Silvi sat back with a satisfied sigh, chuckling at Mika’s comment. “Almost like they might have been checking up on the Academy’s [i]only[/i] students.” Once again, she couldn’t quite keep a note of disappointment out of her voice. Still savouring the rich, meaty, she sipped a glass of water and sighed once more as her scroll began to vibrate. “Oops,” She said, pulling it out and looking at it. “That’s a timer I set; we should probably head back relatively soon…they might notice if we’re late…” She added with a smirk.

Sliding out from her seat, she rubbed her rather full belly appreciatively, before heading over to the till. There was no-one in sight, but when she rang the bell a mountain of a man, about the same age as Auntie Levi stepped out of the back. As he walked over to the till, it was obvious he moved with a limp. “You must be the students Levi told me about.” The man rumbled. “I’m Ube, Uncle Ube to my friends.” He added with a smile. “A pleasure to meet you.” Silvi replied. She was generally used to either looking down or at least across at most people, even full grown adults, but even she had to look up to look Ube in the eye.

“I was a hunter once.” Ube went on. “But I miss timed a dodge, and well…let me say this, at least the Beowulf never got a [i]second[/i] swing in.” She was unsure how to respond to that, but Ube quickly moved on. “Now then, you kids come back here any time you need a good hot meal to fill your bellies.” Seeing Silvi pulling out her wallet, he waved her off. “That’s not need Ms. Wulka, I know [i]you[/i] for sure are good for it, but think of this as me and Levi’s little way of doing what we can to help; for you three, your meals are on us.”

Her eyes widened and her tail twitched in surprise. “That-that is [i]very[/i] generous of you, thank you so much!” Reaching out, Sivli shook Ube’s hand, his giant mitt enveloping her own hand. With the, aborted, attempt to pay done, she thanked Ube once more and stepped out onto the street.