The village canteen was unusually lively that afternoon.
It was lunchtime, and nearly every wooden table inside the wide, open hall was occupied. Villagers in dusty boots, explorers still smelling faintly of the forest, children laughing too loudly. Everyone filled the space with chatter and the clatter of bowls and spoons.
Gray light filtered through the open windows, mixing with the warm smell of stew, roasted meat, and some weird vegetables.
As usual, Scarlett chose the corner table. As usual, Amon followed and sat beside her. It had been a normal thing for the last whole week.
But today they were not alone.
Julian, Ethan, Katherine, and two other young villagers had already dragged chairs over before Scarlett could finish sitting down.
Amon sat beside Scarlett without hesitation, a bright expression on his face as if the morning battle had never happened.
Julian leaned back in his chair with a smile. "So? Did you survive today, Amon?"
