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Fragments

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-28 01:33:26

Sasha’s consciousness returned in fragments—flashes of searing heat, whispers in a language she didn’t understand, and the bone-deep sensation of being watched. Her body ached as if she’d been crushed under the weight of a mountain, and her head pounded in rhythm with a distant, echoing heartbeat.

When her vision finally cleared, she found herself lying on a cold, blackened ground. Shadows danced around her, alive and shifting, their shapes ever-changing. The air was thick and suffocating, carrying the faint metallic tang of blood and fire.

“Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the strange, haunting hum that filled the space.

“You’re in its domain now,” a familiar voice answered.

Sasha turned sharply, her heart leaping as she saw Solara standing a few feet away. The Guardian’s golden glow was dimmed, her once-brilliant form now muted and frail. She looked like a ghost of herself, her shoulders hunched and her eyes filled with weariness.

“Solara!” Sasha scrambled
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