Morning sunlight leaked through the infirmary windows, soft and warm, casting long lines across the room.
The faint scent of disinfectant and healing herbs hovered in the air, mixing with the gentle sound of rustling sheets as patients shifted in their sleep.
Kael's eyes slowly fluttered open.
For a few seconds, his vision blurred. Then he blinked several times, trying to steady his spinning head.
"…Where…?" he whispered.
"Ohh—good morning, first year," an infirmary maid said with a cheerful smile.
She had short brown hair, bright eyes, and an energy that did not belong to someone who worked night shifts.
Kael turned his head, still groggy. "Good… morning. H-How long was I in this infirmary?"
The woman giggled lightly. "Oh, you were just admitted yesterday evening. It hasn't even been a full day."
Yesterday.
Flashbacks hit him immediately — the fight, the demon, the collapse, Cecelia screaming his name, then complete darkness.
Kael exhaled deeply.
