The darkness of the night passed, giving way to the soft light of a new dawn.
The shadow of Astrid, motionless like a statue beside the bed, watched attentively the eyelids of Aziz, which trembled slightly — a sign that he would soon awaken from his deep sleep.
Without waiting another second, and with the same subtlety and mastery with which she had appeared there, she slowly merged back into his shadow, projected on the floor by the gentle magical light coming from an enchanted crystal placed near the bed.
Soon after, Aziz opened his eyes.
His awakening was slow, as if reality itself was still trying to break through the fog of sleep enveloping his mind. His blurry vision blinked softly while he yawned. Lazily, he leaned back against the headboard, still feeling the residual warmth of the blankets, although the room was empty and silent.
