Juta's eyes blink open to the rocky ceiling, and sunlight, the soft fresh glow of morning light is already pouring into the cave.
For a moment, he just takes in his surroundings.
How long has it been?
Since he last freely saw this golden hue and blue sky? To feel the calm nature's breeze on his skin, he had been trapped in that dungeon and then Ruto's chambers for a long time.
This almost feels like one of his hallucinations. Almost. But Juta knows it's not.
His illusions and dreams are never this blissful.
Also, he cannot be imagining this when the memories of the last several days are still too deeply engraved in his mind.
He only has to close his eyes for the brutal event to replay.
The fight between that full-dragon and Ruto.
How bloody it had been, and he'd been so afraid. For the first time, Juta had prayed for a person which isn't himself.
It's also the first time the goddess had listened to him.
