The moonlight slowly faded, retreating into the edges of the sky as dawn stretched its pale fingers across the horizon. Gold seeped into the darkness, chasing it away bit by bit, until morning settled fully over the land.
In a quiet cottage at Brivestone, the stillness of dawn was broken only by the soft rustle of sheets.
A dark-skinned girl lay sprawled across the bed, her limbs carelessly spread like a starfish. Her red hair fanned wildly across the pillow, strands falling over her face and catching the faint morning light. She shifted slightly, rolling from one side of the bed to the other, her body refusing to fully wake.
For a moment, the world remained distant.
Then—
Thud.
The sound echoed from somewhere outside—not loud, but not subtle either.
Her brows furrowed deeply, the peace on her face breaking into a clear expression of annoyance. One eye fluttered open… then the other, both heavy with sleep.
She groaned softly under her breath.
