Chapter 351

• Memories surged through my mind, vivid and overwhelming, a cascade of colors and emotions that refused to settle. The sting of betrayal gave way to a cold, almost soothing relief, only for it to melt into a strange, unfamiliar warmth. It was as if the essence of life itself—its beauty, pain, and the chaos of magic—had imprinted on me all at once.
• A weight pressed down on me, anchoring me to the physical world. My limbs felt distant, tingling as though waking from a deep numbness. The sensation ebbed, replaced by an oppressive awareness of my body—a gilded cage I instinctively fought against. My chest ached with each shallow breath, my skin slick with sweat, as though a raging fire burned beneath the surface, threatening to consume me.
• I flexed my fingers, the coarse texture of a blanket meeting my touch. Groaning softly, I pushed the fabric away and rubbed at my eyes, willing them to adjust to the darkness of the room. A dim lamp in the corner cast a muted glow, illuminating the figure of a man seated nearby, his face buried in his hands, his pale hair a disheveled mess.