Elliott found a cozy corner in the bar, an unusual setting for his writing endeavors. The allure of company drew him in, prompting him to break his usual rule of keeping alcohol and writing apart. As he peered up from his manuscript, a jolt of surprise coursed through him, for there stood the farmer, a touch battered from a day spent toiling in the mines.

With a warm smile, Elliott inquired, "How did your adventures in the mines treat you today?"