CHAPTER 175: RETURN TO REALITY

Drakon's eyelids fluttered open, and he blinked against the dim light filtering through the small window. His muscles felt heavy, like he had been dragged through miles of thick mud. As his vision cleared, he saw Shirley sitting by his bedside, her face full of relief and exhaustion. "Shirley," he croaked, reaching out to her. "Drakon," she whispered, tears streaming down her face. She clasped his hand tightly, afraid he might vanish if she let go. "You're awake." Drakon struggled to sit up, his body protesting every movement. Shirley helped him; her touch was gentle but firm. He looked into her eyes, trying to piece together the fragmented memories of his ordeal. "I've been through hell," he said, his voice raw. "Morgana... A lady injected something into me. It made me weak. She told me about our dream world... but it was more than a dream. It was a heavenly realm, a prison." He said this in one breath, Shirley nodded, her eyes never leaving his. "The moon in that world wasn't al