Several minutes earlier, shortly after separating from Sonya, Akaza, Elara, and the others, Simon and Darius reached another section of Frostveil's road.
The humans had abandoned this stretch when the twins arrived. Broken barricades stood beside an empty trench, and frost covered the stone beneath their feet.
Darius stopped and turned his spear once in his hand.
"You're very quiet," he said with an amused grin. "Your little friend did enough talking for all of you, but I expected something from you."
Simon gave no response. His gaze moved over the human's stance, the angle of his spear, and the Aether gathering beneath his armour.
Darius inhaled through his nose.
"Still the same. I can smell something dangerous, but I can't tell where it ends." His grin widened. "Usually, demons try to hide more when I tell them that. You haven't changed at all."
Simon remained silent.
"Was that everything you could do at Ironcrest? Or were you holding back because the others were watching?"
