The morning sun filtered through the narrow gap in the dormitory curtains, hitting my face and dragging me out of a surprisingly deep, dreamless sleep.
I sat up, rolling my shoulders. There was no lingering ache in my ribs and no metallic taste of blood in my mouth. My mana core was humming steadily. For the first time in over a week, I actually felt like a normal person.
Then suddenly, a loud, obnoxious snore instantly shattered the quiet morning peace.
I looked across the room.
SNOOR!
Kyle was sprawled face-down on his mattress, his blankets tangled around his legs, completely dead to the world. One of his arms was dangling off the edge, his knuckles brushing the stone floor.
I threw my legs over the side of the bed, walked across the room, and delivered a swift, entirely unsympathetic punch directly to the back of his head.
Thwack!
"Ow!" Kyle violently jolted awake, his arms flailing as he nearly rolled right off the mattress.
