Back Where 321
I woke up to find myself in a familiar yet strangely new bedchamber. My head turned slowly. and I realized I was in Lycannar’s rooin, in the restored Black Tower.

A soft sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I began to sit up when a gentle but firm voice halted

“Don’t you dare.”

Princess Mearez sat at the table. I hadn’t noticed her before. She was carefully packing up her healer’s tools, and once she finished, she came to sit beside me, her eyes searching mine.

The silence between us was so heavy it made me swallow hard. My mind raced. What happened?

Wait, earlier today, I went to the Ash Pack. Varyn and I fought. Jurrek came between us, took a stand, and shocked Varyn to silence. Then… I said my farewell and left, feeling dizzy and weak.

The memory hit me fully then. I arrived here, and passed out.