A soft, golden light filtered through the curtains, nudging me out of a deep, dreamless sleep. My body still felt heavy, sore from the events of the previous day, but the absence of pain was a welcome change. Slowly, I blinked my eyes open, letting the unfamiliar surroundings come into focus.
The small side room was quiet, save for a distant rumble that I couldn’t quite place. I frowned, sitting up and running a hand through my tangled hair. The ache in my muscles was nothing compared to the exhaustion that had gripped me the night before, but now, something else tugged at my senses—an energy I couldn’t ignore.
Before I could dwell on it, the door creaked open, and Mr. Eldric Hale stepped inside. His imposing figure filled the doorway, but the usual sharpness in his expression was soften
