BOOM!
Florian's eyes flew open, his entire body jolting upright as the echo of an explosion rang in his ears.
"W-What… What the fuck?" he gasped, heart pounding wildly in his chest.
Disoriented and still caught between the edges of sleep and reality, he looked around his room in confusion. He'd only meant to rest for a short while—just a quick nap, after Cashew left. He'd changed into more comfortable clothes, even let himself breathe for a moment.
But that moment was shattered.
"Azure?" he called out, eyes darting toward the corners of his room. "Azure? Azure?!"
Silence.
No chirps. No rustling of tiny wings. No weight on his shoulder. Nothing.
'Where the hell is he?! He was here before I fell asleep—I'm sure of it.'
His pulse quickened.
Then—shouting.
Panicked. Desperate. Voices rising from beyond the thick palace walls, mingled with hurried footsteps and—
BOOM!
Another explosion. Closer this time. The whole room trembled.
