Aria's POV
I felt a slight tug on my body, an unfamiliar sensation that pulled me out of the void I had been lost in for what felt like an eternity. My eyes fluttered open, heavy and sluggish, as though they had been sealed shut for years. Bright light assaulted my vision, and I blinked to adjust.
The first thing I saw was Mom's face, tears streaming down her cheeks as she leaned over me, her smile trembling with a mixture of relief and joy. Behind her stood Owen, taller and more mature than I remembered. His features had sharpened, and he carried himself with a newfound confidence. And then there was Magnus.
Magnus looked… different. The weight of time was visible in the faint lines around his eyes and the streaks of gray in his hair, but his presence was as commanding as ever. His gaze was locked on me, intense and unwavering.
"Good evening," he said softly, his voice cracking slightly as though he couldn't quite believe I was awake.
