Hunt Race

The two eventually reached a small restaurant not far from the guild.

Darius chose a table in the corner, away from the louder groups of hunters.

Kael sat across from him.

For a while, neither spoke.

A server placed two bowls of food on the table before leaving.

Kael looked down at his meal.

Then he looked at Darius.

"You actually remembered what I liked?"

Darius shook his head.

"I didn't."

Kael stared at him.

"Then why did you order this?"

"Because you complained about the food here last time."

Kael paused.

"So you remembered."

Darius calmly picked up his spoon.

"I remembered that you complained."

Kael smiled.

"Close enough."

He began eating.

Darius did the same.

The meal was quiet at first.

Not uncomfortable.

Just unfamiliar.

It had been a long time since they had sat across from each other without some urgent matter demanding their attention.

Kael eventually broke the silence.

"So..."

Darius looked up.

"You're really staying in the guild?"

"For now."

"How long is 'for now'?"

Darius took another spoonful before answering.

"Long enough."

Kael frowned.

"That's not very specific."

"You don't need to know everything."

Kael gave a small smile.

"Still the same Darius."

Darius looked at him.

"And you're still asking too many questions."

Kael shrugged.

"Someone has to."

Darius returned his attention to his meal.

Kael continued eating, but after a moment his eyes drifted toward Darius.

The man looked exactly as he remembered.

Calm.

Composed.

Even while eating, there was something controlled about every movement.

Kael had changed a lot since the last time they had shared a meal.

Yet sitting across from Darius reminded him of how far back their connection went.

Darius was the first person who had shown him what a real Hunter looked like.

The first person who had told him that revenge meant nothing without strength.

Kael lowered his gaze.

He hadn't forgotten those words.

Darius noticed the brief change in his expression but didn't ask about it.

Instead, he said,

"You've become quieter."

Kael looked up.

"Have I?"

"A little."

Kael considered that.

"Maybe I've just learned when not to talk."

Darius raised an eyebrow.

"That would be a significant improvement."

Kael almost laughed.

"You're saying I talk too much?"

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to."

Darius took another bite.

Kael shook his head with a faint smile.

After they finished eating, Kael leaned back slightly.

"That wasn't bad."

Darius nodded.

"It wasn't."

Kael glanced toward him.

"I expected you to choose somewhere cheaper."

Darius looked at him.

"You were the one complaining about food."

Kael smiled.

"So you admit you were listening."

"I hear everything around me."

Kael nodded slowly.

"That sounds exhausting."

"It is."

Kael laughed quietly.

The conversation faded again.

Neither of them felt the need to fill the silence.

Eventually, Darius stood and placed a few coins on the table.

They left the restaurant together.

Outside, the evening air was cool, and the guild could be seen in the distance.

Darius stopped for a moment.

"I'll be staying at the guild for a while."

Kael nodded.

"Alright."

Darius looked at him.

"We'll talk properly another time."

Kael studied his expression.

There was something behind those words.

But Darius didn't elaborate.

Kael didn't ask.

He simply nodded.

"Sure."

Darius walked away.

Kael watched him disappear into the evening crowd before turning toward the guild.

There were still plenty of things he wanted to ask.

But for now, he could wait.

Darius was back.

And sooner or later, they would have that conversation.

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