The heavy, suffocating scent of dried lavender, crushed chamomile, and old, dust-bound parchment was the first thing that pulled me back to consciousness.
I didn't wake up in a cold, damp dungeon, nor was I bound to a dark, terrifying obsidian altar. Instead, I opened my eyes to find myself lying on an absurdly plush daybed piled high with velvet cushions and goose-down pillows, situated right in the center of a sunlit, breezy, grand reception hall.
High, vaulted stone ceilings stretched overhead, beautifully carved with intricate, flowing feather patterns and silver ivy. Massive open archways looked out over a breathtaking, hidden valley city built directly into the towering mountain face. Thousands of dark-roofed cottages, winding cobblestone bridges, and vibrant, bustling bazaars stretched as far as the eye could see beneath a crisp blue sky.
"Ah! She awakes! The fainting Duchess of the South has finally rejoined the living!"
