Chapter 255: Awakening in the Temple

**Thelma Zane’s POV:** The sharp scent of disinfectant had always been something I loathed, but in this moment, I found myself able to ignore it. My body felt as though it were weighted down by a thousand stones, making even the simple act of opening my eyes an impossible task. A cold tube pressed against my wrist, and through the subtle vibrations, I sensed the flow of liquid or gas coursing through it. This must be a ward. That was my first coherent thought upon regaining consciousness. My second thought was more disorienting: *What time is it now?* I had no concept of how long I had been asleep. Was it mere minutes or an eternity spanning a hundred years? The notion of time had eluded me entirely. I couldn't even summon the strength to open my eyes to check the room for a clock—assuming there was one to begin with. Time slipped by in an indistinct haze before I finally mustered enough energy to peel my eyes open. As anticipated, I found myself in a ward, though it was unlike