Alex turned around slowly, sensing the familiar energy signatures before even seeing the faces. His eyes landed on two figures striding toward him with undeniable presence.
Walking towards him with matching confident strides were none other than Alden von Crestvale and Ethan Williams.
Alden had that same smug grin he always wore, the kind that made you want to wipe it off with a well-placed slap—or sword strike. Ethan, however, was different.
His gaze was full of curiosity, the kind that made Alex feel like a rare specimen under a microscope.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the mighty Alex Dragonheart," Alden drawled, the smirk practically tattooed onto his face.
Alex returned the expression with a smirk of his own. "Well, look who it is. Isn't this the guy whose record I broke at the simulation arena?"
Alden's grin twitched. "And I broke it back the next day!"
"Exactly," Alex replied with a calm nod. "That shows how petty you are."
