A Bargain's Price

The morning was still and quiet, as if the world itself held its breath. I felt the weight of the previous day's battles deep in my bones, like an ache that wouldn't go away. Around me, the others were beginning to stir, some talking softly, others nursing their wounds.

But there was something different, something I couldn't quite name. As I sat up, a sharp, sudden pain jolted through me, almost like a warning. My hand instinctively moved to my heart, and I remembered the bargain I had made to save us all. I had given something precious, something I hadn't fully understood. Now, it seemed, I was beginning to feel the true cost.

Mira approached me, her gaze filled with concern. "Cinder, are you okay?" she asked softly, kneeling beside me. Her presence was warm and comforting, but her eyes held worry.