"Young man," the old stranger was saying, his voice carrying the tremor that came with advanced age. "Forgive an old traveler's curiosity, but you have the bearing of someone recently returned from dangerous places. Dungeons, perhaps?"
Rhys blinked, clearly taken aback by the unexpected approach. "Uh, yes, actually. I just completed a dungeon with my... with someone I'm traveling with."
The old man's expression brightened with what appeared to be genuine interest. "Fascinating! Tell me, was it difficult? I traveled dungeons in my youth, before my body gave out. Always wondered if the younger generation still faced the same challenges."
Jack watched as Rhys relaxed slightly, the young tempest mage's natural friendliness overriding the caution he should have maintained. Slyph hovered near his shoulder, her green aura steady, but her attention focused more on the conversation than on reading the stranger's intent.
