The morning sun filtered through the small window of the cabin, casting warm light across Gabriel's face. He stirred, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he adjusted to the new day. His body still ached, but the rest had done him good. He felt stronger, more focused.
Kain was already up, his back against the wall as he sharpened his sword with a whetstone. The rhythmic scraping filled the otherwise quiet cabin. Lina, on the other hand, was by the fire, heating water for tea. She looked over at Gabriel and offered him a soft smile.
"Morning, sleepyhead," she said, her tone light. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," Gabriel replied, stretching his arms. He noticed the slight stiffness in his muscles, but it was nothing he couldn't handle. "Ready to get moving."
Kain grinned. "That's what I like to hear. We've got a long day ahead of us."
Lina poured the hot water into a cup and handed it to Gabriel. "Drink this. It'll help wake you up." She watched him take a sip before adding, "I was thinking, once we're back in town, we should go see the guildmaster. We've been off the grid for a few days now, and they're probably wondering what happened."
Gabriel nodded, savoring the warmth of the tea. "Agreed. We need to report what we found at the ruins. There might be more places like that out there."
"More sorcerers, too," Kain added, his expression serious. "We can't let our guard down."
Lina nodded thoughtfully. "True. But let's not forget why we're doing this. The pay from this mission should set us up for a while. We could even take a break, pick up some easier jobs to build up our funds."
Gabriel considered her words. They had been pushing themselves hard, and while the idea of a break was appealing, he couldn't shake the feeling that their work was far from over. "We'll see what the guildmaster says. If there's something urgent, we might need to take care of it first."
Kain finished sharpening his sword and sheathed it with a satisfied nod. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it. Together."
Lina smiled and placed her hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Just promise you won't try to take on everything by yourself. We're a team, remember?"
Gabriel looked at her, the warmth in her eyes making it difficult to stay distant. He had always preferred to keep people at arm's length, but Kain and Lina had become more than just allies. They were friends, even if he didn't often admit it. "I promise," he said finally.
They spent the next hour preparing to leave, packing up their supplies and ensuring the cabin was in good order for the next travelers who might stumble upon it. Once everything was ready, they stepped outside, greeted by the crisp morning air and the sound of birds singing in the trees.
The journey back to town was uneventful, the path familiar after their many travels together. As they walked, Lina and Kain chatted about various topics—upcoming festivals, rumors of new bounties, and the latest gossip from the guild. Gabriel listened quietly, content to let their voices fill the silence.
When they finally reached the town, the streets were bustling with activity. Vendors called out from their stalls, hawking fresh produce and handmade goods, while children played games in the alleyways. The sight of normalcy was a stark contrast to the darkness they had faced at the ruins, and Gabriel felt a small sense of relief.
The guildhall stood at the center of town, a large, imposing structure that served as both a meeting place and a hub for adventurers. As they approached, they could see the guildmaster, a grizzled man named Roland, standing near the entrance, deep in conversation with another adventurer.
When Roland spotted them, he broke off his conversation and strode over, his stern expression softening slightly when he saw Gabriel. "You're back. Good. I was starting to wonder if I needed to send someone after you."
"We ran into some complications," Gabriel said, his tone even. "But the job's done. The ruins are no longer a threat."
Roland crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Complications, huh? Care to elaborate?"
Kain stepped forward, eager to share the details. "We found a sorcerer at the ruins. He was using some kind of dark magic to control creatures and curse the village. Gabriel took him out, but not before things got pretty hairy."
Lina nodded in agreement. "The whole place was filled with dangerous magic. We destroyed the source, but there might be more sites like it. We need to be prepared."
Roland stroked his beard thoughtfully. "A sorcerer, you say? That's troubling. Dark magic like that isn't something we've seen in these parts for a long time. If there are more like him out there… we're going to need to tread carefully."
Gabriel met Roland's gaze. "Do you have any information on other sites or similar activity?"
Roland sighed. "Nothing concrete, but there have been whispers. Other villages reporting strange occurrences, people disappearing, that sort of thing. I've been trying to gather more intel, but it's slow going."
"We'll take on whatever you have," Gabriel said, his voice firm. "We can't let this spread."
Lina glanced at him, a hint of concern in her eyes. "Are you sure? You just got back. Maybe we should take a day or two to rest."
Gabriel shook his head. "There's no time. If we wait, more people could get hurt. We need to act."
Roland nodded, respecting Gabriel's determination. "All right. I'll put together what I have and send it to you. In the meantime, why don't you three get some rest? You've earned it."
Kain grinned. "Don't have to tell me twice. I'm heading straight to the tavern for a drink. Care to join me?"
Lina laughed. "I'll join you. Gabriel?"
Gabriel considered it for a moment. He wasn't one for taverns or drinking, but the idea of spending time with his friends, away from the constant threat of danger, was tempting. "Sure," he said finally. "Why not?"
Kain clapped him on the back. "That's the spirit! First round's on me."
They made their way to the tavern, a lively place filled with the laughter and chatter of townsfolk and adventurers alike. The air was thick with the scent of roasted meat and ale, and a bard played a cheerful tune in the corner.
They found a table near the back, away from the rowdier crowd, and Kain quickly ordered drinks for everyone. When the mugs arrived, Kain raised his in a toast. "To surviving another day!"
Lina and Gabriel raised their mugs as well, though Gabriel's was filled with water rather than ale. They clinked their mugs together, and for a moment, the weight of their responsibilities lifted, replaced by the simple pleasure of being in good company.
As they drank and talked, the conversation drifted to lighter topics—old stories of their past adventures, humorous anecdotes from their travels, and the occasional teasing remark. Even Gabriel found himself smiling, a rare expression that didn't go unnoticed by Lina.
"You should smile more often," she said, nudging him playfully. "It suits you."
Gabriel gave a small shrug. "I'll think about it."
Kain chuckled, downing the last of his ale. "Don't push him too hard, Lina. He might actually start enjoying himself."
The evening passed in a blur of laughter and camaraderie, the outside world forgotten for a time. But as the night wore on and the tavern began to empty, reality slowly crept back in.
Lina stretched and stifled a yawn. "We should probably call it a night. We'll need to be ready for whatever Roland has for us tomorrow."
Gabriel nodded, feeling the exhaustion from the past few days catching up with him. "Agreed. Let's get some rest."
They left the tavern and made their way back to the small inn where they had rented rooms. As they reached the door to his room, Gabriel paused, turning to Kain and Lina. "Thanks for tonight."
Kain grinned. "Anytime. Just don't make a habit of smiling too much, or we might start thinking you're going soft."
Lina laughed softly. "Goodnight, Gabriel. See you in the morning."
Gabriel watched them go, a small, contented smile lingering on his lips as he closed the door behind him. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new dangers, but for now, he allowed himself to rest, knowing that whatever came next, they would face it together.