13 Bani's Awakening Journey

Bani's eyelids fluttered, and the world around her slowly came into focus. The sterile scent of the hospital mixed with the distant murmur of voices. Her head felt heavy, and her body ached dully, but she was alive.

Her parents, sitting at her bedside, looked relieved. Her mother, wiping her eyes, let out a soft sob of joy. Her father, standing tall and silent, gave a small nod. His face was hard to read, but his eyes? Filled with something softer—relief, pride, maybe hope.

Bani's brother, his face drawn with worry, reached for her hand. "You're awake," he said, his voice cracking.

Bani's lips barely moved as she spoke, her voice hoarse. "I'm okay...I think."

Her mother leaned in, brushing her hair back with tender fingers. "Thank the gods... We were so scared."

Bani lay still in the sterile hospital room, the hum of machines the only sound breaking the silence. Her thoughts were clouded, drifting in and out of consciousness. She had just undergone a routine check-up, but something felt off. A strange heaviness weighed on her chest.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the fog. It wasn't from the doctors or nurses—it was soft but clear, almost like a whisper on the wind.

"Come... enter…"

The voice was familiar, yet alien. It echoed in her mind, tugging her toward something unknown.

Before Bani could respond, the world around her blurred. The hospital room faded, and a rush of colors and sensations overwhelmed her. A bright, golden light engulfed her, and she felt her body being pulled into an unfamiliar space.

When the light cleared, Bani found herself standing in the middle of a lush, vibrant landscape. Fields stretched endlessly in every direction, bursting with colors she had never seen before. There was an air of peace here, an inexplicable calm.

Bani blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings. The voice had disappeared, but the pull to explore the strange land remained strong.