Lyra sipped her genisan-flavored coffee with graceful poise, her violet hair flowing over her shoulders like velvet. The faint clink of her cup meeting the table echoed softly in the room as she looked up at Max with composed determination.
Max, on the other hand, leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp. "So, what did you want from me?" he asked at last, his voice calm but firm. "You didn't come all the way from the Middle Domain and secretly help me in the Lower Domain just out of kindness. What do you want in return?"
His question wasn't cold, just realistic. He knew better than to believe someone at her level would move pieces on the board without an endgame in mind. Lyra nodded, acknowledging the truth in his words.
"I need your help," she said bluntly, without a hint of hesitation.
