After several long hours—
"Uhnn…" Malek's eyelids fluttered faintly, his body stiff as though dragging itself out of heavy chains. Both hands rose to clutch the sides of his head, as if he feared his skull might split apart. His expression said it all—he was drowning in a headache so severe it felt like his head was truly about to explode.
A full minute crawled by before he finally stirred, his movements slow and halting, like a man waking from the depths of a nightmare. At last he sat upright, blinking groggily, his gaze sweeping the cave around him. Then, suddenly—
"Good morning!"
"Hm?" Malek's weary eyes shot toward the sound. His slouched posture snapped into formality, and in a heartbeat he dropped to both knees. "Your Majesty."
"Relax." Robin offered a warm smile, his tone casual. "Did you have pleasant dreams?"
