*Day 7*
Morning came quietly, as if the world itself knew that the storm inside Livia had yet to settle. Pale sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the chamber, brushing against her skin like a gentle reminder that a new day had begun.
But her body screamed for more rest. Every muscle ached, her limbs felt like stone, and even the simple act of breathing carried a dull weight in her chest. The illusions from the day before had done more than exhaust her — they had emptied her.
For a long moment, she simply lay there on the soft mattress in her chamber, eyes fixed on the ceiling. A part of her — a small, desperate part — wanted to close her eyes and let the day pass her by.
But then she remembered Florita's words.
> "Strength is not measured by how many times you fall… but by how many times you rise again."
