A thread of light filtered through the high windows, gently illuminating the room. Tarik began to move his eyelids slowly, as if each opening were a conscious effort. First one eye… then the other.
The first thing he saw was the ceiling bathed in daylight, and for a moment he didn’t know where he was or how he had gotten there. Each breath felt heavy and uncertain, as if his body still hesitated to obey him.
Then, his gaze fell on the faces surrounding him.
First, he saw Leriana, her expression filled with relief and restrained hope. The woman before him seemed like a silent guardian, someone who had watched over him even when he himself had given up his place. Leriana’s eyes reassured him, but they did not completely dispel the confusion he felt.
Then, he looked up at Lissana. He reco
