[Location: Morningstar Manor, New York]
6 Hours Later...
"Mmm—Grrr! Damnit it... my head is killing me..." I woke groggy, my whole body ached from whatever the hell that was. My brain felt like it had been run through a blender made of divine laws. Every breath carried a faint metallic tang, like lightning had nested under my tongue.
I blinked open my eyes. The room was dimly lit—candlelight flickering against the gothic carvings of the ceiling. The marble floor was frosted over in spiderweb cracks of silver ice.
So… it wasn't a dream.
Right beside me, Lilith slept... wait, I swear it was ground so how—
But when my gaze fell on the shadowy form of Paimon, who stood by the bed, my mind blanked for a solid five seconds.
"Thanks, Paimon, and came back."
Paimon inclined its head, and before fading back into my shadow, no sound, no ripple of presence — only a faint shimmer before it vanished completely.
