Veylin raised an eyebrow.
"A request?"
He lightly tapped the desk with his knuckle.
"That depends on what you're asking."
Kale stepped forward, his manner almost pleading.
"I want to be Xiao Lan's mentor." His voice was utterly firm. "You only taught her how to wield a blade. You haven't taught her how to walk in darkness. The loneliness and distortion along that path will devour her. She'll become... someone like me."
"No, I can't let her become like me."
"Let me teach her. That's my only condition for staying."
Veylin leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced over his abdomen.
As he watched the scene unfold, he recognized an unexpected windfall.
Not only had he acquired the sharpest blade, more importantly, he had found a sheath for it.
He had also found a guide for that uncut gem.
Veylin knew his own limitations well.
He could introduce the fundamentals, analyze, and provide the most optimized path for growth, but he could not take on those experiences steeped in blood and fire.
Kale's arrival filled precisely that crucial gap.
He would become the bridge connecting Xiao Lan to that world of shadows, able both to guide her and protect her.
Moreover, a bond woven from empathy and mentorship was far stronger than any contract or money.
He nodded slowly, his voice calm and even.
"Very well."
Kale's shoulders visibly relaxed, and the taut line of his jaw softened slightly.
Veylin traced a circle on the desktop with his finger.
"Then let's discuss your compensation. As a member of Newborn Town's Garrison and a special adviser, you'll need a salary appropriate to your position."
Kale seemed indifferent to money.
"I only need somewhere to live and enough food."
He paused, then added something else.
"And every resource Xiao Lan needs