[centre][img]https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIG3.SozUf.bhGvybHVXxwEtp&pid=ImgGn[/img]
[color=#098500]_[/color][color=#0D8200]_[/color][color=#127F00]_[/color][color=#177D00]_[/color][color=#1C7A00]_[/color][color=#217700]_[/color][color=#267500]_[/color][color=#2B7200]_[/color][color=#306F00]_[/color][color=#356D00]_[/color][color=#3A6A00]_[/color][color=#3F6700]_[/color][color=#446500]_[/color][color=#486200]_[/color][color=#4D5F00]_[/color][color=#525D00]_[/color][color=#575A00]_[/color][color=#5C5700]_[/color][color=#615500]_[/color][color=#665200]_[/color][color=#6B4F00]_[/color][color=#704D00]_[/color][color=#754A00]_[/color][color=#7A4700]_[/color][color=#7F4500]_[/color][color=#844200]_[/color][color=#883F00]_[/color][color=#8D3D00]_[/color][color=#923A00]_[/color][color=#973700]_[/color][color=#9C3500]_[/color][color=#A13200]_[/color][color=#A62F00]_[/color][color=#AB2D00]_[/color][color=#B02A00]_[/color][color=#B52700]_[/color][color=#BA2500]_[/color][color=#BF2200]_[/color][color=#C31F00]_[/color][color=#C81D00]_[/color][color=#CD1A00]_[/color][color=#D21700]_[/color][color=#D71500]_[/color][color=#DC1200]_[/color][color=#E10F00]_[/color][color=#E60D00]_[/color][color=#EB0A00]_[/color][color=#F00700]_[/color][color=#F50500]_[/color][color=#FA0200]_[/color][color=#FE0100]_[/color][color=#FA0200]_[/color][color=#F50500]_[/color][color=#F00700]_[/color][color=#EB0A00]_[/color][color=#E60D00]_[/color][color=#E10F00]_[/color][color=#DC1200]_[/color][color=#D71500]_[/color][color=#D21700]_[/color][color=#CD1A00]_[/color][color=#C81D00]_[/color][color=#C31F00]_[/color][color=#BF2200]_[/color][color=#BA2500]_[/color][color=#B52700]_[/color][color=#B02A00]_[/color][color=#AB2D00]_[/color][color=#A62F00]_[/color][color=#A13200]_[/color][color=#9C3500]_[/color][color=#973700]_[/color][color=#923A00]_[/color][color=#8D3D00]_[/color][color=#883F00]_[/color][color=#844200]_[/color][color=#7F4500]_[/color][color=#7A4700]_[/color][color=#754A00]_[/color][color=#704D00]_[/color][color=#6B4F00]_[/color][color=#665200]_[/color][color=#615500]_[/color][color=#5C5700]_[/color][color=#575A00]_[/color][color=#525D00]_[/color][color=#4D5F00]_[/color][color=#486200]_[/color][color=#446500]_[/color][color=#3F6700]_[/color][color=#3A6A00]_[/color][color=#356D00]_[/color][color=#306F00]_[/color][color=#2B7200]_[/color][color=#267500]_[/color][color=#217700]_[/color][color=#1C7A00]_[/color][color=#177D00]_[/color][color=#127F00]_[/color][color=#0D8200]_[/color][/centre]

The old man observed each traveler as they gathered around his modest campfire, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows on their faces. Though it wasn’t much, he made a concerted effort to ensure that everyone, save those who declined, received some nourishment. The aroma of a simple stew wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of burning wood. He couldn’t help but notice the peculiar assembly that had formed. The trader appeared to be of little concern to him, at least in the eyes of the others. The presence of a Dark Elf and a woman clearly hailing from the North was something that might have raised his eyebrow, had it not been precisely what he anticipated on this particular night.

[color=#0ED100]“[/color][color=#10CF00]I[/color][color=#13CE00]t[/color][color=#15CD00]’[/color][color=#18CC00]s[/color] [color=#1DCA00]a[/color] [color=#22C700]p[/color][color=#25C600]l[/color][color=#27C500]e[/color][color=#2AC400]a[/color][color=#2DC300]s[/color][color=#2FC200]u[/color][color=#32C000]r[/color][color=#34BF00]e[/color] [color=#3ABD00]t[/color][color=#3CBC00]o[/color] [color=#41B900]m[/color][color=#44B800]e[/color][color=#47B700]e[/color][color=#49B600]t[/color] [color=#4EB400]y[/color][color=#51B300]o[/color][color=#53B100]u[/color] [color=#59AF00]a[/color][color=#5BAE00]l[/color][color=#5EAD00]l[/color][color=#60AC00].[/color] [color=#66A900]P[/color][color=#68A800]l[/color][color=#6BA700]e[/color][color=#6DA600]a[/color][color=#70A500]s[/color][color=#73A400]e[/color][color=#75A200],[/color] [color=#7AA000]f[/color][color=#7D9F00]e[/color][color=#809E00]e[/color][color=#829D00]l[/color] [color=#879A00]f[/color][color=#8A9900]r[/color][color=#8C9800]e[/color][color=#8F9700]e[/color] [color=#949500]t[/color][color=#979400]o[/color] [color=#9C9100]s[/color][color=#9F9000]t[/color][color=#A18F00]a[/color][color=#A48E00]y[/color] [color=#A98B00]h[/color][color=#AC8A00]e[/color][color=#AE8900]r[/color][color=#B18800]e[/color] [color=#B68600]f[/color][color=#B98500]o[/color][color=#BB8300]r[/color] [color=#C08100]a[/color][color=#C38000]s[/color] [color=#C87E00]l[/color][color=#CB7D00]o[/color][color=#CD7B00]n[/color][color=#D07A00]g[/color] [color=#D57800]a[/color][color=#D87700]s[/color] [color=#DD7400]y[/color][color=#DF7300]o[/color][color=#E27200]u[/color] [color=#E77000]r[/color][color=#EA6F00]e[/color][color=#EC6E00]q[/color][color=#EF6C00]u[/color][color=#F26B00]i[/color][color=#F46A00]r[/color][color=#F76900]e[/color][color=#F96800],[/color][color=#FC6700]”[/color] the old man rasped, his voice strained as if the mere act of speaking demanded more effort than he could muster. [color=#0ED100]“[/color][color=#10CF00]I[/color][color=#12CE00]t[/color][color=#15CD00]’[/color][color=#17CC00]s[/color] [color=#1CCA00]b[/color][color=#1EC900]e[/color][color=#21C800]e[/color][color=#23C700]n[/color] [color=#28C500]a[/color] [color=#2DC300]l[/color][color=#2FC200]o[/color][color=#31C100]n[/color][color=#34C000]g[/color] [color=#38BD00]w[/color][color=#3BBC00]h[/color][color=#3DBB00]i[/color][color=#40BA00]l[/color][color=#42B900]e[/color] [color=#47B700]s[/color][color=#49B600]i[/color][color=#4CB500]n[/color][color=#4EB400]c[/color][color=#50B300]e[/color] [color=#55B100]I[/color][color=#57B000]’[/color][color=#5AAF00]v[/color][color=#5CAE00]e[/color] [color=#61AB00]h[/color][color=#63AA00]a[/color][color=#66A900]d[/color] [color=#6BA700]s[/color][color=#6DA600]u[/color][color=#6FA500]c[/color][color=#72A400]h[/color] [color=#76A200]a[/color][color=#79A100]n[/color] [color=#7E9F00]u[/color][color=#809E00]n[/color][color=#829D00]u[/color][color=#859C00]s[/color][color=#879A00]u[/color][color=#8A9900]a[/color][color=#8C9800]l[/color] [color=#919600]c[/color][color=#939500]o[/color][color=#969400]m[/color][color=#989300]p[/color][color=#9A9200]a[/color][color=#9D9100]n[/color][color=#9F9000]y[/color] [color=#A48E00]i[/color][color=#A68D00]n[/color] [color=#AB8B00]m[/color][color=#AD8A00]y[/color] [color=#B28700]m[/color][color=#B58600]i[/color][color=#B78500]d[/color][color=#B98400]s[/color][color=#BC8300]t[/color][color=#BE8200],[/color] [color=#C38000]b[/color][color=#C57F00]u[/color][color=#C87E00]t[/color] [color=#CC7C00]y[/color][color=#CF7B00]o[/color][color=#D17A00]u[/color] [color=#D67800]a[/color][color=#D87600]r[/color][color=#DB7500]e[/color] [color=#DF7300]a[/color][color=#E27200]l[/color][color=#E47100]l[/color] [color=#E96F00]w[/color][color=#EB6E00]e[/color][color=#EE6D00]l[/color][color=#F06C00]c[/color][color=#F36B00]o[/color][color=#F56A00]m[/color][color=#F76900]e[/color][color=#FA6800].[/color][color=#FC6700]”[/color] His smile was subtle, discernible only by the slight lift at the corners of his beard.

He tilted his head back, allowing the campfire’s glow to illuminate more of his weathered face as he gazed up at the night sky. The stars twinkled like distant memories, and the moon cast a silvery light over the clearing. The surrounding forest was a dark silhouette, the trees standing like silent sentinels. [color=#0ED100]“[/color][color=#10D000]T[/color][color=#12CF00]h[/color][color=#14CE00]i[/color][color=#16CD00]s[/color] [color=#1ACB00]n[/color][color=#1CCA00]i[/color][color=#1EC900]g[/color][color=#21C800]h[/color][color=#23C700]t[/color] [color=#27C500]i[/color][color=#29C400]s[/color] [color=#2DC200]o[/color][color=#2FC100]n[/color][color=#31C100]l[/color][color=#34C000]y[/color] [color=#38BE00]j[/color][color=#3ABD00]u[/color][color=#3CBC00]s[/color][color=#3EBB00]t[/color] [color=#42B900]b[/color][color=#44B800]e[/color][color=#47B700]g[/color][color=#49B600]i[/color][color=#4BB500]n[/color][color=#4DB400]n[/color][color=#4FB300]i[/color][color=#51B200]n[/color][color=#53B200]g[/color][color=#55B100],[/color] [color=#5AAF00]i[/color][color=#5CAE00]t[/color] [color=#60AC00]s[/color][color=#62AB00]e[/color][color=#64AA00]e[/color][color=#66A900]m[/color][color=#68A800]s[/color][color=#6BA700].[/color] [color=#6FA500]P[/color][color=#71A400]r[/color][color=#73A300]a[/color][color=#75A300]y[/color] [color=#79A100]t[/color][color=#7BA000]e[/color][color=#7E9F00]l[/color][color=#809E00]l[/color][color=#829D00],[/color] [color=#869B00]w[/color][color=#889A00]h[/color][color=#8A9900]o[/color] [color=#8E9700]a[/color][color=#919600]r[/color][color=#939500]e[/color] [color=#979300]y[/color][color=#999300]o[/color][color=#9B9200]u[/color] [color=#9F9000]a[/color][color=#A18F00]l[/color][color=#A48E00]l[/color] [color=#A88C00]a[/color][color=#AA8B00]n[/color][color=#AC8A00]d[/color] [color=#B08800]w[/color][color=#B28700]h[/color][color=#B58600]a[/color][color=#B78500]t[/color] [color=#BB8400]b[/color][color=#BD8300]r[/color][color=#BF8200]i[/color][color=#C18100]n[/color][color=#C38000]g[/color][color=#C57F00]s[/color] [color=#CA7D00]y[/color][color=#CC7C00]o[/color][color=#CE7B00]u[/color] [color=#D27900]t[/color][color=#D47800]o[/color] [color=#D87600]m[/color][color=#DB7500]y[/color] [color=#DF7400]f[/color][color=#E17300]i[/color][color=#E37200]r[/color][color=#E57100]e[/color] [color=#E96F00]t[/color][color=#EB6E00]h[/color][color=#EE6D00]i[/color][color=#F06C00]s[/color] [color=#F46A00]e[/color][color=#F66900]v[/color][color=#F86800]e[/color][color=#FA6700]?[/color][color=#FC6600]”[/color] He looked around, nodding gently at each of them.

[color=#0ED100]“[/color][color=#10D000]N[/color][color=#12CF00]o[/color][color=#14CE00]w[/color][color=#16CD00],[/color][color=#18CC00]”[/color] the old man spoke as he leaned forward, adding another log to the fire, which crackled and sent sparks dancing into the night sky. [color=#1ACB00]“[/color][color=#1CCA00]L[/color][color=#1EC900]e[/color][color=#20C800]t[/color] [color=#24C600]u[/color][color=#26C500]s[/color] [color=#2BC400]s[/color][color=#2DC300]h[/color][color=#2FC200]a[/color][color=#31C100]r[/color][color=#33C000]e[/color] [color=#37BE00]o[/color][color=#39BD00]u[/color][color=#3BBC00]r[/color] [color=#3FBA00]s[/color][color=#41B900]t[/color][color=#44B900]o[/color][color=#46B800]r[/color][color=#48B700]i[/color][color=#4AB600]e[/color][color=#4CB500]s[/color][color=#4EB400].[/color] [color=#52B200]F[/color][color=#54B100]o[/color][color=#56B000]r[/color] [color=#5AAE00]i[/color][color=#5CAD00]t[/color] [color=#61AC00]i[/color][color=#63AB00]s[/color] [color=#67A900]t[/color][color=#69A800]h[/color][color=#6BA700]r[/color][color=#6DA600]o[/color][color=#6FA500]u[/color][color=#71A400]g[/color][color=#73A300]h[/color] [color=#77A100]o[/color][color=#7AA100]u[/color][color=#7CA000]r[/color] [color=#809E00]t[/color][color=#829D00]a[/color][color=#849C00]l[/color][color=#869B00]e[/color][color=#889A00]s[/color] [color=#8C9800]t[/color][color=#8E9700]h[/color][color=#909600]a[/color][color=#929500]t[/color] [color=#979400]w[/color][color=#999300]e[/color] [color=#9D9100]f[/color][color=#9F9000]i[/color][color=#A18F00]n[/color][color=#A38E00]d[/color] [color=#A78C00]c[/color][color=#A98B00]o[/color][color=#AB8A00]m[/color][color=#AD8900]m[/color][color=#B08900]o[/color][color=#B28800]n[/color] [color=#B68600]g[/color][color=#B88500]r[/color][color=#BA8400]o[/color][color=#BC8300]u[/color][color=#BE8200]n[/color][color=#C08100]d[/color] [color=#C47F00]a[/color][color=#C67E00]n[/color][color=#C87D00]d[/color] [color=#CD7C00]p[/color][color=#CF7B00]e[/color][color=#D17A00]r[/color][color=#D37900]h[/color][color=#D57800]a[/color][color=#D77700]p[/color][color=#D97600]s[/color][color=#DB7500],[/color] [color=#DF7300]a[/color] [color=#E37100]w[/color][color=#E67100]a[/color][color=#E87000]y[/color] [color=#EC6E00]f[/color][color=#EE6D00]o[/color][color=#F06C00]r[/color][color=#F26B00]w[/color][color=#F46A00]a[/color][color=#F66900]r[/color][color=#F86800]d[/color][color=#FA6700].[/color][color=#FC6600]”[/color] The warmth of the fire contrasted with the cool night air, creating a cocoon of comfort around the group.

He settled back into his seat, his eyes reflecting the firelight. The night deepened, and as the fire burned brighter, the old man’s  heart warmed not just by the fire, but by the forming among these unlikely companions. The sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, distant owl calls, and the occasional snap of a twig—provided a natural symphony that underscored their gathering.