As the group wound their way through the meticulously cultivated medicinal garden, a booming shout erupted from the main doors of the mansion. The sound was thick with vitality and warmth.
A tall, robust middle-aged man stepped out into the light, his frame casting a long shadow over the stone path. He possessed a commanding presence, his shoulders broad and his smile wide enough to light up the shaded garden.
"Callom! I see you are in much better health than when I left!" Gran called out, his voice lifting with genuine joy.
The two men met in the centre of the path, but they didn't exchange the stiff, formal bows or the cautious hand-seals typical of the spirit master world. Instead, they greeted each other with the easy familiarity of kin.
They laughed and patted each other's arms with a rhythmic force that signaled deep trust and shared history.
