Chapter 158. Kaelem

Xerina’s POV

I was falling.

The world around me spun and the hallway collapsed into dust and darkness. My stomach lurched as I plummeted into the unknown, the ground gone, my senses scrambled. I tried to scream, but no sound came, just the rush of wind and shadows swirling all around me. And then, suddenly, it stopped.

The impact never came. I blinked, gasping for breath, my heart racing, only to find myself standing upright in the center of… a ballroom?

I spun around, my eyes wide as they took in the scene. Glistening chandeliers hung from vaulted ceilings, their crystal facets catching the light and scattering it in a thousand golden rays across the polished marble floor. The walls were adorned with intricate tapestries, and towering windows framed the setting sun outside, casting a warm, golden glow over everything.

I gasped. I knew this place. I didn’t know how, but the familiarity hit me hard, pulling at something deep inside. It was beautif