Adrian leaned back, sated by the delicious stew. "That was truly wonderful, Elara. Thank you." He watched her for a moment as she tidied a nearby table. "You seem to handle everything around here with such grace. Is this what you always wanted to do, working at the inn?"
Elara paused, turning back to him with a soft smile. "It's a good life, Nyxal. The inn is warm, and I get to meet all sorts of people. But... sometimes I wonder." Her gaze drifted past him, towards a prominent, dust-covered broadsword mounted on the wall behind the counter, its hilt gleaming faintly.
"My father was an adventurer. He was the one who taught me to handle a blade, even this one."
Adrian followed her gaze. The sword was a magnificent piece of craftsmanship, clearly once a powerful weapon. "That's a formidable-looking blade," he observed. "Did he wield it often?"
Elara's expression softened, tinged with a familiar melancholic wistfulness Adrian had seen in many an NPC backstory. "He did. It was his pride and joy, 'Oathkeeper,' he called it. He was a brave and noble warrior. Always sought to protect the innocent." She walked over to the sword, tracing a finger along its polished hilt. "He went missing a few years ago, on a particularly dangerous expedition into the Dragon's Teeth mountains. Never came back. This sword... it's all I have left of him. A keepsake."
Adrian's heart, or what was left of his human heart within Nyxal, twinged with genuine empathy. He'd encountered countless 'missing parent' quests in the game, but hearing it from a truly sentient person, seeing the genuine sorrow in Elara's eyes, was different. "I'm truly sorry to hear that, Elara," he said, his voice gentle. "To lose someone like that... it leaves a void." He understood loss, in a new and terrifying way. He had lost his entire world, his very self.
Elara offered a brave, watery smile. "It does. But life goes on, right? I have the inn, and the memories." She looked back at him, a flicker of curiosity returning to her eyes. "So, you can see why I admire adventurers like yourself. The courage, the drive to face the unknown..."
Adrian nodded, the weight of his own monstrous power a stark contrast to her innocent admiration. "It takes a certain kind of spirit," he agreed. "But it's not without its own burdens." He felt the irony of his words keenly.
They chatted a while longer, discussing the common woes of innkeeping, the quirks of Oakhaven's residents, and the ever-present threat of the wildlands. Elara's resilience, despite her past, was quietly impressive. As the common room began to empty, Adrian pushed back from the table.
"Well, Elara, it's been a long day, and I have those 'trials' tomorrow morning," he said, rising. "Thank you again for the wonderful meal and the conversation."
"Of course, Nyxal," she replied, collecting the empty dishes. "Sleep well. I hope you pass with flying colors."
Adrian gave her a final, warm smile. "Goodnight, Elara." He ascended the wooden stairs to the third floor, the worn planks creaking beneath his feet. The silence of his room, after the bustling inn, was a welcome reprieve. He stood by the window, looking out at the starlit Aethelgardian night. The adventure had truly begun.