Byun leaned forward, one brow raised, his tone edged with doubt. "Why me though?"
Dae leaned back in his chair, throwing an exaggerated shrug that was more mockery than explanation. "Obviously because you can control shadows. Seems like the perfect candidate," he said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Byun didn't bite. He exhaled slowly through his nose and crossed his arms across his chest. His expression didn't change, but there was a quiet sharpness in his eyes. "I know that," he said evenly. "But why just me and the principal? Why not send a full squad? Elite mages, maybe a specialist team. This sounds important."
In the silence that followed, the fire crackled in the hearth. The shadows danced along the stone walls, flickering like restless spirits.
The duke sat in his tall-backed chair, the weight of his title heavy in his posture, the glow of the fire casting yellow light across his aging features.
