"Mhm."
Azrael's consciousness drifted slowly back, like a boat fighting against the current. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and he felt dizzy, as if the world around him was spinning. He blinked his eyes open, struggling to focus.
The ceiling of his room gradually came into view, and the dim light filtering through the curtains made him squint.
With a groan, he shifted his gaze to the side and saw his friends—Caspian, Adham, and Eirian—sitting on the couch. Their expressions were clouded with a mix of depression and frustration, and the tension in the room was palpable. Even Eirian, usually expressionless and stoic, seemed deeply bothered by something.
Azrael tried to sit up, but his body felt heavy and uncooperative. He let out a weak, hoarse call, "Adham..."
