The second-floor lounge had never felt this crowded before.
By the time Sage arrived, every seat around the long tables had already been taken, while several of the twenty adventurers who had accompanied him into the Vault stood near the walls with cups of tea or water in their hands.
Gregor sat beside Lyana, looking far more rested than he had the previous evening, though the dark circles beneath his eyes showed that one night of sleep had not completely erased the exhaustion of the expedition.
Brutus occupied a chair that looked slightly too small for him, Caelis sat near the end of the table, and Vanthrice rested her bronze spear against the wall within easy reach.
Valeria had chosen the quietest corner as usual, her arms folded beneath her chest as she watched the room with a calm expression, while Mina had climbed onto a chair beside Sage's empty seat and was swinging her legs impatiently beneath the table.
