Two days had passed since I’d been removed from the hero party.

“…”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel an empty void. I sat idly on my bed, staring out the window.

Whereas the mining town of Lacre had been filled with shades of gray, everything here was draped in white. The snow-covered town below sparkled, reflecting the early dawn.

The night’s lights faded as the sun took their place. People exhaled little clouds of breath as they left their homes, each heading to their own tasks.

Watching a city come to life was endlessly captivating. …