Yuuto led Alister past a massive metal door, the echo of their footsteps filling the stairwell as they descended into the guild's deep underground treasury.
"Why stairs instead of an elevator?" Alister finally broke the silence.
"I prefer walks like this," Yuuto replied calmly, "Sometimes silence can help one appreciate the good things they have in life."
"Is that so?" Alister's gaze narrowed.
Yuuto glanced over his shoulder at Alister, walking by his left side. "Is there something on your mind?"
For a few moments, silence hung between them.
Then, Alister spoke up, his voice cutting through the quiet stairwell. "Since I was young, I've grown accustomed to the concept of 'hard work is necessary in order to survive', nothing good comes easy, nothing easy lasts long, and nothing long-lasting can be achieved without immense cost involved."
