The inn by the sea was a vision of luxury compared to the rough accommodations Elara and Cedric had endured before the expedition. Its polished wooden floors gleamed under the warm light of lanterns, and the air carried a faint scent of salt and lavender. Waves crashed softly outside, their rhythm a soothing counterpoint to the gentle murmur of other patrons enjoying the inn's comforts.
Elara sighed contentedly as she leaned back in her chair by the window, savoring the faint breeze that wafted through the slightly open shutters. For once, her body felt lighter, the promise of a clean bath and a plush bed lifting her spirits after the grueling battle. The weight of exhaustion still clung to her limbs, but it was the good kind—the kind that came with the satisfaction of having earned her rest.
