The cavern I carved into the cliffside wasn't cozy, but it was safe enough to let everyone relax for the first time in hours.
The group had spread out — Lily fussing over Michael's scratches, Ray fiddling with his drone, Vince sulking on the floor, Kang sitting cross-legged at Alexia's side like a guard dog, and Juliana perched on a boulder at the far end, chin in palm, staring out at the misty jungle below.
The air was filled with the sound of people talking over one another, overlapping banters that drifted between subjects without landing anywhere in particular.
Michael, as always, tried to steer the conversation into something sensible.
"So," he said, leaning back on his hands, "I couldn't help but notice… you two—" he pointed between Ray and Vince, "—act like you've known Samael for a while. Did you all know each other back at the academy?"
I tilted my head. "I met Ray at the gym near my dorm."
"Oh, so he's like your workout partner?" Michael asked.
