That night, Kael made his way to the southern town. Compared to the bustling heart of the Elaris City, this place was smaller, rougher, yet alive in its own way.
Lanterns hung from crooked poles, their faint glow spilling across the narrow streets.
Shadows stretched long across cobblestones, broken now and then by bursts of laughter and drunken singing. It wasn't hard to find the liveliest place at night—every road seemed to lead him toward it.
The tavern.
It wasn't large, nor grand, but it was the beating heart of the town.
Farmers came after long days in the fields, their hands calloused from the plow.
Hunters dragged themselves in with scratches and scars still fresh from the wilds.
Merchants gathered to boast about coin and bargains, their voices rising above the noise.
And sometimes, wandering adventurers stumbled in, chasing a night's forgetfulness at the bottom of a mug. Sooner or later, everyone passed through here.
