The sky gradually brightened, pushing back the darkness of the night as it slowly receded. A faint light stretched across the horizon, painting the dawn with streaks of silvery blue, still too shy to fully greet the earth.

The night was preparing to leave. Morning was almost upon them. The cold of the night had begun to fade, but the warmth that longed to take its place was not enough to loosen the grip of tension in Era's chest.

Era still stood in the back garden of the palace, gazing up at the sky with uneven breaths. She remained rooted, trapped by the relentless, paralysing sensation that gnawed at her...