Lyla
I came alive with a loud gasp as my eyes flew open, consciousness rushing back to me like a tidal wave.
The sunlight seared through the trees, warm and merciless. My body felt heavy like I'd been asleep for years instead of hours. A dull ache throbbed in my skull, and as I slowly adjusted my eyes, the world around me swayed.
I was lying on my back in the middle of the Northern forest clearing, the scent of damp earth and pine needles filling my nose. Neriah's sword was nowhere to be found. For a moment, I just breathed, staring up at the golden sky filtering through the canopy above. It felt unreal—like I wasn't truly back. But the pounding in my head was too real, my limbs too sore.
How long had I been out?
