Sylus sat near the window of the Cafe, one hand idly toying with the rim of a ceramic cup, though the coffee inside had long gone cold. He tilted his head slightly, eyes scanning the street beyond the glass with a distant, unreadable expression. It was unclear if he was waiting for someone or simply lost in thought, but the usual edge of cool calculation that surrounded him seemed softened here, diluted by the ambient stillness of the café.

Then, something shifted in his periphery. A presence—not unfamiliar, but unexpected. He didn’t speak right away, letting the silence stretch just long enough to be felt. Then, with a slight tilt of his head, his voice cut through the quiet—calm, measured, but carrying something beneath the surface.

“…I knew you’d be here.”