Afterward

I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the soft light filtering into the room. My body felt heavy, the kind of weariness that comes after an intense fight and even more intense recovery. My limbs ached, a dull reminder of the poison overload, the countless uses of Monochrome, and the mental strain that had nearly torn me apart. Yet, despite all of that, my body felt… well-rested. For a moment, I forgot where I was, the blissful silence after the chaos of battle allowing me to forget.

I had slept. Actually slept. As a cultivator, that was something we rarely did—usually opting for meditation to restore energy and balance—but somehow, I had succumbed to real sleep. A deep, satisfying sleep that had carried me away from the burdens of war. And yet, I knew it wouldn't last.