Aromas of flavor

Of someone with the skills and tools needed to cook something proper awoke me with a start.

This wasn't the smell of rations, of fuel, but of something fulfilling and nurturing.

My stomach grumbled in a sharp pain that I only just noticed.

Every other sense had been dulled and forgotten of.

My urgency had ravaged my body.

This was my wake up call.

I'm sorry,

I whispered

Taking a moment to collect myself.

Readying my breath.

I got up

I maneuvered my way out of the silent wagon.

The night was black and the stars shone through the dark like tiny fireflies.

Around us the shadows of the trees told me exactly were we were.

A small forest on the brim of Regalis City.

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A campfire awaited.

A jolly one that made me think of Muller, Quinn, and even Ernest.

One where people talked but laughed mostly.

Where lutes had been strung and songs had been sung

The air was calm and soothing.

An aura filled the surroundings, one that brought back the feelings of why adventuring…

No, on why life mattered.

Awkwardly making my way to an open seat

I sat on a nearby trunk

And began breathing it all in.

I sat close to the fire.

I needed warmth.

My soul felt cold.

I waited.

Not wanting to break the calm

Not wanting to end the moment.

A young gnomish woman came by with a bowl and a smile.

In seconds I was on to seconds.

Then thirds.

Then I was too full to move, so I sat and stared.

Music filled the air.

Cascading notes uplifted hearts

A kind of song that reminded me of my past.

Shelly began to dance in a way that spoke of nothing dangerous, of nothing wild, of only the beauty of the human form.

Everyone watched along.

Eyes glued onto every spin, every twirl, every smile.

She had lost herself in her dance.

I lost myself in her.

I lost myself in the moment.

Without noticing.

I had awakened a song from within.

One from the village, one that I could never perfect.

Yet, from my soul it sang.

Interlude: Peace within War

Nothing else mattered but this night and the stars and her dance.

Closing my eyes.

I sang.

And sang.

Giving my entire soul into the now.

This is all I had.

This is all I was worth...

Before long, my song had ended.

One that I thought was only for myself.

Only for the yearning to sing.

But everyone else had stopped as well.

Opening my eyes I saw that the caravan and Shelly watched me with eyes of pain.

Tears filled many an eye.

The gnomish woman

The nice one

I heard weep.

The lute player had stopped his strings long ago .

The moment had become mine.

And mine alone...

I hated that.

I had ruined their time.

I had ruined the joy.

Before a word could be spoken.

I ran off into the trees.

To escape the moment.

To escape myself.