The Regenerates by Maansi Pandya

said warmly. “I’ll have hot soup ready in no time.” With that, she turned and left, whistling to herself.
    Ven exhaled. He was finally going to get something to eat. He was still shocked at their luck. Something felt off, though. He reached into his bag and pulled out the map, which confirmed what he’d been thinking: there wasn’t another village for miles. Where was this one, then? He scanned the terrain until he found the forest they had just passed. Surrounding the forest was nothing but empty field. The nearest village was supposed to be days away, and yet they had made it here from the forest in less than an hour.
    He decided not to let it concern him, at least not for the moment.
    Kayn was looking around at the house, gazing at the tapestries and the portraits that decorated the cottage. It was nothing you would find back home. Everything in Cor was neat and orderly. Every shop had a similar interior scheme, no matter what Quadrant you were in. The only difference was the wealth and the poverty. This place looked as though the people living here decided to mix every color in the spectrum. The tapestries that lined the walls didn’t even match. Their patterns were tacky and old and so was the furniture. Despite all of that, something about it gave Ven a feeling of warmth.
    The woman returned, carrying a tray laden with two bowls of hot potato soup, a block of cheese and a cup of tea. Ven didn’t think he had felt more grateful for anything in his entire life. The soup was delicious. Though he was ravenous, he tried to eat in as civilized a manner as possible. He was in a much better mood, and the pain in his leg was completely forgotten.
    The woman beamed as Kayn and Ven ate. “I’ll be right back,” she said. As she left the room, her young daughter entered and sat across from them.
    “So,” the girl said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Where are you from? Your clothes sure are weird.”
    Kayn glared at her. The girl didn’t take kindly to that action. She walked up to Kayn and stared at him as he ate his soup.
    “Is there a problem?” she snapped. “I just asked you where you were from. If you don’t want to tell me, then say so. Don’t glower at me like that for no reason.”
    Ven snorted into his soup. Kayn seemed to be having difficulty processing being spoken to like that. Ven was starting to like this girl more and more. Thinking it wise not to prolong the awkwardness, he put down his bowl. “We’re just trying to get home –”
    The girl’s mother returned before he could continue. “I’m sorry, I hope Eve wasn’t bothering you. She’s a bit boisterous.” Eve scowled as her mother motioned for her to go upstairs. “Follow me. I’ll show you where you both will be sleeping.”
    Ven’s eyes lit up when he saw the large bed. He shut the door of the guestroom he was in and plopped himself down on the soft surface, then closed his eyes, exhausted. His leg had begun to sting and throb, but the pain had reduced significantly, which made him wonder if there had been some kind of medicine in the soup.
    Curious, he got up from the bed, hopped over the window and looked outside. A cool breeze blew into his face as he breathed in the outside air. It was like no smell Ven had ever experienced back home. It was a fresh smell of dewy grass and rain. How much had he missed out on, cooped up in a marble palace? Though it was too dark to make much out, from the light of a street lantern, he spotted a small feline creature licking its paws.
    You’re cuter than that last animal.
    Suddenly overcome with exhaustion, Ven got back into bed, nestled under the covers and closed his eyes.
    Contentment washed over him and sleep came almost immediately.
    ***
    Ven awoke with a jolt, sweating. He shivered. The pain in his leg had returned, although it wasn’t as bad as before. But it wasn’t just his leg causing him pain. The stab wound in his abdomen was throbbing and sending bursts of cold throughout his