Kana lay back down on the bed, but no matter how tightly she shut her eyes or how deeply she buried herself under the blankets, sleep refused to come peacefully.
Every thirty minutes or so, her body jolted awake with the same suffocating sensation—like an invisible hand was pressing against her chest, stealing her breath .
The unease that had started the previous night hadn't left her. It lingered, growing heavier and sharper with each restless moment.
By the time dawn finally came, Kana felt like her entire body had been drained of energy. Her head felt heavy, her vision blurry, and her eyelids stung with exhaustion.
She wanted to crawl back under the covers and sleep for another day—but she knew she wouldn't find rest even if she tried.
Lysera stirred first. The moment she turned and caught sight of Kana's pale face and the dark shadows under her eyes, her entire expression shifted from grogginess to concern.
