The tavern smelled of roasted meat, spilled ale, and the faint tang of smoke from the hearth. For the first time in months, Riven allowed himself to relax, sinking into the wooden chair that had groaned under his weight as he sat. The warmth of the fire pressed against his skin, and the laughter and chatter around him felt almost foreign after the solitude of the ravine.
Astra settled across from him, her posture relaxed for once. She nudged a steaming plate of food toward him. "Eat. You've been surviving on raw energy and whatever scraps you could scavenge. Tonight, you eat like a proper man."
Riven glanced at the plate a generous serving of roasted boar, root vegetables, and a thick slab of bread and for a moment hesitated. "You… made all this?"
She smirked. "No. The tavern did. But it would take me only slightly longer to eat the whole thing than it would you to finish it, so hurry up."
Riven laughed softly, the sound catching a few curious glances from nearby patrons. He tore into the meat, savoring the rich, smoky flavor, and washed it down with a mug of frothy ale. Each bite felt like a small victory, a reminder of what he had endured and what he had become.
"You're too quiet," Astra teased, watching him scarf down the food. "I half expect you to burst into flames from hunger if you don't eat fast enough."
"I'm just… enjoying it," he replied, cheeks full, words muffled. "I didn't realize I'd been this hungry."
Astra chuckled and took a slow sip from her mug, her eyes scanning the tavern. "It's been a long time since we've been anywhere like this. I almost forgot what people are like when they aren't trying to kill you."
Riven's lips curled into a smile. "I could get used to this."
They were midway through their second round when the tavern door creaked open, and a cluster of figures stepped inside. The chatter and laughter dimmed for a moment as the group scanned the room, then their eyes landed on Astra. Recognition sparked instantly.
"Astra! By the moons, it's been ages!" called a tall, thin woman with sharp eyes and a mischievous grin.
Astra's face lit up, and she waved them over. "It's been far too long," she said warmly, standing as they approached. "Sit, sit. This one is my… companion," she added with a small wave toward Riven, who instinctively straightened at the attention.
"Companion?" the thin woman asked, eyebrow raised. She peered at him curiously. "Who's this then?"
Astra's lips curved into a small, almost playful smile. "My son," she said casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Riven blinked, caught between surprise and amusement. The group looked at each other, confusion flickering across their faces.
"Your… son?" repeated a broad-shouldered man with streaks of grey in his hair, a man whose presence carried the weight of authority and a hint of mischief. "I didn't know you had a mate."
Astra laughed lightly, shaking her head. "We never truly bonded," she said smoothly. "It was… a quick circumstance between us."
The group laughed, the sound ringing through the tavern, rich and contagious. Even Riven couldn't help but grin, feeling the warmth of camaraderie pressing in from all sides.
The thin woman leaned in, giving Riven a long, appraising look. "I don't see it," she said, tilting her head. "You don't… resemble her at all. You have the look of someone else entirely."
Astra waved a hand casually. "Ah, that… is because I made sure of it." She gave Riven a pointed glance, and he felt a faint surge of something odd, almost like an invisible cloak settling over him.
The broad-shouldered man chuckled. "I see… clever. Very clever, Astra. Always the trickster."
Riven's eyebrows knitted. "I… don't understand," he said quietly.
"You will," Astra said with a sly smile, as if the explanation could wait for later.
The group pressed around the table now, drinks in hand, teasing and laughing. One of the younger men, wiry with a quick grin, elbowed Riven lightly. "So, son," he said, still smirking, "do you actually know anything about fighting, or are you just along for the ride?"
Riven's eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Depends. Are we talking sparring or surviving months in a ravine under Astra's supervision?"
Astra snorted, and the group erupted into laughter again. Even the tavern patrons seemed to lean in, intrigued by the boisterous energy radiating from the table.
The tall, thin woman clapped her hands together. "Alright, alright, calm down. I have questions, yes, but also… I want to hear everything. How is it possible we didn't hear from you for so long, Astra? You vanish, and then bam you're back with a… son?"
Astra shrugged, leaning back in her chair. "Some things are better kept quiet until the right moment." She gave Riven a fond look. "Like this one, for example. He's… complicated."
Riven laughed quietly, feeling both embarrassment and pride at the label. "I prefer 'mysterious,' actually," he said, raising his mug in a small toast.
The broad-shouldered man snorted. "Mysterious, yes. But only to those who haven't seen you in action yet." He glanced at Astra with a teasing grin. "And I still don't see how you survived the ravine months. You've got the look of someone who should be bones and bruises by now."
Astra shrugged again, an almost imperceptible glint in her eye. "He's a fast learner," she said simply.
The wiry young man leaned closer to Riven, curiosity shining in his sharp eyes. "So… what is he really? You don't look… normal," he said, carefully, not wanting to offend but clearly puzzled.
Astra's smile widened, knowingly. "You could say he's… enchanted," she said lightly, her tone teasing. "Let's just say anyone who sees him doesn't see his true self."
Riven blinked. "Ah… a spell?"
"Yes," she said, taking a deliberate sip of her drink. "A little precaution. You never know when old friends or enemies might turn curious."
The group laughed again, clinking their mugs. "Well," the broad-shouldered man said, voice booming over the table, "if that isn't clever… I swear, Astra, you're impossible."
The night continued in a haze of ale, roasted meat, and stories of the past. Riven found himself laughing more freely than he had in months. Astra's friends teased him mercilessly, but always good-naturedly, poking at his serious demeanor, his size, and the faint glimmer of mystery about him.
"You know," the thin woman said at one point, "you may look like a stranger, but there's something about you… I can't quite put my finger on it. It's like… danger wrapped in charm."
Riven smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Danger wrapped in charm? That sounds like a compliment… and a curse."
"Both," she said, raising her mug. "And it suits you."
Astra laughed, shaking her head. "See? I told you they'd like you. Eventually."
As the hours slipped by, the tavern grew quieter, the crowd thinning to only a few late-night patrons. Riven and Astra stood, preparing to leave. The group of old friends accompanied them to the door, still laughing, still teasing, still pressing for more stories.
Riven's curiosity finally broke through. "Astra… why does no one recognize me?"
She gave him a fond, almost mischievous look. "I told you. A spell. Anyone who sees you cannot see your true self."
Riven studied her for a moment, realization dawning. "I see… clever. Very clever," he said with a quiet laugh.
The group waved them off, calling last jokes after them as they disappeared into the night. Astra's hand brushed against his as they walked together through the streets.
"Let's find an inn," she said, her tone light, as if the weight of the world had been left behind in the tavern.
Riven nodded, feeling the subtle energy of the spell around him. To the world, he was still a stranger but to Astra, he was exactly who he was meant to be.
The night stretched ahead, full of possibilities, laughter, and perhaps even a few secrets waiting to be revealed.