After receiving their ranks, Elian and Mira left the office. She, deciding not to miss the moment, suggested:
— Don't you want to go to a cafe? We deserve a little rest after all this.
Elian raised an eyebrow and nodded.
— Why not? I don't mind. — His voice remained cold and even, but there was a slight interest in his eyes.
They made their way to the nearest cafe. The city was already dark, and the coolness of the night filled the air. Mira silently entered, choosing a table in the corner, away from other customers.
Once they settled in, Mira couldn't help but smile slightly.
— You know, I didn't expect you to win so easily. You really surprised me.
Elian leaned back in his chair, his eyes gazing out the window.
— I said it wasn't difficult. I'm always ready for more.
Mira thought for a moment, noticing how his words sounded restrained, but confident.
— What do you think about our next step? Do you think we should continue working together or go our separate ways?
Elian didn't answer immediately. He paused, his gaze distant, as if he were contemplating something deep.
— Perhaps working together... would be beneficial, — his voice grew deeper. — But no one is eternal. Everything changes.
Mira raised an eyebrow. His words seemed strangely philosophical, but she decided not to delve into his mood.
— You're strange. You never know when you're serious and when you're not, — she chuckled.
Elian smiled slightly in response, but his face remained cold.
— I don't need to explain everything I think. What matters is that the result is right.
Mira sighed, understanding that it was always difficult to talk to him. But after a moment, she relaxed, leaned back, and set her cup of coffee aside.
— Hm... you really don't like talking about yourself, do you?
— I don't see the point. What could I possibly say? — Elian looked at her, his gaze direct and confident.
— Well, at least something... — Mira tried to lighten the mood. — Maybe you have other goals besides hunting monsters?
Elian thought for a moment.
— Sometimes I think I need to learn to control my power. But it's not that important. I just use it when needed.
Mira smiled, deciphering his answer.
— It's true... you're the type of person who just acts without thinking. There's something interesting about that.
Elian simply nodded in response.
As time passed in the cafe, Mira felt something shift in the atmosphere between them, but Elian remained the same closed-off person. After a while, she spoke again.
— Don't you want to share what you think about our future? — she asked with a touch of irony. — I mean, what's next? We both have different ranks, what if our paths diverge?
Elian looked at her with a slight smile.
— Everything will depend on what you want. I'll always go where my path leads me. But for now... you can still understand something. You haven't lost your way yet.
Mira fell silent. His words made her think, but she didn't respond.
The evening continued in the same manner: brief conversations, silences, and subtle glances. Elian was not the type of person who could easily open up, and Mira fully understood that.