Aria's/Lysara's POV

My eyes stirred open, careful and quiet, like a curtain. The world around me was a blurry veil of different colors and shapes, smeared into each other like a rain-soaked painting. Soon, as the dull ache in my head cleared and my eyes opened wider, the images became clearer and the world around me sharper.

His hand resting on my forehead, checking my fever out, was my first interaction with the one world again. His eyes were solemn at first, heavy with concern as he watched ...