Chapter 80: Ocean Eyes in the Lamplight
The first thing they did after slipping out of the quiet alley was to look for food. Their stomachs had been grumbling for hours, and the faint aroma of grilled meat drifting across the street was enough to pull them along.
"There," Ethan pointed toward a sturdy, timber-framed tavern with a painted sign of a boar's head. Its windows glowed warmly with firelight, and laughter spilled into the night air.
Inside, the place was already bustling. Adventurers fresh from the field clanked mugs of ale, mercenaries shouted across tables, and locals tucked into hearty meals while swapping gossip. The air was heavy with the smell of roasted meat, spiced stews, and fresh bread, undercut by the faint tang of sweat and ale.
