novelblue
Chapter 147: A Moment of Rest
Chapter 147: A Moment of Rest
The journey back home was a blur.
Exhaustion weighed heavy on their bodies, turning every step into a monumental effort. The distant glow of dawn barely peeked over the horizon when they reached the edge of town, the cold morning air biting at their skin, a stark contrast to the hellish heat of Blackspire Tower’s collapse.
Seraphis barely registered the murmurs of the townsfolk as they passed through the quiet streets—whispers of concern, hushed voices carrying rumors of what had happened. The destruction of such a notorious stronghold would not go unnoticed for long. But right now, that didn’t matter.
All that mattered was getting home.
Their house stood at the end of a cobblestone path, a modest yet sturdy structure, its wooden frame bathed in the soft golden glow of the lanterns left burning through the night. The sight of it, so familiar and warm, made Seraphis’s shoulders sag.
Kaela fumbled with the door, pushing it open with a relieved sigh, and the moment they stepped inside, the tension in the air finally loosened.
Collapsing Into Sleep
Seraphis barely made it to her room.
The scent of aged wood and fresh linen greeted her as she staggered inside, her body running on nothing but sheer willpower. The moment she fell onto the bed, the exhaustion hit like a crashing wave.
The mattress was soft, too soft, after the cold, unforgiving stone floors of Blackspire Tower. Her limbs felt like lead, too heavy to move, yet a deep sense of comfort settled in as the warmth of the blankets wrapped around her like a cocoon.
Somewhere in the distance, she heard Kaela mutter something about not waking up for a week, followed by Elyndra’s half-asleep grunt of agreement.
Seraphis didn’t even have the strength to respond.
Sleep took her instantly.
The Late Morning Sun
When Seraphis finally woke, the sun was already high in the sky.
Golden rays filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across her room. The air smelled faintly of something warm and familiar—freshly brewed tea, maybe? Or was that… roasted meat?
She sat up, stretching as her joints popped in protest. Her body still ached, but the rest had done wonders. The soreness no longer felt unbearable, and the fog of exhaustion had finally lifted.
A glance out the window showed a peaceful town, unaware of the battle they had just fought. The sky was clear, the kind of perfect blue that made it hard to believe they had come so close to death just hours ago.
For a brief moment, Seraphis allowed herself to just sit there, breathing in the tranquility.
But then her stomach growled.
Loudly.
Cooking Lunch
Seraphis swung her legs over the side of the bed, making her way to the kitchen with one goal in mind—a proper meal.
The kitchen was cozy, the scent of herbs and spices still lingering from the last time she had cooked. The familiar sight of her well-used knives and cast-iron pans brought a sense of normalcy that she desperately needed.
She grabbed the ingredients she needed—fresh vegetables, cured meat, eggs, and a loaf of soft bread. The chopping board thudded rhythmically as she sliced through the produce with practiced ease, her movements effortless and precise.
A pan sizzled as she dropped in the diced meat, the rich aroma of seasoned pork filling the kitchen. The vegetables followed, their colors vibrant against the golden-brown sear of the meat.
She cracked an egg into a separate pan, watching as the yolk glistened under the heat. A simple meal, but hearty enough to fill their stomachs and warm their souls.
The smell must have woken the others, because within minutes, Kaela stumbled into the kitchen, her hair a tangled mess, looking half-asleep but very much interested in the food.
"You’re a damn saint," she muttered, flopping onto a chair.
Elyndra arrived next, followed by Sylvaine, both looking equally worn but relieved to be home.
Seraphis smirked, flipping the last of the eggs onto a plate. "Hope you’re hungry."
A Feast in the Dining Room
The dining room was small but comfortable, the wooden table large enough to fit all of them. Plates were set, steaming dishes placed at the center, and for the first time in what felt like forever, they all sat together for a proper meal.
Kaela was the first to dig in, practically inhaling her food.
"By the gods, I forgot what good food tastes like," she groaned, shoveling another bite into her mouth.
Elyndra chuckled, slicing into her meat with deliberate precision. "It’s been too long since we had a proper meal. Tower food was…" she shuddered, "questionable at best."
Sylvaine took a slow sip of her tea, her gaze flickering to Seraphis. "You didn’t have to cook, you know. You needed rest just as much as the rest of us."
Seraphis shrugged, taking a bite of her own meal. "Cooking is relaxing."
And it was. The act of preparing food, of creating something warm and nourishing, was a stark contrast to the chaos of battle. Here, in the quiet hum of their home, she felt a semblance of peace.
The Newspaper and Rumors
As they ate, Elyndra reached for the folded newspaper on the side of the table.
"Let’s see what the world is saying today," she mused, unfolding the pages with practiced ease.
Seraphis took another bite of her food, watching as Elyndra’s brows furrowed.
"Anything interesting?" Kaela asked, mouth still full.
Elyndra didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she turned the paper around, showing them the bold headline sprawled across the front page.
"BLACKSPIRE TOWER DESTROYED – UNKNOWN ASSAILANTS RESPONSIBLE!"
Silence fell over the table.
Seraphis wiped her mouth with a napkin before reaching for the newspaper herself. The article was filled with speculation, some claiming a rival faction had orchestrated the Tower’s fall, others whispering that an ancient force had awoken.
Nowhere did it mention them.
"Looks like we’re still ghosts," Sylvaine murmured.
Seraphis exhaled slowly, setting the paper down. It was better this way. The less the world knew, the safer they were.
For now.
A Moment to Breathe
They finished their meal in companionable silence, the weight of everything settling in.
For the first time in days, they weren’t fighting for their lives. There was no immediate threat, no enemies lurking in the shadows.
Just the simple comfort of home.
Kaela leaned back in her chair, stretching with a satisfied sigh. "I vote we do nothing for the rest of the day."
"Agreed," Elyndra muttered, already half-asleep against the back of her chair.
Seraphis smirked, standing to collect the dishes.
Tomorrow, the world would come knocking again. But today?
Today, they rested.