After a long while, Sylas gave a small nod. "Thanks, but I won't be taking you up on the offer."
If anything surprised Ekear, it was the thanks rather than the refusal, and for a moment he simply looked at Sylas as though trying to decide whether he had heard correctly. He had expected arrogance, dismissal, or perhaps nothing at all, but gratitude was low on the list of responses he had prepared for.
After several seconds, Ekear nodded in return. "If you change your mind, the offer is still there. You're still my youngest disciple brother, and Gwenu misses you a great deal."
Sylas didn't answer, and Ekear didn't linger long enough to make the silence awkward. He turned and left, disappearing into the distance while Sylas watched him go for only a moment before returning home and putting the Nethum aside for later.
