I woke up, staring at the cracked ceiling above me, the weight of exhaustion settling into my bones like a heavy fog. Every inch of my body screamed in protest as I tried to move, my muscles sore from the battle and my mana reserves drained to the last drop. It wasn't just me—my pens, always hovering in their subtle glow, now lay dull and lifeless beside me. For a moment, I let out a long sigh, grateful that at least they were intact.
The air around me was still thick with the residual scent of dark mana, though it was fading, dissipating into the quiet that now filled the dungeon. The chaotic hum of energy that had once crackled through the walls was gone, leaving only the silence of aftermath. My mind was still clouded from the strain, but as I focused, I realized something was missing. No, someone was missing.
I turned my head, wincing at the sharp pain shooting down my neck. There, lying motionless not too far from me, was Elandris.
