Kiara POV:

I slowly stirred to consciousness, momentarily caught between the comforting tendrils of sleep and the harsh clarity of reality. For a brief, blissful second, I felt the soft embrace of my familiar bed beneath me. But as the haze of sleep lifted, a sense of unease crept over me.

My eyes fluttered open, taking in the extravagant space around me. The ceiling was a vast expanse painted with meticulous golden frescoes that told stories of ancient legends and myths. Their ...