Azriel's one remaining eye twitched, while the other felt as heavy as lead. Slowly, the single eye fluttered open. Blinking a few times to clear the blurriness clouding his vision, Azriel found himself staring at a wooden ceiling.
"Ugh..."
Everything felt unbearably heavy, his mind wrapped in a thick, numbing fog. Turning his head with effort, Azriel blinked a few more times, taking in his surroundings. He was inside a small, old cabin—simple, but clean. A fire crackled gently in the hearth, the scent of burning wood filling the air.
Through the window, he could still see the familiar green of the endless forest.
With a grunt, Azriel pushed himself upright until he was sitting on the hard, narrow bed. His gaze dropped to his own body. His upper torso was bare, wrapped tightly in bandages. His left arm, where his mark should be, was also covered in new bandages. His chest, where his mana core resided, still radiated that faint, annoying heat.
"Huh..."
