Her eyes lit up slightly at his words. “Exactly. I’ve always wanted to be seen for my own achievements, not just as the daughter of a prominent family.”
She gave a small, heartwarming smile. “But I suppose it’s all part of the experience, isn’t it? Learning to balance both worlds.”
Alister’s gaze softened just a bit, and he seemed genuinely interested. “Well, in that case, what do you want to be known for, Lady Lian? Not as part of the Zhang family-but as you.”
Lian felt herself pause, the question catching her off guard. “I suppose… I’d like to be seen as someone who understands people, not just someone who commands respect because of her name.”
She glanced down, almost embarrassed by her own vulnerability. “Sometimes, I wonder if there’s a place for that kind of thinking in the world we live in.”
Alister momentarily locked eyes with her, his expression thoughtful. “It’s rare for someone to think that way,” he said after a moment. “But I’d say that makes it all the more valuable.”
A quiet smile formed on Lian’s lips. She hadn’t expected Alister to have such depth to him, and it only made her more intrigued. After a moment of silence, she finally decided to take the next step.
“Alister,” she began, her voice steady but softer now. “Perhaps we could exchange contact information. It would be interesting to stay in touch… maybe even exchange some insights, Summoner to Summoner.”
Alister’s gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he nodded. “I think that would be… beneficial.”
…
As Lian strolled back to her table, her fingers moved over her phone’s screen to save Alister’s number.
The small chat had filled her with a warmth she hadn’t felt in a while, not that she would ever admit that. She tapped on the contacts app, ready to enter the name, but her eyes widened in shock when she noticed a familiar number already saved under the name
‘Master Spade.’
“Wait, what?” Lian muttered, her thoughts racing. ‘How could this be? Did he make a mistake with the number?’
She glanced over her shoulder as she then thought, ‘Should I go back to tell him he had a mistake… Or…’
A part of her wanted to keep things this way; it wanted to confirm. Perhaps she was being dumb-how could Alister be Master Spade? But what if he was? She suddenly had the urge to find out.
Whatever it turned out to be, the fact is he was going to be involved in her future, one way or another.
Lian glanced back at him one last time, her fingers clutching her phone as she thought, ‘Alister… Who are you really?’
…
Meanwhile…
Halzor stuffed another piece of roast meat into his mouth, grease glistening on his chin. “I swear, this is the best thing ever! I could eat like this every day!” He grinned, oblivious to the looks of mild disgust from the others at the table.
Thorin, with a plate piled high, nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Halzor! Who knew they’d have such a spread? And it’s free!” He took a massive bite, clearly relishing every moment.
Across the table, Ivy rolled her eyes as she picked at her salad. “You two are acting like animals! Can’t you at least pretend to have some manners?” She leaned back in her chair, trying to distance herself from their messy eating habits.
Nyra sighed, her arms crossed as she watched Halzor and Thorin. “Seriously, you guys. We’re at a grand event, not a feeding frenzy at the arena. Show a little class!” she said with a touch of annoyance.
Thorin glanced up, mouth full but still managing to form words. “But Nyra, this is practically the only time of the year we get invited to an all-you-can-eat buffet like this! And we don’t have to worry about paying for it!” He pointed wildly with his fork, accidentally flinging a piece of food across the table.
Halzor chimed in, his mouth still half-full. “Precisely! You’re missing out on the feast of a lifetime! Look at this spread!” He pointed dramatically to the table overflowing with dishes, from crispy meats to colorful desserts.
Ivy sighed, shaking her head. “I get it, but there’s more to these events than just stuffing our faces, you know. We’re supposed to make connections and network.”
Nyra nodded. “I mean, yes, we want to enjoy ourselves, but let’s not forget why we’re here. The food won’t run away, and we still have time to mingle.”
“Fine, fine,” Thorin said, waving his fork in mock surrender. “But can’t we enjoy the food and the networking? It’s called multitasking!”
Halzor chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied grin. “I’m all for that! Let’s eat, chat, and conquer this buffet together!”
As the conversation around the table continued, Nyra took a sip of her drink and glanced around the grand hall, noticing a certain someone was absent from their table. “Hey, where’s the Guild Master?” she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.
Halzor paused mid-bite, his mouth full of meat. He swallowed hard and shrugged. “I think she said she had something she wanted to handle,” he replied, wiping his chin with the back
of his hand.
Thorin nodded, leaning back in his chair. “Yeah, she mentioned something about a meeting earlier. Something about something she needed to confirm and take care of.”
“Seems like she’s always busy,” Ivy commented, shaking her head. “Oh well, the grand meeting should be starting any minute now.”
…
The sound of approaching footsteps belonging to a certain figure could be heard as they made their way across the grand hall. The crowd’s chatter seemed to fade slightly as they walked past, their beauty and aura attracting the gazes of people as they walked past. ƒreewebɳovel.com
Alister was deep in conversation with a man who had dark green and silver hair, piercing yellow eyes, and wore a pair of glasses perched on his nose.
Alister’s expression suddenly became intense as he gazed at the man. “I’m sorry, I didn’t quite hear you… Do you mind repeating what you just said?”