He walked toward their table, his footsteps calm and unhurried. Despite his relaxed posture, his senses were alert. Old habits from countless quests hadn't faded.
Stopping a short distance away, Arya cleared his throat.
"Excuse me," he said.
The group turned toward him instantly.
Eyes sharp. Hands near weapons. Trained reactions.
"Yes?" one of them asked, a tall man with short hair and a sword strapped at his side.
Arya met their gazes without flinching.
"Are you the group the guild sent?" he asked evenly. "The temporary party gathering for today's quest."
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air.
Then a woman with light armor and a staff tilted her head slightly. She looked Arya up and down, her gaze lingering just long enough to assess his equipment.
"…You're from the guild?" she asked.
Arya nodded. "Same notice. Same time. Cat Café."
The man with the parchment let out a small breath of relief.
"Yeah, that's us," he said. "You're a little early—or maybe we're late."
