Alister began to walk toward Aiku, the air around him shimmering as golden mana bled out in a radiant aura, casting long shadows across the cracked pavement.
His eyes, calm and unreadable, briefly flicked to Anya as he spoke.
"Anya, what do you think about dinner after this? Haven't eaten something nice in a while."
Anya blinked, caught off guard by the casual tone amidst the tension. The sharp edges of the ruined buildings seemed to fade away for a moment, replaced by something almost… normal.
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips.
"Dinner sounds nice," she murmured, eyes still fixed on him.
Anya glanced at Alister, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Do you have a place in mind for dinner?" she asked, the tension momentarily giving way to something softer.
Alister's lips curved into a subtle smile.
"Why don't I let you decide?" he replied smoothly.
A hint of a genuine smile spread across her face.
