Liam lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, his body still and his mind restless. Sleep refused to come, no matter how much he tried to will himself into unconsciousness. The events of the past day replayed over and over in his mind—his body weakening, the unbearable pain, the feeling of slipping into nothingness. He had been on the brink of death, and yet, here he was, alive.
A slow exhale left his lips as he sat up. His body felt… different. There was no heaviness, no lingering weakness. Instead, there was a strange sense of clarity, a renewed energy flowing through him. He clenched his fists, feeling the strength in them, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His gaze fell on his sword resting against the stool beside him.
Without making a sound, he grabbed it and made his way outside.
