Meditation

"Shin," whispered Yuri, her voice slicing through the quiet afternoon.

The soft yet urgent gesture woke Takeuchi from his daze.

He nodded towards her, acknowledging her signal.

Pushing through the dense underbrush, the vegetation rustled and whispered secrets as he moved forward, his eyes narrowing on their targets.

Kobolds, those lizard-like humanoid creatures, lurked just beyond the clearing.

From the neck down, they resembled humans.

Still, their heads, hands, and legs were unmistakably reptilian, adorned with claws and legs coiled with spring-like strength, ready to pounce.

"Focus, focus, focus," Takeuchi murmured to himself, his mantra barely louder than a breath.

But his thoughts were stubborn, drifting his thoughts back to the past few months, a whirlwind of new routines, looming debts, and the ever-present worry about money.

The memory of the fish soup from their last meeting floated to the surface.