From Ashes we Rise

When Rain woke up, he found himself lying in a room within the battered remains of Clockwork City.

His body felt heavy, his injuries a dull ache under his skin, but he forced himself to sit up. All around him, gnomes and even some dwarves were rushing about, tending to the injured, their small hands working tirelessly.

It was strange — almost unbelievable. As far as he knew, there was no dwarf settlement here, and the gnomes should have been sacrificed during Gorm's rituals. His mind struggled to comprehend the scene before him.

~CrAaAsSH!~

"Rain!" Hana gasped, letting go of a bowl of water she had been holding as soon as she saw him awake. "You're alive! Thank goodness!"

In a flash, Hana was at his side, wrapping him in a tight hug. Rain winced as pain shot through his body. Though most of his injuries had healed, the soreness lingered, making him feel like every muscle was bruised.