The room remained silent long after Sage regained consciousness, a stillness that felt heavy.
Sunlight streamed through the narrow window, casting light across the bed, the wooden floor, and the chairs where Boren and Lyana sat. Their bodies were tense despite their relief at his awakening.
Outside, faint sounds filtered in not chaos or battle cries, but purposeful movement, like a city slowly piecing itself back together after being torn apart. Sage lay still, breathing carefully as he let his eyes wander over the ceiling before shifting to gaze out the window.
The world felt heavier now. It wasn't a physical burden, he was already familiar with that but something deeper settled behind his ribs; it was dense and quiet and had nothing to do with pain. He had survived. Mina had survived. The Guild still existed.
