Liam's almost furious scratching of his forearm didn't diminish the resolve in the look he pointed at the Alchemy Elder.
The Alchemy Elder noticed that odd habit but didn't address it. Instead, he stared deep into Liam's eyes, wanting to find any trace of uncertainty or doubt, only to fail at that.
Of course, that didn't necessarily mean anything. In the Elder's eyes, Liam was nothing more than a kid, clueless about the pain that his choice would bring.
However, the little secret Liam kept inside his robe argued otherwise. As unlikely as it sounded, the Alchemy Elder had to accept that Liam had gotten a taste of what awaited him, but his resolve had survived.
"No," The Alchemy Elder refused, standing up and crossing his arms behind his back to approach the balcony's edge.
Liam blinked in confusion. He thought the previous speech had led to an offer that was up to him to accept, but that refusal left him speechless, silently following the Elder with his gaze.
