Elara's pov
By the time I made it back to my room, my legs were barely mine. I had to stop twice just to steady myself against the corridor walls.
I didn't know that something as simple as running could leave a person feeling this… undone.
When I finally reached my room, I was relieved to find it empty which was a mercy because I didn't want anyone to see me like this; sweat-soaked, trembling, and smelling of the dust from the yard.
"…So this is what it feels like," I murmured under my breath.
I moved to the bathing chamber and stripped slowly, my fingers clumsy from the strain. The water was still warm enough, so I stepped in without thinking too much about it and sank down, letting the heat wrap around me.
I looked down at the bruises on my legs and arms from the multiple times I had hit the dirt today.
