Khael's gaze swept over the group, lingering on each familiar face, sharp and measured. "So… what happened during my three years of absence?"
Kaen scratched the back of his head, glancing at Ceyla, Juno, Shigeo, Rael, Lira, Kenji, Kaya, a grin stretching across his face as if the world could be simplified by sheer bravado. "Well, of course—train!" He puffed his chest, trying to sound proud, though it carried the faint tremor of nervous energy.
Rael scoffed, voice sharp like broken glass. "What an idiot."
Kaen snapped, eyes flashing. "What did you say again?!" He jabbed a finger at Rael, tension coiling around him like a drawn bowstring.
Juno sighed, rubbing his temple, the weight of their collective history pressing visibly on him. "Kids…"
Lira spoke softly, her voice careful as though she feared disturbing some invisible thread of fate. "Um… we've been doing missions as usual. Training, surviving… and after Sloth died back then… the voidborn—"
