You step forward, arms open. “You’ve been down here a long time,” you say. “Maybe what you need isn’t food or advice. Maybe it’s just… a hug.”

The bellhop hesitates. His form flickers again—less ghostly now, more human. He looks at you, eyes wide, and then steps into your embrace. It’s like hugging a snowbank that remembers warmth.

He exhales, and the air around you shifts. The lights flicker. Somewhere above, a bell rings once. When he steps back, there are tears in his eyes. “No one’s offered that in a hundred years,” he whispers. “You understand what potluck really means.” He reaches into his coat and pulls out a small, brass token etched with the Château’s silhouette and a tiny fleur-de-lis. He places it in your hand.

✅ You now have (make note):

• Landmark Token – Château Frontenac

The bellhop smiles. “Tell Elsie I said thank you. And… save me a seat.”

With that, he fades into the shadows, and the archives fall silent once more.