The evening continued at the Fire Temple. Areyos, Seyca, Yoko, and Kaiser joined Eli and Jenny around a long, polished wooden low table. A real feast was laid out: steaming bowls of spicy mountain-herb stew, sizzling grilled meat skewers whose fat still crackled softly, roasted vegetables coated in a shiny honey-sesame sauce, fresh bread straight from the oven that gave off a warm, comforting smell, plates of fresh fruit sliced into thin, sugar-glittering pieces, and large pitchers of steaming wild-berry tea. The rich, enveloping aroma contrasted with the cool night air flowing in through the open windows, carrying the scent of pine trees and frost.
Barrios, Zendal, and Dezeil were absent this time, leaving the five young people alone. Laughter and teasing flew between bites. The light, warm atmosphere clashed sharply with what was happening elsewhere.
