Eiden saw them.
His eyes found Raizen first - a casual sweep of the crowd that locked onto a familiar face the way a compass locks onto north. The sweep continued past Raizen to Saffi, acknowledged both of them, and returned to Raizen with the warm, unhurried recognition of a professor spotting students at an event he hadn't expected them to attend.
He changed direction. Angled toward them through the crowd, his pace easy, his posture relaxed, just like a man enjoying a festival. His right hand stayed in his pocket. The left one rose in a small wave.
"Raizen! Saffi!" His voice carried the festival's warmth, bright and open and completely at ease. "I was hoping I'd run into you two."
Something shifted inside Raizen's chest.
