The night grew deeper in the empire's capital, leaving behind gusts of bone-chilling cold wind. The lanterns along the central market corridors began extinguishing one by one, leaving only faint, dim light from a few stalls still open for late-night customers. The rich and spicy aroma of ramen broth still clung heavily to the air, mixed with the scent of wet earth after the afternoon rain, road dust, fading candle smoke, and a faint fishy smell from the drainage ditches along the street.
Sylvia, Alicia, and Stacia finally finished cleaning up their ramen stall. Their bodies were tired, but there was a deep sense of satisfaction after a long and unexpected day. The once-endless queue had completely disappeared. Only a few scattered disposable bowls remained on the ground, thick broth stains drying on the wooden table, and a few glistening oil droplets under the pale moonlight.
