Outskirt Of The City...
A sharp pain shot through Alexander's body the moment he stirred. His breath hitched, his limbs feeling heavy as if he had been trapped underwater for days.
His eyelids fluttered open, and the dim light of an old lantern flickered against the wooden walls around him. The air smelled of a faint scent of herbs.
Panic gripped him. This wasn't his home. This wasn't a hospital.
His gaze darted around the unfamiliar space... a small, cluttered room with worn-out furniture, a rickety wooden table stacked with bottles and cloth, and an open window that allowed the sound of crashing waves to seep in.
His fingers twitched against the rough fabric beneath him, realizing he was lying on a thin mattress spread on the floor.
Then, a sudden movement caught his attention.
An aged man, with gray-streaked hair and sun-worn skin, sat not far from him. His eyes, sharp yet kind, widened when he saw Alexander awake.
