Chapter 40: A Crack in the Sky
Chapter 40: A Crack in the Sky
The hour ticks past midnight, and Market Town slumbers under a velvet blanket of silence. Streetlamps flicker. The wind whispers through empty alleys. The smell of fresh bread and coal soot hangs in the air, remnants of a long day winding down.
Inside the cramped inn room, Vuvi, Penelo, Veena, and Pip stand fully packed. Bags buckled, weapons strapped, satchels cinched with finality.
Maribelle personally checks each of their packs like a drill sergeant doing inspection. "Food. Tools. Bombs. Emergency oils. Backup oils. Emergency backup oils?"
"Check, check and triple check!" Vuvi mutters, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Pip beeps softly, vibrating with anticipation. Penelo clings to him like a frightened backpack, ears twitching at every creak.
Maribelle steps to the door and slowly opens it.
Waiting outside, in their nightgowns, stood the innkeeper and her granddaughter, Arienne.
"We figured you'd be leaving tonight," the old woman says, handing over a bundle of neatly wrapped provisions. "This world may be mad... but you brought a little hope to our doorstep."
Penelo sniffles as she accepts the package with both arms. Vuvi gives a rare, sincere smile.
Maribelle simply nods.