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The forest's blood-stench thinned in the bitter wind.
The campfire still crackled. Firelight painted faces that had survived.
Guards cleaned the battlefield. Piled bandit corpses. Tended wounded comrades.
Jory ran over with a medical kit. Tore open Lynn's blood-soaked left shoulder.
The wound cut deepâbone visible, flesh peeled back. Looked vicious in the dim firelight.
Jory moved efficiently. Poured strong spirits on the wound first.
Piercing pain made Lynn's body jerk. He clenched his teeth. Cold sweat beaded his forehead.
Theon Greyjoy walked over. Put away his usual flippancy.
Looked at Lynn's pale face. At the corpses around himâdead in gruesome ways.
"Didn't expect a runaway crow to have such sharp claws."
His tone held less mockery now. More scrutiny mixed with surprise.
Lynn had no energy to respond.
His entire focus was on the blue panel only he could see.
[Host: Lynn]
[Strength: 3 (Wounded/Weakened)]
[Agility: 3 (Wounded/Weakened)]
[Constitution: 3 (Wounded/Weakened)]
[Skills: Longsword (Proficient) 18/100, Riding (Beginner) 9/10, Unarmed Combat (Proficient) 84/100]
[Experience: 7]
The number "7"âbest reward for that life-or-death struggle.
But three bright red "Weakened" statuses reminded him constantly of his body's terrible condition.
The wound's agony, exhausted staminaâLynn's consciousness kept fading.
He had to get back to Winterfell quickly. Get Maester Luwin's treatment.
"Experience should definitely go to attributes first."
"3 Strength is normal human level. If I can boost it directly with experience, I'll be unstoppable fast!"
"Put everything in Constitution!"
[Warning: Attributes cannot be increased with experience. Experience only upgrades learned skills!]
[Attribute improvement methods vary. Please explore on your own!]
"Right. If I could add experience to attributes directly, I'd become superhuman in days."
Lynn thought he'd found a loophole. Testing proved otherwise.
"Then I'll just upgrade skills honestly."
Lynn's gaze fell on [Riding (Beginner) 9/10].
The road back was long. In his current condition, just bouncing on horseback would worsen his injuries.
No hesitation.
"System, add 1 experience to Riding."
Lynn commanded mentally.
[Experience -1]
[Riding 9/10 â 10/10, Level increased]
[Congratulations! Riding upgraded to (Proficient) 0/100]
Warmth suddenly flowed through Lynn's limbs.
Not stamina recoveryâsomething more mysterious.
Memory fragments about riding flooded his mind.
How to balance on horseback. How to control a horse's direction with subtle leg pressure. How to sense the horse's mood...
This knowledge felt innate. Like he'd practiced it a thousand times. Carved into his marrow.
"Done." Jory tied clean linen around Lynn's wound. Voice steady. "Didn't hit bone. Lucky. Otherwise you'd really suffer."
Lynn nodded. With a guard's help, stood shakily.
Robb led over Lynn's pony.
"Can you ride?" The young wolf lord looked at Lynn. His blue eyes no longer just scrutinizedâthey held concern.
Lynn nodded. Said nothing. Just took a deep breath. Ignored the pain. Mounted.
He did it more smoothly than before.
The moment he sat in the saddleâthat wonderful feeling returned.
He could clearly sense every muscle tremor in the horse beneath him. Feel its slight unease from the surrounding blood-smell.
Lynn instinctively squeezed the horse's belly lightly. Shook the reins gently.
The previously restless pony miraculously calmed. Snorted docilely.
Surprise flashed in Robb's eyes. He didn't ask.
"We're heading back."
The column reformed. Started toward Winterfell.
This time, Lynn's position wasn't at the rear.
He rode beside Robb and Theon.
A silent signal.
Lynn had the most kills this time. Earned the right to ride at the front.
Westeros respected martial prowess.
Lynn had won their respect with sword and blood.
Northern night windâice-cold, bone-piercing.
Hooves crunched on snow.
Lynn's body rose and fell rhythmically with the horse's gait.
His improved riding skill let him adapt to the bouncing with minimal effort.
His tense muscles relaxed slightly. The shoulder wound hurt less.
"What did you do before?" Robb suddenly broke the silence.
His gaze fell on Lynn's blood-stained longsword.
Lynn's swordwork had no knight's elegance. No master-at-arms' form.
But every moveâsimple, direct, lethal.
Pure technique for killing enemies in the shortest time.
Definitely Night's Watch style. Very similar to his father's brotherâUncle Benjen's methods.
"Before I took the black, I was just an ordinary person trying to survive."
"Committed some crimes. Became a man of the Night's Watch."
Lynn stared ahead. Wind blurred his voice.
Today's Night's Watch had lost its former glory. Most members were criminals. Going to the Wall was basically exile.
"To survive, you learn things."
The answer was vague but reasonable.
Robb didn't press further. Just silently quickened his pace.
On the distant horizon, Winterfell's massive gray silhouette gradually cleared under starlight.
When the column passed through the castle gates, torches blazed in the courtyard.
Ned Stark stood on the keep's steps. Maester Luwin behind him with a lantern.
His faceâlike the northern night skyâcalm and stern.
His gaze swept the column. The bandit heads slung over horses. The wounded guards.
Finally, his eyes stopped on Lynn.
The deserter, half his body dyed red with blood, sat quietly on his horse. Riding alongside his eldest son.
Robb dismounted. Strode to his father. Knelt on one knee.
"Father, the bandits are completely eliminated."
Ned nodded. Lifted his son. Patted his shoulder.
Though young, his heir could already share his burdens. That brought comfort.
"You did well."
Ned's gaze moved past Robb. Looked at Lynn again.
"He..."
"He fought bravely, Father." Robb spoke first. Voice carrying youthful excitement.
"He killed six bandits. Protected the flank multiple times."
"He proved his loyalty with action."
Silence in the courtyard.
All guards looked at the young man still mounted with complex expressions.
Ned Stark said nothing. Just watched Lynn. Emotions churned in those gray eyes.
Doubt. Scrutiny. And a trace of barely perceptible recognition.
Clearly, a runaway crow wouldn't fight so fearlessly.
He believed Lynn's White Walker story a bit more now.
Long silence.
"Maester Luwin." Ned finally spoke.
"Take him for treatment."
"Yes, my lord."
Luwin descended the steps with his lantern. Came to Lynn's horse.
Lynn dismounted. Staggered.
After prolonged tension, reaching safetyâweakness and exhaustion drowned him instantly.
Lynn handed his longsword to a nearby guard.
Ned stopped him.
"Don't return it. Keep the sword. You've earned it."
Following Luwin across the courtyard, Lynn could feel that gaze from the Warden of the Northâstaying on his back.
He knew: from tonight, he was no longer a prisoner facing execution.
He'd survived.
But the crisis wasn't over yet.
Lynn, Ned, and Maester Luwin were all waiting for the raven.
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