"Where is this place?" a cracked voice escaped my throat.0

I lay beneath a soft bedspread, just thick enough to be comforting. The unique weight of the fluffy blanket settled over me like a gentle embrace. Somewhere nearby, a faint, pleasant scent lingered in the air.0

I must have slept for quite some time, yet my head throbbed sharply. Judging by my surroundings, I was bedridden.0

The moment that I reflexively tried to sit up, a surge of pain tore through every inch of my body. It was the kind of pain that forced a grunt out of even someone like me, who was somewhat accustomed to tolerating pain.0

My body's a wreck. Instead of pushing further, I sank back into the bed and slowly scanned the room. It looked like the academy's infirmary.0

I checked myself and found I had healed to some extent. After all, I could still feel pain in a body that had been nearly destroyed. Most of the aches and stiffness made me grimace, but pain was proof I was alive. I chose to see it as a good sign.0

A teacup sat on the table beside the bed, filled with a medicine of unpleasant color. The only notable thing was its terrible...0