Velren tapped his fingers lightly against the edge of his tray, his appetite was dimming under the weight of the lingering awkwardness. It wasn't unbearable, but it was noticeable—like a heavy silence pressing against his shoulders.
Or maybe it was just him.
Maybe it was the way Raine seemed too focused on scooping another spoonful of ice cream, or how Eterna ate without saying a single word, with her usual unreadable expression.
Either way, he figured he should say something. Whether it was to kill the awkwardness or just for the sake of it… he didn't know.
So, he spoke the first thing that came to mind.
"Say, where's your pet phoenix?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Raine's spoon halted mid-air. She slowly turned to him, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"First of all," she said, placing the spoon back into her bowl, "don't call Igris a 'pet.' He's more than that."
Velren blinked.
"…Then what should I call him?"
