Now, the boy found himself far removed from that grim place. The air here was clean and fresh, the floor beneath him cold but not unpleasant.
He could faintly smell blood, probably his own, but when he looked down at his body, the injuries were gone!
No wounds, no bruises, nothing but smooth, unbroken skin.
A sudden thought struck him hard, tightening his chest.
His little sister. Shu'er!
Was she okay?
He twisted his upper body in a rush, eyes scanning wildly for the one face he needed to see.
Until finally, he spotted her lying on the floor nearby, with a black-haired young man and a red-haired girl crouched beside her.
"Shu'er!"
A raw urgency broke through as the boy pushed himself upright without effort.
His body responded with perfect ease. No pain. No strain. It felt as though he had woken from a nightmare into a dream.
He wasn't just okay - he felt incredible!
Strong. Energized. Overwhelmingly so.
