The elder's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sudden appearance, but he recovered almost instantly, his composure showing that he had long grown used to meeting powerful, unpredictable people. Still, there was a flicker of warmth in his expression as he asked, "Max, what are you doing here?"
Max grinned faintly, the corner of his mouth tilting upward in a lighthearted way. "Aren't I a guest elder of the Hunter Association? Of course I can come here," he replied, deliberately making it sound casual, almost teasing.
"Hehe, that you do," Elder Liam chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. But there was more than simple amusement in his gaze—there was pride.
When he had first met Max, he had seen in him a spark of potential, something that made him worth watching. Now, that spark had grown into something far greater.
