A Taste of Tranquility

Helaine and Evryn stepped outside the building after their brief reunion.

"I'm going to check on something. I'll be back," Helaine said, waving a hand before heading off.

Evryn watched her disappear into the distance.

Now, about that coffee… Just thinking about it made his mouth water. He hadn't had a cup in a while, and now that he wasn't constantly running or fighting to survive, the craving was killing him.

He stepped forward, pivoting on his right heel to turn 90 degrees left, then marched toward the coffee shop he had spotted when he first arrived.

As he walked through the village, a thought dawned on him. Do I need to pay? What's the currency here? They don't seem to use Celestial scripts, judging by how this place looks…

In the center of the village stood a well made of stone and wood, with a bucket dangling from a wooden beam above. I guess that's where they get their water.

Pushing the thought aside, he continued on until he reached the coffee shop.

The building had a rustic charm. Two windows flanked a wooden door in the center, a small sign above it reading: Welcome. Below the windows, stone reinforced the foundation, while wooden beams framed the upper structure. The roof had patches of plant resin scattered across it, with vines draping down the sides, giving the whole place a natural, comforting feel.

Two barrels sat beneath the right window, and to the top left of the door hung another sign: Barrette's Coffee Shop.

Not a bad place. Cozy, even.

With that, Evryn stepped inside.

Stepping inside, Evryn was immediately hit with the rich, bold aroma of black coffee, the scent cutting straight through his senses.

He let out a satisfied sigh before taking another deep inhale, savoring it.

This place smells like heaven.

"Welcome! How can I help you?"

A warm voice pulled his attention toward the bar, where a woman with long brown hair and striking green eyes greeted him with a gentle smile. She wore a green apron over a white shirt, paired with black pants.

Evryn's heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight of her.

She's beautiful…

"Is there something I can make for you?" she asked.

Snapping out of his daze, Evryn immediately pulled himself together.

"Yes, I would like to order a coffee."

She smiled. "What would you like, sir?"

"I'd love a caramel coffee with extra sugar and cream."

"Okay, that will be two Celestial Scripts."

NOOOOOO! Evryn screamed in his mind.

Please, whoever is listening, make something happen so I don't have to pay—I have no money!

"Are you new around here?"

Evryn snapped out of his thoughts and, with a deep and charismatic voice, replied, "Yes."

She smiled again. "I thought so. I've never seen you around here before."

This is my chance!

She leaned against the bar. "Since you're new here, I can give this one to you for free, but…"

But what, lady? Speak your mind!

"I need your help with something. You don't have to, but I'd really appreciate it."

"Absolutely."

She's giving me free coffee—how coule I not help? That would be downright criminal!

"Great!" She clapped her hands together, tilting her head slightly with a smile. "Your coffee will be ready shortly!"

With that, she headed to the back to start making it.

Whoever did this for me, thank you!

Evryn immediately sat down at a booth near the front door, next to the window. He closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh of gratitude.

This has to be the best day so far.

Just as he settled in, the front door creaked open, and an old man stepped inside.

Evryn paid him no mind—until the man sat down at the booth directly across from him.

"Can I he—" Evryn started to speak but stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened as realization hit.

It's him.

The same old man who had spoken to him when he first arrived at the dining hall.

"It's you," Evryn muttered.

The man smiled softly. "Yes, it's me."

"I was going to thank you, but you disappeared on me. Why was that?"

The old man didn't reply.

A strange unease settled over Evryn. "What do you want from me?"

"I don't want anything," the man said calmly. "I am simply here to inform you."

Inform me? Evryn's mind raced. Who does this guy think he is? Or… no… His thoughts scattered, struggling to piece things together.

"You look confused," the old man continued. "So, I will say it again. I am simply an informer."

"Then why are you talking to me? There are plenty of other people in this village—including my friends. Why me?"

"You are different from everyone else. You stand out."

Evryn narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

The old man smiled. "In this vast, endless galaxy, many things will come your way. Through it all, you will find your purpose. Some of what you experience will be painful. Some will be good." He paused, then added, "There are good and evil people in this world. Some find joy in helping others, in seeing them succeed. Others take pleasure in causing pain—for their own reasons, or for something more."

"What ar—"

Before Evryn could finish, the old man cut him off.

"Evryn, what kind of person are you?"

Evryn's breath caught. "What are you trying to—"

"Sir?"

A different voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Evryn turned his head, finding the girl from the bar standing beside him, a cup of coffee in her hands.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I was jus—" He turned back to the old man's seat.

Empty.

The man was gone.

Evryn was taken aback by the revelation.

Am I losing my mind?

Shaking off the thought, he turned back to the girl and gave a soft smile. "Thank you," he said, taking the coffee from her hands.

The moment he took a sip, warmth spread through his body. It was sweet, rich, and perfect. His taste buds practically danced with joy.

A small, satisfied moan escaped him.

The girl giggled.

Evryn froze. Oh pickles.

Heat rushed to his face as he realized what she was laughing at. Embarrassed, he quickly cleared his throat and took another sip, pretending nothing happened.

To his surprise, she slid into the booth across from him.

Not knowing what else to say, he asked, "Are you sure you can sit here? Don't you have customers coming in like crazy?"

She rested her head on her hand, watching him with an easy smile. "Not around this time. It usually gets busy in about an hour or so."

"I see." Evryn took another sip.

"So," she started, tilting her head slightly, "what brings you here? I've never seen you around before. We don't get many visitors from other planets. To be fair, this place is in the outer region of the galaxy. Lots of criminals are active around here." She let out a deep sigh.

Evryn raised an eyebrow. "Do these criminals come here?"

"No. At least, not usually. This village is surrounded by forests, so it's not worth their time." Her expression darkened. "But… there was one time." Her eyes drifted slightly, avoiding his gaze.

Evryn could sense the shift in her mood. Something must've happened. Whatever it was, she didn't seem eager to talk about it.

Wanting to turn the conversation around, he asked, "So how long have you been here?"

She snapped back to the present and thought for a moment. "I guess… three years?"

"Oh? And what made you come all the way out here?"

She exhaled, a tired look crossing her face. "To get away from everything. It was all just so toxic—harsh conditions, little pay, constant stress. It was horrible. That's why most people who are fed up with their lives end up here."

She paused for a moment, then smiled softly. "I always wanted to run a little coffee shop in a quiet village, somewhere surrounded by nature. A place where I could just breathe."

"Well, it looks like you found the right place. From what I've seen so far, it's nice and quiet."

Mira gave him a soft smile, her fingers tracing along the edge of the table. "How long do you plan on staying?"

"Uh," Evryn thought for a moment. "I'm not sure exactly, but it won't be for long."

She let out a quiet sigh—disappointed, but still gentle. "That's unfortunate. You seem really interesting… you stand out from all the guys I've met here."

Me? Interesting? There's nothing interesting about me…

"I just realized—I never asked your name."

"It's Mira. Mira Barrette."