As long as they come back to life

Two days later, Aldric and Kiyome appeared outside the Lynx Tribe.

The place was smaller than Aldric had expected. Fewer than fifty wooden houses stood inside the valley, surrounded only by a simple fence meant to keep magical beasts away.

The moment the two Lynx guards saw Kiyome's fox ears, they immediately relaxed their vigilance.

One of them even stepped forward and bowed.

"Lady Kiyome, we didn't know you were coming, so we didn't have time to prepare a proper welcome."

Kiyome had visited once before to negotiate an agreement for purchasing medicinal herbs, so they still remembered her.

"There's no need to prepare anything."

Kiyome opened her fan and covered the lower half of her face.

"I received word that a group of bandits is approaching the valley. Gather everyone in the square. I'll help you activate a protective barrier."

The guard's expression immediately changed.

"How many are there?"

"A lot."