Ravien, after drinking a few more glasses of wine, stood up from the table and headed to the study.
Asogi, as always, followed him with silent steps. After the echoes of their footsteps faded down the corridor, a brief silence settled over the room.
Haldvir took a deep breath. He leaned back in his chair, but couldn't relax. The tightness in his chest still hadn't gone away. His eyes lingered on the empty plates on the table for a moment.
"Today... I was really dying," he whispered to himself.
"Good thing Master Jiho arrived in time. Next time... next time I'll be more careful about speaking in front of that strange being."
But something was wrong.
There was still a heaviness in the air.
As if he wasn't the only living thing in the room.
He slowly turned his head.
Jiho was still there.
Like a statue. Like a shadow.
And he was watching him.
Jiho tilted his head slightly and spoke in a calm, cold voice:
"I think it'd be wise for you to be careful too, Haldvir."
