The crackling campfire radiated a warmth that spread outward.
The pot suspended over the flames bubbled, steaming with a rich aroma of meaty broth.
Outside the window, the darkness was as deep as the night, with occasional flashes of lightning revealing twisted tree silhouettes in the distance before plunging back into darkness, leaving only the rain streaks on the windows and the pattering sound of raindrops hitting the glass.
Coldness and warmth were separated by a wooden wall, and inside the cabin, it seemed one could let go of the wariness in their hearts and the fatigue of their bodies.
"Welcome, traveler from afar,"
The middle-aged man sitting opposite the fire showed a warm, amiable smile while his wife and son sat beside him, looking over with a mix of curiosity and friendliness.
This lonely cabin, standing deep within the Shadow Swamp, didn't seem as eerie as it appeared or as one might imagine.
At least that's what Anna thought.
