BORN ANEW.

Chapter: 33

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TALON:

The world around me was a blur of darkness and pain, remnants of consciousness slipping away like sand through my fingers. I couldn’t tell how long I had been out cold, nor could I recall the moments leading up to my fall. All that lingered was a profound emptiness, a void that consumed me.

But then, slowly, the darkness began to recede. A warm light seeped into my awareness, illuminating the forest floor and filtering through the branches above. I blinked against the brightness, my body feeling heavy and unresponsive. It took a moment for my surroundings to come into focus, and when they finally did, my heart raced with terror.

Sitting beside me was a young boy, his dark hair falling across his eyes as he tilted his head to the side, his gentle gaze carefully observing mine. The stranger had an air of calm about him, but it was the sight of the boy’s wrist pressed against my mouth that sent a jolt of panic through me.

My body reacted instinctively