They entered a bustling hall, alive with the hum of conversation and the clatter of cutlery. The room was immense, its high ceilings adorned with intricate designs that shimmered under the soft glow of chandeliers. Long tables stretched across the space, piled high with food, filling the air with rich, savory aromas.
Ezra's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but gasp softly. "Wow…"
But there was no time to linger. The man was already moving forward with purposeful strides, and Ezra found himself struggling to keep up, weaving through the crowd.
It didn't take long for him to notice.
People were avoiding them. Conversations hushed as they passed, eyes flickering toward them before quickly darting away. A subtle tension hung in the air, like the very atmosphere had shifted the moment they entered.
The man, if he noticed, paid it no mind. He walked ahead, unbothered, and with a smooth motion, slid a sleek black card from his pocket. He swiped it against a small panel by an unmarked door, and it clicked open without hesitation.
Ezra trailed behind, the whispers fading as the door closed quietly behind them.
Inside, the room was surprisingly large, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere outside. Comfy seats lined the walls, their plush cushions inviting, while a long table at the center was laden with a variety of food, more extravagant than anything Ezra had ever seen.
The man removed his coat and military cap, setting them neatly on the back of his chair before sitting down with a casual grace.
"Eat."
Ezra blinked, still standing by the door.
"Huh?"
The man let out a soft sigh, his patience thinning but his tone remaining calm.
"I said eat. I'm pretty sure you're starving by now. After all…" He paused, his eyes flicking to Ezra with a knowing look. "You've been asleep for a week."
Ezra's eyes widened in shock, but before he could respond, his stomach growled loudly, betraying him.
The man chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair as Ezra practically dove toward the table, grabbing the nearest piece of roasted chicken and shoving it into his mouth.
A muffled groan of delight escaped him as the flavors hit his tongue.
"I could eat anything," he mumbled around a mouthful of food, barely pausing as he reached for more.
The man gave a small, amused nod, sipping his tea as he observed Ezra's ravenous state.
"Yes, everything's yours," he replied smoothly, watching him with a glint of curiosity. His gaze lingered for a moment, then he added, almost offhandedly, "Your hair…"
"It's natural," Ezra cut him off quickly, his mouth now stuffed with shrimp as he avoided the man's scrutinizing eyes.
The man's lips twitched into a slight smile, but he said nothing more, letting Ezra devour his food in peace—at least for now.
He sat back, quietly observing, his fingers loosely wrapped around the delicate cup of tea. After a moment, he spoke, his tone light and thoughtful.
"You're the complete opposite of someone I know."
Ezra was too hungry to care, shoveling more food into his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in years.
"What's this?" he mumbled around a bite, pointing at a dish piled high with steaming shellfish.
"Crab and lobster."
Ezra squinted at the strange shapes. "Huh?"
The man chuckled softly, taking another sip of his tea.
"They come from the ocean. Think of them as… large water insects."
The man paused, chewing thoughtfully before asking, "Ever seen the ocean?"
Ezra shook his head. "Nope."
"It's really beautiful."
The man's eyes flicked back to him, studying him for a beat longer, but Ezra was already moving on, stuffing another bite into his mouth.
"Wow, this tastes way better than monster meat."
The words had barely left his mouth when the man choked on his tea, coughing violently as he tried to recover.
Ezra glanced up, oblivious to the chaos he'd caused.
"What? It does."
The man stared at him, a mix of disbelief and disgust etched across his face.
Ezra shrugged, unbothered.
"Hey, I was hungry. You can't blame me." He jabbed a thumb toward the food on the table. "It doesn't taste good raw, but after I used my flames? It was pretty decent—tasted kinda like chicken."
The man froze mid-sip, lowering his cup slowly as if Ezra had just committed a crime.
His voice dropped, low and dead serious.
"Don't you ever compare monster meat to this again."
Ezra blinked, then let out a small snort, popping another piece of chicken into his mouth.
"Alright, alright… but I'm just saying."