Silas turned around with a faint smile tugging at his lips, and the moment Declan recognized who it was, his face lit up with surprise and warmth.
"Good afternoon, uncle," Silas greeted, his tone polite yet tinged with the comfort of familiarity.
Declan's eyes softened instantly. "Good day, young man! You've grown quite a bit since I last saw you!" he said, his voice booming with genuine delight. Without hesitation, he pulled Silas into a firm, affectionate hug. It had been a long time since the last one, and the warmth in the older man's gesture caught Silas slightly off guard but not unpleasantly so.
Declan had always treated him with this warmth, he knew he saw Silas's father in him, after all he must also miss his friend.
