Shin slowly opened his eyes, feeling a sharp, throbbing ache in his muscles that made him furrow his brows. His vision spun for a fraction of a second as the crackling sound of a fireplace reached his ears.
Where am I? he wondered, his mind slightly foggy. Then, the rough stone walls of the mini-castle came into focus. The backlash of using the Obsidian Decapitator's blood-draw had finally forced his body into a temporary recovery sleep.
He tried to shift his weight, but his body protested with a dull ache that radiated through his limbs. Still lying down, he realized he was in a spacious, chilly room, illuminated only by the amber glow of the fire.
The warmth from the nearby hearth was comforting, though it wasn't enough to completely dispel the damp draft of the savanna night.
"You're awake," a gentle voice drew his attention. "How are you feeling? How are your wounds?"
Shin turned toward the voice and froze.
