Marius woke to the sound of gentle but persistent knocking. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering through the half-open door. For a moment, he thought he was still dreaming, but the soft murmurs from beyond the threshold confirmed otherwise. He sat up slowly, his body aching from the beating he'd endured, every movement a painful reminder of his fragile state.
His gaze flickered toward the door, where he noticed several figures peeking in, their eyes wide, hesitant. The knocking continued, and for a moment, he expected them to burst in uninvited. But they waited, watching him.
"Come in," Marius called, his voice hoarse, unsure of what was happening.
