Merlin stirred his drink absentmindedly, watching the light reflect off the surface. The café was quiet, at least compared to the crowded streets.
The hum of conversation from nearby tables, the occasional clinking of glasses, the distant sounds of vehicles passing by—it all blended into a dull background noise.
It wasn't terrible, but he still wished he were somewhere else.
Nathan and Seraphina were casually discussing their training schedules, while Elara was preoccupied with her holopad, scrolling through some list of materials she still needed to buy.
Merlin didn't bother joining the conversation.
He exhaled, leaning back in his chair.
'This really isn't my thing..'
His gaze drifted across the street. Pedestrians moved in waves, their figures blending together under the artificial lights of the city.
Most were ordinary—students, workers, the occasional adventurer with a weapon strapped to their back.
Then his eyes landed on someone different.
