As the young boy gazed up at sun, it felt as though a hatred gaze was cast upon him.
"Sun, come here," the grandfather beckoned with a gentle voice that carried years of wisdom and tenderness.
A pause hung in the air, pregnant with unspoken thoughts and anticipation.
"Meet Primus, and Primus, meet Sun," he introduced, his voice threaded with a delicate sense of ceremony.
"Hello," Primus offered, his tone reserved yet curious.
"Ah, hello," Sun responded, a hint of uncertainty lacing his words.
"Primus, could you do me a favor and extinguish the flickering flame of that candle? Morning has long since arrived," the grandfather requested, his eyes filled with hope.
"I will take care of it," Primus replied, his voice steady.
With deliberate grace, he brought his thumb and index finger together, gently pinching the candle's wick, effectively snuffing out the dancing light.
The elderly man observed the two young souls, a slight furrow appearing between his brows. Sensing something amiss, he couldn't help but inquire,
"Is there something troubling you both?"
Sun's response came swiftly, "Nothing, Grandpa."
Without revealing their inner turmoil, Primus interjected,
"Ah, Elder, may we have a moment alone to talk?"
"If that is your wish," the grandfather consented, his eyes fixated on Sun, an unspoken message hidden within her gaze.
"Alright," Sun murmured, his voice laced with a tinge of apprehension.
He exited the room, quietly closing the door behind him, but his curiosity compelled him to press his ear against the door, eager to glean any fragments of conversation that might drift through the heavy silence.
Alas, there was only silence, a frustrating barrier that held the secrets of their whispered exchange just beyond his reach.
Defeated, Sun reluctantly retreated, returning to the solace of his own room.
After some time, the aroma of delicious food wafted through the air, beckoning Sun to the dining table.
Meanwhile, his grandfather bustled about in the kitchen, attending to culinary tasks with practiced precision.
As Sun settled down and began savoring his meal, he noticed Primus approaching, igniting an ember of anger within him.
Without thinking, he slyly extended his leg, causing Primus to stumble and tumble to the floor.
In the midst of the commotion, the grandfather emerged from the kitchen, his eyes scanning the scene with concern.
"What happened?" he inquired, his voice tinged with worry.
"He just fell, Grandpa," Sun replied, his tone betraying a hint of innocence.
"Yeah, I just did," Primus interjected, his voice laced with resignation.
The grandfather turned his attention to Primus, assessing the situation.
"Are you injured? Should I be worried?" he asked, his voice a soothing balm.
"No, I am fine," Primus assured, his words carrying a subtle air of resilience.
Satisfied with the response, the grandfather issued a directive.
"Alright, get yourself a fresh plate," he commanded, emphasizing his concern for Primus's well-being.
Primus nodded obediently, his gaze briefly meeting Sun's.
In that fleeting exchange, unspoken tension crackled between them, leaving a bitter aftertaste in the air.
Sensing the mounting anger emanating from Sun, he couldn't help but confront Primus.
"What are you staring at?" he snapped, his voice laced with frustration and a touch of vulnerability.
Rising from the ground, he retrieved another plate, attempting to deflect the brewing conflict.
As they resumed their meal, the room grew heavy with unspoken words and turbulent emotions.
The clinking of cutlery against plates underscored the uneasy atmosphere, a silent backdrop to the strained camaraderie of the shared table.
Grandpa, inquisitive as ever, turned his attention to Primus with genuine interest.
"So, Primus, I haven't asked yet, but where are you from?" he inquired, his voice laced with a touch of warmth.
"Grandpa, today my teacher congratulated me for being the best in pull-ups," Sun replied, a glimmer of pride shining in his eyes.
Grandpa chuckled heartily, his laughter filling the room.
"That's my boy," he exclaimed, a mix of paternal pride and joy coloring his voice.
Before Grandpa could continue his line of questioning, Sun, once again unable to contain himself, interjected,
"This morning, I had a long conversation with my friend."
Grandpa's eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"Sun, you're not usually so chatty. Is something bothering you?" he probed, his tone laced with gentle worry.
Sun's quick response came, almost defensively, "Nothing's wrong, Grandpa."
Seizing the opportunity to redirect the conversation, Grandpa turned his attention back to Primus.
"So, Primus, earlier you mentioned wanting to help with farming. Is that still something you'd like to do?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and encouragement.
"Ah, yes, I would be interested in doing that," Primus affirmed, a flicker of eagerness dancing in his eyes.
Sun couldn't resist casting a doubtful glance at Primus, his words loaded with skepticism.
"But, Grandpa, can he even handle it? I've received praise from the villagers for my farming skills, but can he?"
Grandpa's expression softened, his faith in Primus unwavering.
"Oh, he's still eager to learn. Let's give him a chance and see what he's capable of," he declared, his voice brimming with confidence.
"Alright, Grandpa," Sun relented, a mix of curiosity and skepticism lingering in his tone.
With a nod, he agreed to show Primus the ropes of their farming practices.
Sun's newfound chattiness caught Grandpa off guard, prompting him to inquire further.
"So, Grandpa, can you tell me about fighting?" Sun asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and an uncharacteristic thirst for knowledge.
Grandpa's eyes widened with surprise, a mixture of concern and amusement etched across his face.
"Fighting? What's gotten into you? You've never been this talkative before," he responded, his tone gently probing.
A mischievous grin played on Sun's lips as he replied,
"Nothing, really. It's just that this morning, while conversing with my teacher, a surge of energy coursed through me."
Grandpa's laughter filled the room, his eyes twinkling with delight.
"Haha, that's good, that's good," he chuckled, acknowledging Sun's newfound enthusiasm.
As they delved into the topic of fighting, Sun's words flowed with eagerness, his voice animated and vibrant.
He sought to unravel the intricacies of combat, driven by a newfound curiosity and a desire to explore the world beyond his own limited experiences.
Meanwhile, Primus quietly partook of his meal, observing the lively conversation between Sun and Grandpa.
His gaze flickered with a mixture of fascination and restraint, his silence a subtle reflection of his reserved nature.
As Sun engaged in conversation with his grandfather, his gaze wandered towards Primus, who sat in quiet solitude, consumed by his meal.
In that fleeting moment, a sinister smile danced upon Sun's lips as he locked eyes with Primus, a predatory glint hidden within his gaze.
However, just as quickly as the ominous smile emerged, it dissipated, replaced by a more benign expression as Sun turned his attention back to his grandfather.
The conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with light-hearted banter and genuine curiosity, as if the unsettling exchange with Primus had never transpired.