Esteria lay crumpled on the cold stone floor, her body trembling from exhaustion and overwhelming grief. Her breath came in shallow gasps as she tried to process everything that had happened. The world felt distant, muffled as if she were underwater. A dull ache spread through her body, and before she could fight it, the darkness crept in. Her vision blurred, and her body gave up the battle, crashing onto the floor as she lost consciousness.
---
When Esteria woke, her body felt heavy, as if she'd been through an endless battle. The room around her was dimly lit, casting long shadows across the walls. She blinked against the blurriness in her eyes, trying to piece together where she was. A chill ran through her despite the intense heat radiating from her body, and she quickly realized she was barely covered. A thin sheet had been placed over her, but her skin was exposed, leaving her vulnerable. Her pulse quickened with confusion.
