CHAPTER EIGHTY EIGHT - COMING TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

A week had passed since John first opened his eyes in the Gorroth Manse. Each day brought subtle improvements - his color returned, his voice grew stronger, and flashes of his old self peeked through the weariness. Karina rarely left his side, her sole focus on aiding his recovery in any way she could. She fluffed his pillows, read to him from dusty old tomes, and regaled him with stories of her misadventures in the castle to bring a smile to his face. On this particular morning, a ray of sunlight filtered through the arched windows, casting a warm glow over John's face as he slept peacefully. Karina sat in a plush armchair beside the bed, a book of herbal remedies open in her lap but long forgotten as she studied the gentle rise and fall of his chest. A soft rap on the door broke the tranquil silence. Zaya slipped in, her slippered feet making no sound on the cold stone floor. A bright smile lit up her face as she crossed the room, her movements lithe and graceful. "Good morning