Chapter: The Unexpected Return
The fire crackled in the night, its warm light dancing across the trees and casting long shadows in the woods. The heat felt good against my skin, soothing after everything that had happened—after the chaos, the pain, the confusion. After everything that had brought me to this strange place, this strange world. Aria had been a constant presence, a strange, unexpected ally, and though the conversation we had shared had left me with more questions than answers, I felt a sense of calm that I hadn’t felt in ages. The night passed quickly, and soon I found myself lulled to sleep by the sound of the crackling fire and the distant rustle of the leaves.
When I woke, it was still early morning. The air was thick with fog, the earth damp beneath me. I sat up, rubbing
