Kael stood frozen, staring at the dagger embedded in the wall, his pulse still racing from the near-miss. He looked toward the group from where the blade had been flung. There, a bunch of very drunk Fatewalkers were stumbling around, in the midst of starting a brawl. One man had apparently thrown the dagger clumsily, his target dodging at the last second, which sent the blade flying right past Kael's head.
Elowen glanced at the scene with a raised brow and shook her head.
"Typical," she muttered.
Kael wiped the cold sweat from his brow. Typical? Was this just how people lived here? His knees felt weak as the absurdity of what just happened sank in. These people were supposed to be powerful Fatewalkers, not reckless fools who threw daggers like they were part of some children's game. The wildness of it all rattled him far more than it should have.
"Come on," Elowen grunted, grabbing Kael by the arm and dragging him toward the bar area.
He barely resisted as his legs moved almost mechanically, his mind still replaying the dagger whizzing past his head. Elowen led him to a table, sitting down as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Kael sat across from her, still stunned and silent, while she motioned to a nearby woman with a wave of her hand.
As they settled into their seats, Kael glanced back at the chaotic group still stumbling around drunkenly. A part of him wondered if this place was even safe, but a quick look at Elowen's calm demeanor reassured him. She was far too nonchalant for someone who just narrowly avoided seeing her traveling companion skewered by a drunk's dagger.
He looked around the bar, trying to steady his nerves. The Rusty Lantern, for all its rough edges, felt oddly cozy. The wooden beams were weathered but strong, and lanterns hanging from the ceiling gave off a soft, amber glow that bathed the room in warmth. Despite the occasional shouting and the crash of a glass or two, there was something comforting about the atmosphere. Maybe it was just that this was the first place he had been in since waking up that felt…normal.
The bar-woman, Maria, approached their table, wiping her hands on a cloth and smiling warmly at Elowen.
"Elowen!" she greeted with a cheerful voice.
"It's been a while."
Elowen grinned, leaning back in her chair.
"Been busy. You know how it goes."
Maria chuckled.
"Yeah, word gets around. Heard you were stationed in the Obsidian Gate for a bit. That must've been rough."
"Rough isn't the half of it," Elowen responded, waving a hand dismissively.
"But it's good to be back here. Got a favor to ask."
Maria raised an eyebrow, glancing between Elowen and Kael.
"This here's Kael," Elowen continued, gesturing at him with her thumb.
"Think you could set him up with a room for a couple of nights? I'll vouch for him."
Maria turned her full attention to Kael, her eyes softening as she offered him a welcoming smile. It was the kind of smile that instantly made him feel more at ease, despite the madness that seemed to follow him since entering this new world.
"Of course, darling," she said warmly.
"If Elowen's vouching for you, that's good enough for me."
Kael nodded in thanks, though he still felt a little out of place. This was all so new to him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that at any moment, someone would call him out as a fraud. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his own stomach growling, loud enough that even Maria raised an eyebrow.
Maria's smile widened, her eyes twinkling.
"Seems you're in need of more than just a room. How about some fresh hunter's stew I just made?"
Kael opened his mouth to respond, but his stomach growled again before he could say anything. Elowen, ever the opportunist, burst out laughing.
"He'll take that as a yes," she chuckled.
"Poor guy looks like he hasn't eaten in weeks."
Kael flushed red.
"I didn't think I was that hungry."
"Uh-huh," Elowen said, smirking.
"Sure."
Maria chuckled and turned to head back to the kitchen, leaving Kael feeling both embarrassed and oddly grateful. As strange as all of this was, the thought of a warm meal and a place to rest made everything feel a little more manageable. Maybe things weren't so bad after all.
Soon enough, Maria returned with two steaming bowls of stew, the rich aroma wafting toward them like a promise of heaven. Kael's eyes widened as the smell hit him, his mouth already salivating. He eagerly picked up his spoon and took his first bite.
It was divine.
The flavors exploded in his mouth, warming him from the inside out. After his time surviving on raw abomination meat and scraps, this meal felt like it had been sent from the heavens. Granted, his food quality improved exponentially with Elowen's presence, but it was simply incomparable to this. The tender meat, the perfectly seasoned broth, and the vegetables that melted in his mouth—it was everything he didn't know he needed.
He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, momentarily overwhelmed.
"I can die in peace now," he mumbled under his breath, half-joking, half-serious.
Elowen, meanwhile, had finished her bowl and leaned back in her chair, watching Kael with an amused look.
"You look like a fat hamster," she teased, nudging him with her elbow.
Kael shot her a half-hearted glare but said nothing. He was too full, too content, and too exhausted to care. This was by far the best thing that had happened to him since his arrival in this world, and he wasn't about to let Elowen ruin it with her teasing.
Maria returned with a cloth in hand, wiping down their table as they finished their meals.
"How was the stew?" she asked, though the smile on her face told them she already knew the answer.
Kael groaned in response, his head leaning back against the chair.
Elowen chuckled.
"You've broken him, Maria. He might not recover."
Maria laughed softly.
"Glad to see someone appreciates my cooking. I'll be sure to keep a bowl ready for you anytime you stop by, Kael."
Kael managed a weak smile, grateful beyond words. He had never tasted anything so good—never felt any real comfort. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't running for his life. He wasn't struggling to survive. He was just…here. It was pitiful to think the only other time he ever felt like this was back in the eternal void.
After what felt like an eternity of sitting in a pleasant food coma, Elowen stood up and stretched her arms above her head.
"Alright," she said, yawning slightly.
"You've had your fun. Now it's time to rest. Tomorrow, we'll figure out what your next steps are."
Kael nodded, his body feeling like it was made of lead. The thought of standing up seemed like an impossible task.
Elowen glanced over at Maria.
"Can you settle the bill and show him to his room? I've got somewhere else to be, but I'll check in tomorrow morning."
Maria gave her a nod.
"Of course."
Elowen waved a lazy goodbye and walked toward the door, her axe still strapped to her back.
"Try not to get into any more trouble, Kael. See you tomorrow."
Kael watched her leave, feeling a strange mixture of relief and apprehension. He trusted Elowen—she had proven herself to be more than capable of keeping him alive—but now that she was gone, the reality of being on his own, even just for the night, made him uneasy.
Maria interrupted his thoughts with a gentle touch on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's get you settled."
Kael stood up, his legs wobbling slightly as he followed Maria up a narrow flight of stairs. The Rusty Lantern was much larger than it appeared from the outside, with hallways leading to rooms of varying sizes. Maria led him to a modest room at the end of the hall, opening the door to reveal a cozy space with a bed, a small table, and a window overlooking the street below.
The bed, in particular, caught Kael's eye. It was simple, with fresh linens and a thick blanket, but it looked like the most comfortable thing he had ever seen in his life. He could practically feel his body begging to collapse onto it.
Maria smiled as she handed him the key.
"Rest well, Kael. You look like you've been through quite a bit. This place will take good care of you."
Kael mumbled his thanks, his voice barely above a whisper as the exhaustion of the day finally caught up with him. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Kael collapsed onto the bed.
The mattress was softer than anything he could have imagined, and the pillow cradled his head in a way that made him feel like he was floating. For the first time since waking up in the tower, Kael felt… safe. Peaceful, even.
Is this what peace feels like? he wondered, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
With that, he drifted off into the first restful sleep he had had in what felt like forever.