The comforting aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon greeted me as I descended into the common area of the Golden Hearth. The warmth of the hearth fire mingled with the soft chatter of early risers, creating a cozy bubble of normalcy. Sunlight streamed through the wide windows, glinting off the polished wooden tables and bathing the room in a golden glow. If I ignored everything outside, this could almost feel like peace.
I slid into our usual corner table, the one that offered a clear view of the entire room. Across from me, Lunara already sat, her slim fingers wrapped around a steaming cup of tea. The sunlight caught her silver hair—it was rare to see her in her humanoid form outside the streets, but this morning she looked radiant. And there it was: a smile. Small, faint, and fleeting, but unmistakably real.
"You're in a good mood," I said, leaning back in my chair with a smirk.
"Or is it just the tea?"