I woke as the first light of dawn filtered through the sheer curtains of my chamber, casting long, golden streaks across the polished stone walls. For the first time in days, my mind felt clear, unburdened by the fog of exhaustion or the weight of recent events. I lay still for a moment, listening to the faint sounds of the castle stirring—boots on stone, the muted clatter of distant cookware.
Rising, I stretched, the chill of the room biting against my skin. It wasn't unpleasant. It reminded me I was alive, present in this moment, far from the haze of my troubled dreams. I crossed the room to the basin of water waiting for me. The surface was still, pristine, reflecting my face back at me, tired but determined.
