Iron Matron (5)

"I'm not surprised he saw that in you."

Lucavion chuckled softly as Mariel finished her story, but the sound quickly faded as he picked up his fork, finally turning his attention to the meal that had sat largely untouched in front of him. He chewed thoughtfully, the warmth of the food filling him as the weight of their conversation lingered in the air. Between bites, he washed down the meal with a drink, his eyes still focused on Mariel, listening without missing a beat.

For a while, they sat in a comfortable silence—Mariel quietly reflecting, and Lucavion eating, his gaze occasionally flickering back to her. It wasn't until he had nearly finished that Mariel spoke again, her voice hesitant but filled with curiosity.