The old man's words lingered in the air, and he found himself wondering if he had the strength to resist the whispers in his heart, the hunger that never seemed to subside.
As he stood, lost in thought, a sudden burst of laughter jolted him back to the present.
He turned to see the old man grinning widely, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Look at this," the old man said, holding a coin between his fingers, its polished surface gleaming even in the dim light.
Zarak squinted at the coin. "What about it?"
The old man snorted, waving the coin in front of him with a smug expression. "Can't you tell? It's a gold coin! Don't tell me you've forgotten what gold looks like."
Zarak leaned in, finally noticing the unmistakable golden hue. Unlike the worn copper and silver coins he had seen before, this one sparkled with a rare luster.
