As the morning welcomed the cold grass, Renka woke Karyan up, "it's time for us to have a conversation, serpent master."
"I hoped so, will you send a letter for me?"
"No letters here will be needed, Karyan. Come, walk with me outside."
As the two walked out, leaving Reverie sleeping and Sin on the bed, pretending to do so, Renka put her hands behind her back.
"Yes…you've walked a long way, boy…and I will send the letter for you, however, there's something I need to tell you first."
"Renka, why are you talking so mysteriously? Like you know all the world's secrets?"
"Well, maybe I do?" Renka laughed, "anyway, Mateo is a different person now from what he was as a child…do you remember how you two used to compete against each other?"
Karyan paused, "I wasn't competing. I was looking up to him back then."