Happy Birthday

"Cough!" I spat out blood, my body wracked with pain as I found myself back near the Holy Tree.

"You're awake already?" Claudia's voice reached my ears, and I noticed that she had somehow seated me on a chair. My body felt like a battleground between agony and exhaustion.

"How long was I out?" I managed to ask, struggling to stand on shaky legs.

"Five minutes," Claudia replied casually, though her frown indicated concern.

I had endured seven days of torture in that nightmarish place, yet only five minutes had passed in the real world? The dissonance was staggering, but I didn't have time to dwell on it.

Using the wall-root to steady myself, I spat out more blood. The burning sensation on my skin hadn't abated entirely.

"What have you done? That spell…" Claudia's voice trailed off, and she seemed bewildered.