Luke finally stepped forward, making his presence known to Ilyrana. As he approached her, he couldn't help but notice a fleeting expression on her usually stoic face—something faint but unmistakably out of place. Was it... flustered? Ilyrana, the composed, unshakable elf, was flustered. She glanced at him, her calm demeanour cracking for just a moment before quickly recovering.
"You were watching?" she asked, her voice steady but carrying a trace of embarrassment.
Luke chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck as he stood beside her.
"Yeah, I was looking around the city, got hungry, and thought I'd try this tavern. Just... happened to see the whole eating competition," he explained, casually making up the story.
In reality, he had been searching for her, but there was no need to make her more self-conscious than she already was.
Ilyrana glanced at her half-finished plate, then back at Luke.
