[Days back, Dwarven Lands]
The room was small.
Not cramped—but empty in the way rooms became when conversations weighed too much to be spoken easily. A single lantern hung from a metal hook, its flame steady but dim, casting long shadows across the stone walls of the dwarven quarters. The air smelled faintly of iron and old tea.
Luca stood near the doorway, leaning slightly on his crutches. His body had healed, mostly—but the fatigue still lingered in his bones.
Across from him sat Professor Aldric.
He hadn't said a word since they entered.
His hands rested on his knees, fingers loosely curled, but his posture was rigid. Too rigid. Like a man bracing himself against something that had already broken him once before.
Luca studied him quietly.
Minutes passed.
The silence thickened.
Finally, Luca spoke.
"Professor… what did you want to talk about?"
Aldric didn't answer.
