Velrion's reaction came in a sharp and unguarded way that rarely happened anymore.
His body stilled for a moment before he turned fully toward the spirit behind him. His eyes narrowed with clear surprise that broke through the usual composure of an Archmage.
That voice was not one he expected to hear without warning like this. It carried familiarity that reached far deeper than professional connection, and for a brief moment it pulled him out of the present entirely.
Memories surfaced quickly, vivid and unrestrained.
They had studied in the same academy, walking the same halls filled with eager minds and rigid expectations, yet even then Yohn had stood apart in a way that few could match.
Despite being the same age, Yohn had advanced one year ahead of him, a detail that had quietly spread among students and instructors alike with jealousy and recognition.
