Dawn came like a whisper.
The first light of the sun filtered through the dense forest canopy, painting the ground with hues of gold and green. The distant songs of birds echoed through the trees, soft, almost hesitant—as if nature itself were still testing the safety of this new morning.
The campfire was now just a circle of smoldering ashes. The cool dawn air carried the scent of burnt wood and wet earth.
Kael was the first to awaken.
His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the filtered light. For a brief moment, he remained still, only feeling the weight of the silence around him. The wind touched his face, and the sound of rustling leaves seemed to blend with his breathing.
When he tried to stand, he noticed something curious—the pain, the fatigue, the cuts from the day before… everything was gone.
He moved his shoulder, flexed his arm, rolled his neck. No stiffness. No discomfort.
