The sun rises slowly over the rooftops, golden light stretching across the fields. Birds chirp,
roosters crow, and the smell of burning firewood fills the crisp morning air. Darrek sits on a
stone bench near the well, rubbing his tired eyes. Meera walks over with a bowl.
she says "Here, tea. You didn't sleep, did you?"
Darrek replies, taking the bowl. "No, We watched the dark pass by, and it watched us back.
Nothing moved."
Meera nods, her eyes searching his face. "Maybe that's a good thing." he
mutters. "Or a warning"
In the square, men begin gathering again. Kael tosses a roll of cloth to Erek. Thomas is
helping Garrik unload tools from the cart. Brann walks in, talking with Pavi and her father,
Loram Reed a leatherworker who's been carving designs for festival decorations.
Brann says loudly, clapping his hands. "Let's not slow down, Work keeps the mind steady.
Let's finish the archway today. I want it done before sunset."
Thomas calls out, holding up a hammer. "I'm on it"
Pavi smiles, wiping dust off her forehead. "The stalls for sweets are almost done. I just hope
Saela makes her laddoos again."
Garrik laughs. "She better, Or I'm not attending."
Women nearby laugh as they arrange coloured powders and dried flowers for the rangoli.
Elia Harken is laying out patterns on cloth, while Meera and Saela talk about lighting
arrangements.
Despite the laughter, there's tension beneath the smiles. People speak a little quieter.
Eyes flicker toward the barns more often. Even the children play a little closer to home.
Suddenly, Old Darnell, a man in his 60s, whispers while walking past the group,
"Robbery one night, patrol the next, nothing happens… then what? The calm before the
fire."
Brann says calmly "Peace, Darnell, We'll be ready for anything."
Darnell just keeps walking. From a distance, Aldric and Konrad sit under a tree, watching the
grown ups work. Konrad tosses a pebble in the air, catching it again.
Aldric asks softly. "Do you think something bad is going to happen?"
Konrad shrugs. "I don't know. But if it does... we'll fight."
Aldric smiles faintly. "Good. Then we're not afraid."