The night at the hot springs had passed quietly, though Alex would never forget the wall of shadow that robbed him of even the simplest pleasure the past few days. Still, he had to admit: sharing that silence with Nyx was oddly comforting. By the time morning arrived, the weight of fatigue had loosened its grip on his body.
Alex stepped out of the inn's gate at dawn, the mountain air crisp, pine trees swaying gently. Steam still drifted faintly from the springs behind him, carrying with it the scent of minerals and warmth. He stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders, savoring the feeling of being alive without the ache of wounds or the sting of Nyx's blade across his flesh, despite having completely healed.
"Not bad," he murmured, glancing at the horizon where the sun was beginning to climb. "A couple more days of this and I'll actually feel human again."
