Outside, the wide marble corridor stretched beneath high arched ceilings, lit by golden lamps that cast intricate patterns across the smooth floor. Waiting patiently nearby, leaning casually against the carved balustrade, was Elder Liam, his dark robes shifting slightly as he straightened with an amiable smile upon seeing Max emerge.
"Should I call you Max, or Guest Elder Max?" Elder Liam teased lightly, his eyes sparkling with a mix of humor and genuine respect, as though both mentor and equal stood in the same skin.
"Elder Liam, I'm still young, so I'd prefer if you just called me by my name," Max replied, a wry smile tugging at his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the unfamiliar weight of the token resting in his pocket.
Liam chuckled, his laughter echoing softly in the corridor's vaulted silence. "Very well, Max," he said, inclining his head in mock solemnity. But his expression turned thoughtful as Max's eyes grew more serious.
