Chapter 62

In Meadowrun, the atmosphere was lively, if not tinged with a sense of anticipation. The thought of their saviors battling the witch had become the centerpiece of countless conversations. The village square, bustling with activity earlier in the day, was now quieter, yet the air was heavy with expectation. Some of the young women, still flushed with excitement from their encounters with the heroic strangers, shared whispered fantasies. They imagined the valiant warriors returning triumphant, sweeping them into their arms, and whisking them away to a brighter, more fulfilling destiny.

This fragile peace, however, was not destined to last.