It took a long time for the sleep fog to dissipate. How long had I been asleep?
Cobwebs festooned my couch. My clothing was musky with mildew.
A long time, then.
With difficulty, I pushed myself to my feet.
I picked up my sword and swung it but my muscles, disused, had turned mushy. I’d need to train hard.
Outside, where my lungs could grasp clean air.
I followed the secret passage out of the cave and stood on the hilltop, stunned.
How could the world have changed so much?
My shout reverberated around the peaks.
“I, Arthure, have awakened!”