Snow drifted gently over the city that evening, thin white flakes tumbling lazily through the gray sky.
The storm had passed; the streets were calm.
Two men walked side by side.
Azel who was calm chewed casually on a skewer of grilled fish, each bite slow and thoughtful.
He looked like a man enjoying the simple comforts of life.
His companion, however, resembled a man on his way to the gallows.
Alani hunched forward, silver hair falling into his eyes, lips moving in rapid mutters.
His boots crunched nervously on the frozen cobblestones.
Every few steps, he groaned like someone already mourning his own funeral.
"So…" Azel asked lightly, licking his fingers, "what exactly are you going to tell your wife?"
Alani stiffened as if stabbed. "W-what do you mean?"
"I mean what I said." Azel smirked at him. "You left home weak and scrawny. You're coming back taller, bulkier, clearly stronger. She'll notice. What's your excuse?"
