After what felt like an eternity of unconsciousness, I slowly began to feel the hard, cold ground beneath my back. A dull ache pulsed through my limbs. My eyes fluttered open, greeted not by light—but by thick, suffocating darkness.
Yet, in the corner of my vision, a soft ray of light pierced through the blackness.
With trembling hands, I pushed myself upright. The air was heavy, cold, and still. My breath fogged slightly as I exhaled. Step by step, I followed the light, my bare feet scraping against the rough, stone-like floor beneath me. The light guided me to a door—cracked slightly open, just enough to let the glow spill through.
I reached out and gently pushed it open.
The scene before me stole my breath.
A vibrant, bustling marketplace stretched out under the bright embrace of daylight. Stalls lined the cobbled streets, bursting with fruits, cloth, and trinkets. People moved about, laughing, bartering, chatting as sunlight bathed everything in gold. It looked… familiar.
