John woke before sunrise.
For a moment, he didn't remember where he was.
The unfamiliar ceiling above him slowly came into focus, followed by the distant sound of the river flowing beyond the village.
Then he remembered.
Riverside Village.
The expedition.
The Ashen Peaks.
Today was the final day before they entered the wilderness.
John sat up and quietly stretched.
The room was simple but comfortable. A small wooden table stood beside the bed, with his field satchel resting on top of it.
He reached for the journal.
Before anything else, he opened it.
---
**Day Six – Riverside Village**
*We reached Riverside yesterday.*
*The village is peaceful. The people are kind.*
*Tomorrow we leave the road behind.*
*After that, most of what we encounter will be unfamiliar.*
John paused.
His pen hovered over the page.
Then he added:
*I'm not afraid.*
*But I don't think being afraid is the same as being unprepared.*
He stopped writing.
That sentence felt important.
