As Adyr continued eating, the others at the table took only a few bites, more out of politeness than hunger. The atmosphere was too heavy, too formal to enjoy the meal. Only Vesha appeared comfortable, calmly filling her plate.
When the silence stretched on, King Vale finally spoke.
"Lord Adyr, over the past few days, my wife, my daughter, and I have listened with amazement to the stories of your heroism. Especially the tale of you saving an entire village from wolves under the influence of a Rank 2 Spark. My daughter couldn't hold back her tears."
Adyr glanced at the girl seated beside the queen. She appeared a few years younger than Vesha and was nearly as beautiful. She likely wasn't married, and it was clear to Adyr why she was at this table. The king had brought her here with political intentions.
He paid it no mind. Every compliment was met with the same neutral expression, and whenever the king tried to steer the conversation toward politics, Adyr skillfully deflected it.
