Someone bumped directly into Ryan.
The books fell from her hands, and she fell, while Ryan remained composed and was unaffected by the impact.
Of course, Ryan could have avoided the whole situation, but he didn't feel threatened by it, so he just let it happen.
Ryan looked down and saw a girl kneeling, her long brown hair cascading over her shoulders, books scattered around her, strands of hair partially obscuring her face. She was trying to push them away with her hand, but her confusion made her movements unsteady.
The chandelier light reflected off her hair, giving it a soft, warm sheen amidst the chill of the hallway.
The girl began gathering the scattered books in a flustered manner, which made her movements irregular. Then she stopped and raised her head.
Her green eyes, filled with confusion and surprise, looked at Ryan, then she looked down again, embarrassed, as if she didn't know how to act.
But Ryan didn't move and simply watched as she frantically tried to gather the books.
Her small hand moved quickly as she gathered the books, but her fingers paused for a moment when she felt that he hadn't left and was still looking at her.
She slowly raised her head… and her eyes met his.
Her breathing quickened without her realizing it, and her hand stopped collecting the books for a moment.
She said in a faint, hesitant voice,
"I… I'm sorry…"
But her voice sounded weak against his silence.
Ryan didn't move… He just looked at her.
Suddenly—
"Elisa."
A deep, quiet voice broke the silence. She glanced quickly to her right. There stood her father, his expression serious, his eyes darting rapidly between his daughter and Ryan.
He approached with steady steps, then gently placed his hand on Elissa's shoulder and helped her to her feet.
he said in a quiet but firm tone.
"Are you okay?"
She nodded quickly.
"Yes… I'm fine."
But she couldn't stop herself from glancing one last time at Ryan.
As for Alith…
He looked at him for a few seconds. A cautious, appraising look.
Then he said calmly, with a hint of anger:
"Boy, I don't know what happened, but shouldn't you help a young lady when she's on the ground?"
Ryan didn't even react to what he said, but Elisa quickly looked at her father and shook her head, indicating that he was wrong.
"No, Dad, I was the one at fault. I'm the one who bumped into him."
Alith looked at his daughter, then back at Ryan.
"Even though it was your fault, he should at least have helped you."
Ryan looked at Elisa, who had a well-proportioned body and an average height, leaning slightly towards tall, which gave her a commanding presence among her peers. Her shoulders were narrow but straight, suggesting a confidence that was still developing, as she had become flustered in a situation like this.
Her arms are slender and her waist is slim, and her body is generally well-balanced, not strong, but flexible and light.
Ryan then looked at Alith with a blank expression, and continued on his way in the opposite direction from which Aleth had come.
As he watched him leave, anger flashed across Alith's face.
"That rude boy!"
But he didn't follow him; he had more important things to do now, and he wouldn't dare offend someone who had been with Miss Anna.
Then he said calmly to his daughter,
"Come, we have something to talk about."
He started driving away, but Elisa turned around one last time to see the boy she had bumped into going in the opposite direction.
______________________
Minutes earlier,
the door had closed behind Sid Alith as he left the room, leaving Anna Froster alone for a moment.
Anna stood at the table, her eyes on the map, thinking about the upcoming journey and what awaited them beyond the walls of Thirac. Of course, there wasn't much danger in the heart of the kingdom now, but sometimes strange things happened that no one could explain, like the appearance of those wolves, so she always had to be prepared.
But then, after a few moments, they heard a knock…
There was a soft knock on the door.
Anna looked up, then said quietly,
"Come in."
A woman entered.
She was in her early forties, but her presence made her appear younger and more powerful. Her long, dark chestnut hair was partly tied back, while a few strands fell freely over her shoulders.
Her eyes were sharp, a brownish-green hue, bearing the gaze of someone who had seen much… and survived even more.
She wore simple clothes compared to the city's nobility, but practical ones a dark leather coat, light gloves, and tall boots suitable for travel.
And at her waist… an antique dagger.
She paused at the door for a second… then smiled faintly.
"It's been a long time… Anna."
Anna Forster's eyes widened slightly, then she said.
"Serene...?"
The woman closed the door behind her and strode confidently forward.
This was Serene Valcora, Alith's wife and a former adventurer.