Lucien returned to Lootwell shortly after leaving the preserved region.
Before he left, however, Marie, Kaia, Sylra, and Marina stopped him.
They wanted part of the land.
Lucien looked at the four of them for several seconds.
They rarely asked him for anything directly.
More importantly, he still owed them.
The preserved region clearly meant far more to them than they were willing to explain.
So Lucien did not make things difficult.
He granted them a section they asked for.
The four women immediately looked pleased.
Lucien raised one finger.
"There is one condition."
They looked at him.
"If the true owner of this land ever returns, you have to give it back."
For some reason, all four women laughed.
Lucien frowned.
"What?"
Marie shook her head.
"Nothing."
That only made him more suspicious.
But none of them explained.
The spirits accompanying them soon began moving toward the newly granted territory with considerable enthusiasm.
