Morning arrived quietly in the city of Anarets, as if the world had just awakened from a long dream. A thin mist still hung low between narrow alleys, while golden sunlight slowly filtered through the gaps in buildings, reflecting off the damp stone streets. The voices of merchants began to rise in the distance, replacing the chirping of small birds that gradually disappeared behind the rooftops.
On the upper floor of the inn, in two adjacent rooms, two girls awoke with sluggish, reluctant movements. Stacia stared blankly at the ceiling for several seconds before sitting up slowly and rubbing her face with her hands. In the next room, Alicia groaned as she rolled over, her hair a mess and the blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon.
"Ugh… I can still feel the chill of that place on the back of my neck," Alicia muttered half-asleep, sitting on her bed with half-lidded eyes.
