The bell above the door jingled, and Evan looked up from his Ramen just as Lyra entered the shop. Her armor clinked softly as she strode in with her usual confident gait, her hand resting casually on the hilt of her sword. She barely glanced around before her eyes locked on the table where Evan and Rook sat.
Rook, catching sight of her first, rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair with a groan. "Oh great, look who it is. The girl with the muscle for brains."
Lyra's lips curved into a smirk as she stepped up to their table. "Still running your mouth, I see, Rook. I'm surprised you've survived this long without someone shutting it for you."
Rook flashed a grin. "People can try, but I'm too quick for 'em. You, on the other hand, probably just smash your way through any problem."
"Works like a charm," Lyra shot back, crossing her arms. "Not that I'd expect you to understand, since you're all about sneaking around and running away."
Rook chuckled. "Hey, sneaking around keeps me alive. Can't argue with results."
The playful back-and-forth made Evan glance nervously between the two, not sure whether to laugh or get ready to duck. But despite the barbs, there was an ease to their exchange that made it clear they knew each other well.
Lyra turned her attention to Evan, her expression softening slightly. "I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm Lyra." She extended a hand, and Evan shook it, though his nerves still buzzed in the back of his mind.
"Nice to meet you, Lyra," Evan replied with a small smile. "You already know Rook, I take it?"
"Unfortunately," Lyra said, throwing a mock glare at Rook. "But I guess every shop needs a rat lurking around."
Rook clutched his chest dramatically. "Ouch, right to the heart. You know, I bring a lot of charm to this place."
Evan snorted a laugh, his tension finally easing a little as the two continued their banter. He motioned to the chair across from them. "Why don't you join us?"
Lyra raised an eyebrow, glancing between them. "Alright, I'm game."
Evan quickly got up to grab another cup, filling it with hot water from the dispenser and setting it in front of her. "It's simple, but it's quick and surprisingly good."
As the Ramen began to cook, Lyra looked at the can of Cola that sat on the table. "What's that?" she asked, nodding toward it.
"Oh, that's Cola. It's a fizzy drink," Evan explained. "You should try it too."
Lyra hesitated, picking up the can and examining it as if it were some kind of strange artifact. "Fizzy, huh? Doesn't sound like much compared to Ramen."
Rook raised an eyebrow at that. "Careful, now. Cola's a game changer. I've had a few, and it's like a jolt of energy in a can. It's my go-to."
Lyra shrugged and cracked open the can, the hiss of carbonation catching her off guard for a second. She took a sip, her eyes narrowing slightly as the bubbles hit her tongue. "Not bad," she admitted after a moment. "But Ramen's better. It's warm, hearty. You know, something that actually fills you up."
Rook leaned forward, a grin playing on his lips. "You just don't appreciate the art of the Cola. It's refreshing, sharp, keeps you alert—perfect for someone who spends half their time avoiding fights."
"Oh please," Lyra scoffed, taking another bite of her Ramen. "This is what real food looks like. You can't live off that fizzy drink forever."
Rook smirked. "Don't need to live off it, just need it to keep me alive long enough to get away from the crazies."
Lyra rolled her eyes but smirked back. "That's because you're always running away. Me? I don't run. I fight."
Evan watched the exchange, surprised by how easily the two of them slipped into this dynamic. They reminded him of two friends who couldn't stop teasing each other, and it was oddly comforting. Their banter made the atmosphere feel less tense, more like a casual conversation rather than the dangerous world that seemed to loom over him.
He found himself smiling as he watched them argue, even chiming in. "Well, I guess that's two votes for Ramen and one for Cola."
"Ramen wins, obviously," Lyra said, giving Evan a nod of approval.
"Ramen's good, sure," Rook conceded, leaning back with a casual shrug. "But you won't catch me turning down a Cola."
Lyra shot him a challenging look. "You've got no taste, Rook."
"Maybe, but I've got plenty of sense. Cola's got perks, even if you're too busy flexing your muscles to notice."
The two of them continued their banter, but by now, Evan wasn't nervous anymore. Their friendly bickering somehow made everything feel lighter, and he couldn't help but laugh along with them. Rook and Lyra might argue like cats and dogs, but it was clear they respected each other—underneath all the disses, anyway.
"Alright, alright," Evan said, holding up his hands with a laugh. "I guess I'm going to have to stock up on both Ramen and Cola, huh?"
Lyra snorted. "Seems like it. But if you ever run out of Ramen, I'm not coming back."
Rook grinned. "And if you run out of Cola, I'm stealing the Ramen."
Evan shook his head, chuckling. "Noted. I'll make sure to keep plenty of both."
The lighthearted conversation rolled on, and for the first time since he'd arrived in this world, Evan felt like maybe—just maybe—he could handle this strange new life. Rook and Lyra's playful rivalry had him forgetting, at least for a little while, about the stress of his quest.