Murphy opened his eyes.
His gaze fell upon the familiar stone dome of the cottage. Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting bands of light across the floor.
He blinked, his consciousness slowly ascending from a long stretch of chaos, like a drowning man finally breaking the surface of the water.
Then he saw Aurora.
She was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in a simple white gown. Her long, golden hair was draped casually over her shoulders, and the morning light gilded her profile with a soft contour.
She held a Crimson Longsword in her hands, carefully wiping its blade with a silk cloth. Her movements were as gentle as a caress.
Sensing his gaze, she looked up at him.
A gentle smile rippled through her eyes, which were as blue as the Jade Sea.
"You're awake?"
Murphy slowly sat up, his gaze falling upon his own body. It was still the familiar form he knew, yet it felt subtly different.
