the warrior involuntarily close his eyes.

Deluo leaped back, positioning the Double-headed Sword horizontally in front of him in a defensive stance. He felt a gust of wind pass by him, followed by the soft sound of footprints being trodden in the snow.

"Put down your blades, Deluo," Lynch's voice echoed in the warrior's ear, "I don't want you to hurt Soka."

"Lynch? Soka?" Deluo finally managed to make out the figures approaching. Lynch appeared more confident than a few years ago, moving with increased agility and grace. Compared to his time in the Underdark, the mage had matured significantly. The harsh environment had deepened the lines on his face, but joy quickly replaced his seriousness. Lynch stood before Deluo, holding a long staff encrusted with gemstones, smiling cheerfully.

Soka's transformation left the warrior momentarily unable to react; the once-little girl was now almost as tall as he was, with much of the youthful innocence replaced by a youthful vibe. But what surprised Deluo even more was Soka's incredibly fit and elastic muscles, which combined strength and precision. Seeing the bow and arrows on the little angel's back, Deluo could easily guess what Soka had become most skilled at.

"I didn't expect it to be you two! How long has it been since we last met?" Deluo sheathed his weapon and replied with a smile, pinching Soka's soft cheek and laughing heartily, "Looks like our little angel, whom we rescued, has been eating well. You've grown so much!"

"I didn't grow from eating," Soka winced and tried to bite Deluo's hand, but the warrior dodged nimbly. "Pinching my face as soon as we meet, I'll have Brother Lynch teach you a lesson."

"Oh, he wouldn't dare," Deluo laughed even more merrily, "I say, Mage, whose flying city is that behind you? It looks impressive. Traveling in that would be far more relaxing than riding a horse."

"You're not wrong, Deluo," Lynch grasped the warrior's arm and walked towards the All-Knowing Tower, "What brings you traveling out here at this time? If it weren't for Soka's sharp eyes, we might have missed you."

"I was left with no choice," Deluo sighed, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I've got a bunch of people needing food back home, but with the current situation... I was on my way to Yim. Felps put me in touch with a wealthy merchant who could sponsor me. So every few months, I have to make a trip."

"Is Littlefinger involved?" Lynch asked with slight surprise, "Deluo, first tell me, is my mother doing well?"

"Yes, yes, she's doing well. Apart from nagging about why you haven't gotten married and had kids yet, everything's fine." Deluo patted Lynch's shoulder, whispering softly into the mage's ear, "Let me tell you, I'm about to become a father."

Lynch didn't seem surprised, just nodding in response. This lack of reaction left Deluo a bit awkward, as he had hoped to see joy on the mage's face. However, Soka clearly heard Deluo's words and asked curiously, "When will the babies be born?"

"In three months, by the time spring comes," Deluo said, now with a sense of pride, "There will be two babies born then, and I'll be more than busy. Lynch, if your mother hadn't agreed to help me with the kids, I wouldn't have dared to have two at once."

The mage gave Deluo a sidelong glance. No need to ask; both maids must be pregnant. How Deluo managed their relationships and what maintained the balance was a mystery that even the Great Mage Lynch couldn't unravel. Yet on the other hand, for Deluo to leave behind two pregnant future mothers and journey through this icy world alone demonstrated how dire the situation was.

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