Aldric was at the guild door.
Outside, on the threshold, with his coffee.
The three arrived with the gear they had learned to carry after Grimvast — enough, no more.
Aldric looked at them.
Drank.
"I hope you come back."
"We'll come back," Kai said.
"We came back from the A_D_M labyrinth," Lira said.
"I know." Aldric looked at her. "That's why I still haven't commissioned the statue."
Lira looked at him.
"I'll keep coming back just so you won't put it up."
Aldric looked at her and smiled.
"That was exactly the plan."
Lira looked at him a moment longer.
She kept walking.
---
[DraconicLegacy: "that was exactly the plan" — ALDRIC IS A GENIUS]
[Chris_Murray: Aldric manipulated Lira into promising to come back with the threat of a statue. respect.]
[Warwolf: Aldric has been building toward this for chapters. the statue was always the plan.]
[Per_Sundin: Lira is going to come back. she promised without promising. Aldric knows it.]
