"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"

Seraphis groaned as she sank into her bed, pressing her face into the soft pillow.

The battle had been won, the sea serpent defeated, and now, finally, she could get some well-earned rest.

The first light of dawn had barely crested the horizon when she had thrown herself onto the mattress, still half-dressed in her battle gear, too exhausted to properly undress.

Her body ached, a dull soreness settling into her muscles, but it was a satisfying kind of pain—the kind that came after a hard-fought victory.

She exhaled deeply, letting herself relax for the first time in what felt like ages.

The sea serpent had put up a fight, but in the end, it had been no match for her magic and skill.

“Now I’m going back to bed,” she mumbled into her pillow, her voice muffled but firm.

She didn’t care about anything else right now.

She didn’t care about the aftermath, the repairs to the fortress, or the cleanup from the battle.

She especially didn’t care about whatever Lysara or the others were doing.

“All I care about,” she muttered to herself, already feeling sleep tugging at her consciousness, “is getting some damn sleep.”

Her last thought before drifting off was a silent prayer that no one would wake her up again.

Five blissful hours later, that prayer was shattered.

A loud, insistent knocking rattled her door.

Seraphis groaned, shifting under the covers, pulling the blankets over her head in protest.

The knocking continued, relentless and irritating.

She clenched her jaw, forcing herself to stay calm. Maybe if she ignored it, whoever it was would go away.

No such luck.

The knocking grew louder.

She let out a low, frustrated growl, finally throwing off the blanket.

Her patience, already worn thin from exhaustion, snapped.

With a cranky voice, she shouted, “Didn’t I tell you NOT to wake me up?!”

A pause. Then Lysara’s voice, far too amused for Seraphis’s liking, answered, “Yeah, yeah, you did. But it’s dinner time.”

Seraphis blinked.

“Dinner time?” she repeated, her voice groggy with sleep.

“That’s what I said,” Lysara replied, unimpressed. “And why do you sound like a cranky little kid?”

Seraphis scowled, rubbing her face as she forced herself upright.

“Because you woke me up,” she grumbled.

Lysara laughed, completely unfazed by Seraphis’s irritation.

“Well, excuse me, princess, but if you sleep any longer, you’ll miss out on the best meal of the day.”

Seraphis sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose.

She was still tired, but now that she was awake, there was no point in trying to go back to sleep.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching out her sore limbs.

“Fine,” she muttered. “Let’s go to dinner.”

Lysara smirked. “That’s the spirit.”

Together, they made their way to the Hall of Raven’s Perch, the grand dining hall of the fortress.

The scent of freshly cooked meat and spiced vegetables filled the air, making Seraphis’s stomach growl.

As they entered, the room was already alive with the sounds of laughter, clinking mugs, and lively conversation.

They found a seat near the center, where plates of roasted venison, buttered bread, and steaming bowls of stew were already being served.

Seraphis wasted no time digging in, savoring the warm, rich flavors.

After a few bites, Lysara grinned at her.

“You know, you’re a pretty good cook yourself,” she commented, taking a sip of her drink.

Seraphis raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Since when did you start judging my cooking skills?”

Lysara smirked. “Since you made that stew last week. The one with the fire-roasted herbs? It was amazing.”

Seraphis shrugged, but a small smirk played on her lips.

“It’s nothing special,” she said, though she was pleased by the compliment.

“Nothing special?” Lysara scoffed. “Seraphis, I’ve eaten a lot of questionable meals in my life. Yours? Easily one of the best.”

Seraphis chuckled, shaking her head.

“Maybe I should quit being an assassin and just open a tavern,” she joked.

Lysara snorted. “Right. The ‘Deadly Dagger Diner’? Sounds like a great place to eat and fear for your life at the same time.”

Seraphis laughed, genuinely amused.

“Now that,” she said, “is an idea.”

They continued their meal, swapping stories and enjoying the lively atmosphere of the hall.

For the first time in a long while, Seraphis allowed herself to relax.

She still had battles to fight, missions to complete, and enemies to face.

But for now, she was content to enjoy a good meal and the company of her friends.

And this time, she silently vowed, she was going to get a full night’s sleep—without any interruptions.