Canned vegetables never sat right with Warren. The mere thought of food that could be grown naturally—fresh and untainted—being sealed in a can with artificial preservatives and chemicals made his stomach churn.
Warren was a perfectionist to his core—a self-proclaimed neat freak. His life operated on a precise schedule, every action meticulously planned and executed. He thrived on order and control, and he didn't appreciate deviations from his carefully constructed routine.
This obsession extended to his meals. Strange additives, artificial flavors, preservatives—any of it was enough to make him grimace.
But when faced with a meal of boiled canned vegetables, plain rice, and grilled chicken, all of those convictions flew out the window.
He ate eagerly, his earlier aversion forgotten as he savored the simplicity of the food. And he wasn't alone. The rest of the group shared his enthusiasm, their plates emptying fast as they dug in.
"Despite the hardships this world places upon humanity… You guys really did stay resilient," Warren said between mouthfuls, unable to help himself. The flavor reminded him of a time long gone, and he couldn't hide his surprise.
"I mean, I never would've expected food to taste this close to how it did before everything happened."
His usual manners faltered, words muffled as he spoke with his mouth full. It wasn't elegant, but his appreciation was clear.
"You couldn't have said it better… sniffle."
Lumian nodded, his shoulders slumping as tears began to pool in the corners of his eyes.
Warren paused mid-bite, his brow furrowing in disbelief as he looked at Lumian.
"What…? You're seriously crying?"
There was a twinge of discomfort in his voice, almost bordering on disgust. Warren wasn't one for emotional outbursts, especially not ones involving tears. He wasn't sure whether to comfort Lumian or just ignore him altogether.
"Shut up," Lumian muttered through clenched teeth, refusing to look up as he continued shoveling spoonful after spoonful of food into his mouth.
Marcus let out a hearty laugh, the sound deep and genuine.
"Aha! That's Lumian for you."
His laughter was followed by a firm pat on Lumian's back—perhaps a little too firm.
"Gah! Hhagh! Blughh!" Lumian choked mid-bite, coughing as he tried to swat Marcus's hand away.
"Get off!" he wheezed, his voice hoarse but full of irritation.
The table erupted into laughter at the display, the sound cutting through the somber weight of the world outside.
Marcus's grin widened as he leaned back, clearly unbothered by Lumian's complaints.
"So—" Wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, Dominic tapped a finger rhythmically against the table, his voice breaking the comfortable lull that had settled over the room. "You guys plan on going to Cinderhaven, correct? It's truly beautiful. You'd be surprised how far civilization and humanity have rebuilt themselves after something so… dehumanizing."
His words carried a weight of both admiration and disbelief, his tone reflective as if remembering the stark contrast between the present and the ruins they'd all come from.
Silas straightened slightly, nodding his head. His lips curved into a small but grateful grin, his expression alight with cautious excitement. The thought of Cinderhaven—of some semblance of normality and structure—brought him a rare sense of hope.
"Correct," Silas replied, his tone measured but eager. "Do you have any… er…" He paused, searching for the right word. "Tips? No, tips isn't the right word. How should we go about this? It's our first time going, and we don't want to make any mistakes. Especially since we've heard some interesting things about the person who rules it."
Dominic nodded, leaning back slightly in his chair. "No worries, I totally get ya!" he said, his voice carrying an easy confidence. "When you get there, you'll feel like you've been transported into a fantasy movie."
He smiled, his enthusiasm infectious.
"The community is welcoming," he continued, gesturing with his hand as if painting a picture. "There's a ton of people—more than you'd think. It's busy, lively, full of energy. You'll find stores, venues, even entertainment. It's… well, it's not perfect, but it's better than most places left in the world."
Silas listened intently, his head tilting slightly as he absorbed Dominic's words. The idea of a place so lively was almost hard to imagine after all they'd been through.
"There's… uh… I guess you could say some sort of authority," Dominic added, his tone shifting as he leaned forward slightly, tapping the table again. "The ruler of Cinderhaven has some guards. You know how the Royal Family is protected in the United Kingdom? It's something like that."
Silas's brow furrowed slightly, curiosity piqued.
"The ruler lives in a sort of watchtower," Dominic said, his voice quieter now, almost conspiratorial. "It looms over most of Cinderhaven. You'll see it as soon as you arrive. Hard to miss."
He hesitated for a moment, his expression thoughtful before he added, "Rumor has it, no one knows what the ruler looks like… not even their gender."
The words hung in the air, leaving a strange tension in their wake. Silas exchanged a brief glance with the others, their silent curiosity mirroring his own.
Cinderhaven was sounding more mysterious by the second.
Silas placed a hand on his chin, tilting his head slightly as he fell deep into thought. His expression, oddly enough, resembled that of a confused dog—eyes distant, brow furrowed, and lips slightly parted. The things he'd heard from Dominic created a storm of conflicting emotions in his mind. Concern tangled with confusion, racing through his thoughts at a speed he couldn't keep up with.
The idea of Cinderhaven seemed almost too good to be true. A place of normality and structure? It felt like something out of a story, not the harsh reality they lived in. He wanted to believe they could walk in, get what they needed, and leave without a hitch. But deep down, he knew better. Life wasn't that kind to him, and he wasn't exactly favored by the gods.
"What's up?"
Warren's voice cut through the chaos in Silas's mind, snapping him out of his thoughts. Silas blinked, making eye contact with him, startled by the sudden question.
"I feel you," Warren continued, his tone steady, as if trying to ground Silas's worries. "All of this sounds really… creepy. So I suggest we don't do anything out of the ordinary. Just go in, and leave without doing any extra."
It sounded so simple. Because it was. If they could stick to the plan—mind their business and focus on their goal—there wouldn't be any room for complications, right?
"That would be our best bet," Ronan chimed in, his voice muffled as he spoke with a full mouth of food. He gulped it down quickly, reaching for his glass of water to wash it all down. Without hesitation, he pushed his plate forward for seconds, his excitement shining in his eyes.
Marcus chuckled, nodding as he added more food to Ronan's plate. It seemed he'd taken a liking to the boy, though whether it was Ronan's charm or his impressive appetite that won him over was unclear.
Lumian, ever the optimist, clapped a hand on Silas's back. "Don't look so down! Me and Ronan are pretty reliable!" His grin was wide, his tone filled with confidence that bordered on arrogance.
Silas glanced at Lumian, doubt flickering across his face. Reliable? That wasn't exactly the first word that came to mind when he thought of Lumian.
"Besides," Lumian continued, his grin widening, "with you as leader, we'll do more than good. We'll be amazing!"
Silas froze. His head tilted slightly as he tried to process the words. "W-Wait… leader? Seriously? I'm not a great leader! You should pick someone else!" He waved his hands frantically, his voice rising in desperation. "I never even got picked during group projects!"
But his protests fell on deaf ears. Lumian had already turned to the others, riling them up with an infectious energy.
"Leader! Leader! Leader!"
The chant grew louder as the room joined in, their voices echoing against the wooden walls of the lodge.
Silas's eyebrows twitched in exasperation, his lips pressing into a thin line. He looked around at the grinning faces, his expression slowly softening into one of reluctant amusement. His lips curled upward slightly, almost a chuckle, as he let out a quiet sigh.
He couldn't believe he'd let himself get dragged into this situation. But here he was.
.
..
…
The meal they shared earlier lingered in their minds, making the journey to Cinderhaven far more bearable. With their bodies energized and their spirits lifted, the group found themselves in an unusually cheerful mood despite the rocky start to their expedition.
"I wonder what it's like… maybe it's like a really big city," Ronan said, practically bouncing with excitement. His eyes lit up at the thought, his words spilling out in a rapid stream. "Different people, different things to do… I can't wait!"
His voice carried a youthful enthusiasm that was contagious, though Lumian only chuckled, adjusting the strap of his bag with a smirk.
"Patience, Ronan. We'll see soon enough."
Warren, walking slightly ahead, slowed his pace. His ears caught a faint sound carried on the breeze—distant but unmistakable. Music. Cheering. He frowned slightly, trying to pinpoint the noise.
"You won't have to wait much longer," Warren said, his voice cutting through Ronan's chatter. He pointed down at the ground, drawing their attention to the path beneath their feet.
It wasn't a dirt trail shaped by the wilderness—it was far too clean, far too intentional. A path made to guide travelers, to be followed.
The group moved forward, the faint noises growing louder with each step. The music became clearer, accompanied by lively cheers and the distant hum of voices. The sound of life.
Their pace quickened as anticipation bubbled within them. The path led them past the final line of trees, and as they stepped beyond the edge of the forest, their breath caught.
Lamps. Lights. People.
The flicker of lamplight illuminated the scene before them, casting a warm glow across the bustling town. People mingled, their voices merging into a symphony of joy and excitement. Children laughed and danced, their carefree energy weaving through the crowd.
Stores stood lined up neatly, their vibrant signs promising goods and services that felt like luxuries in this new world. The hum of music carried on the air, its rhythm lively and unrestrained. Animals wandered through the streets, their presence adding to the atmosphere of organized chaos.
It was civilization.
The group stood frozen, their awe unspoken but mutual as they took in the scene. Even in a world torn apart by despair, this place was alive. Thriving.
Silas's lips curved upward into a smile as his gaze swept across the town. The sight before him was a stark contrast to the ruin and destruction they had come to know. It was beautiful in its defiance of the storm that was The Collapse.
His voice was quiet, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of his emotions.
"Even when faced with despair… humanity is resilient."
The words hung in the air as the group stepped forward, drawn into the vibrant life of Cinderhaven.