Whatever darkness lay ahead, tonight they would be stronger than fear because tonight, hope had been brewed carefully, deliberately, into every cup.
I glanced around the tea room, savoring the quiet comfort of flickering candles, the scent of warm pastries, and the gentle murmur of voices blending into a comforting hum. Nyleth's tea room had always been strange and delightful in equal measure, a tiny refuge from the chaos that seemed intent on tearing apart our world. But as I raised my cup, inhaling the delicate fragrance that promised optimism or at least slightly less despair I realized how fragile this peace truly was.
I was proven right the moment the door burst open with an energy that could only belong to one specific individual.
