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The broth was thick and spicy, with a hint of an herb I couldn’t quite place.
Contentment spread through my body with every mouthful, a comforting blanket that pushed away the last remnants of cold and fear.
I ate slowly, savoring each spoonful, taking in the pleasant hum of conversation around me.
As I finished my meal, I found myself feeling lighter, the terror of the fog and the monsters slowly fading into the background.
I was safe, at least for now, surrounded by the comforting light.
With the last spoonful of stew, I sat back in my chair, feeling satiated and more relaxed than I had been since I’d landed on Enchor’s Heart.
A gentle hum of contentment settled over me, a respite from the earlier turmoil.
As I looked around the parlor, taking in the faces of the other patrons, I felt a sense of camaraderie.
We were all strangers, but we were united in our shared experiences — the treacherous journey through the fog, the refuge in this humble inn, and the simple pleasure of a good meal.
As the evening wore on, I found myself lulled into a sense of comfort, a far cry from the fear and uncertainty that had gripped me earlier.
I was alone on an alien moon, yes, but in that parlor, surrounded by the buzz of conversation, I didn’t feel quite so isolated.
In fact, for the first time since I had left home, I felt a sense of belonging.
And so, as I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment.
The fear and uncertainty could wait until tomorrow.
For now, I was content with the soft glow of the lamps, the tantalizing scent of food, and the hum of conversation.
With the fear fading away, replaced by satisfaction, I felt hopeful.
After all, every journey, no matter how perilous, began with a single step — and I had taken mine.
For now, that was enough.
Tomorrow, I would face whatever challenges lay ahead.
But for tonight, I was just Madison, a stranger in astrange land, finding comfort in the simplest of things — a warm meal in a cozy inn.
I wastwo bites into my second bowl of stew when I became aware of two figures blocking the ambient light.
I looked up, my mouth half-full, to see two alien males settling down on either side of my table, their grotesque grins wide.
“I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure,” the one to my right, a bulky creature with Katari scales and eyes like polished onyx, began.
His voice was a grating symphony of clicks and growls.
“You still haven’t,” I responded, keeping my tone steady, swallowing the chunk of meat I had been chewing.
The stew, which had tasted so heavenly just moments ago, was now an unpleasant lump in my throat.
I made myself laugh at them, hoping to insult their honor enough that they would leave me in peace.
The Katari were known to be proud beasts.
Their laughter was an unsettling cacophony.
It echoed in the inn, bouncing off the scuffed walls and making the patrons at the nearby tables glance in our direction.
