The problem with spring was not that it brought life.
It was that it brought too much of it.
Sean sat at his usual table, lute resting across his knee, watching the tavern without really playing.
“It’s louder,” Eljara said.
Sean nodded.
“Yes.”
“It’s the same people.”
“Yes.”
“They’re just…”
She paused.
“More.”
Sean allowed himself a faint smile.
“That’s spring.”
A man laughed too loudly at something that didn’t deserve it.
A woman leaned too close to a stranger.
Two men argued over something trivial—
and didn’t stop when they should have.
Eljara watched carefully.
“That’s new.”
“Yes.”
“No pause.”
“No.”
Across the room, the argument escalated.
A shove.
A strike.
Too fast.
Too hard.
The room went quiet.
Watching.
Not shocked.
Interested.
Eljara leaned back slightly.
“They didn’t stop it.”
“No.”
“They wanted to see.”
“Yes.”
The man who had been struck stood again.
Smiling.
Not friendly.
Not angry.
Just—
ready.
Sean finally played a low chord.
“That’s worse,” he said.
“Yes.”
Outside, the square of Altdorf was even more alive.
Lantern light flickered over wet stone.
Music moved too fast.
People stood too close.
Voices overlapped.
Everything pushed against everything else.
Eljara stepped into the street.
“I need air.”
Sean followed.
The air didn’t help.
A couple pressed together in an alleyway.
A merchant shouted too hard at an apprentice.
A child cried too loudly over something small.
“You feel it?” Eljara asked.
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
Sean watched the crowd move.
“It’s not just life.”
“No.”
“It’s hunger.”
A woman passed them, coughing into her sleeve.
Once.
Twice.
She didn’t stop.
Eljara noticed.
“That’s not right.”
“No.”
Further down, a group of soldiers laughed—then suddenly shoved one of their own harder than necessary.
The laughter didn’t stop.
It changed.
Eljara crossed her arms.
“This isn’t just spring.”
“No.”
Sean watched the rhythm of the crowd.
The way it surged.
The way it didn’t settle.
“They’re not losing control,” he said quietly.
“No?”
“They’re choosing it.”
That was worse.
Eljara looked across the square.
Some people leaned into it.
Too much.
Too close.
Too intense.
Others tried to pull back.
But the movement didn’t let them.
“They like it,” she said.
Sean didn’t answer.
Because some of them did.
That was the problem.
A shout rose from somewhere in the crowd.
Excited.
Sharp.
Then laughter again.
Spring laughter.
Too loud.
Too long.
Sean adjusted the lute on his shoulder.
“Spring makes people brave,” he said.
Eljara nodded.
“Yes.”
He paused.
“…and careless.”
They stood together, watching Altdorf breathe.
Alive.
Moving.
Growing.
Too much.
Eljara exhaled slowly.
“This doesn’t end well.”
Sean gave a small, tired smile.
“It never does.”
SPRING & REBIRTH
🜍 Month 3 · The Turning of the Year
🜍 Week 3 — Desire takes hold
Story: Too Much of Everything
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying Game — The Old World
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