Kana's eyes fluttered open slowly, her head pounding faintly as her vision adjusted to the dim light filtering through the wooden beams overhead.
For a brief moment, panic surged through her chest—she thought something terrible had happened again, that the wolf goddess or the strange voice had dragged her away.
But instead, she found herself lying on a narrow bed, a blanket tucked around her.
Irielle sat nearby, her arms folded across her chest, though her posture softened the moment she realized Kana was awake.
"You collapsed. Exhaustion. Nothing more. You're fine now."
Irielle explained quietly, her golden eyes steady.
Kana blinked, her lips parting as a rush of shame rose to her face. She clenched her hands into the sheets.
"I… collapsed? After everything we went through, I was the first to—"
Her voice was small. Irielle leaned forward and cut her off, shaking her head.
"Don't do that. We all pushed ourselves too hard. No one blames you."
