Chapter 180: Whispers of the Stream

Thelma Zane’s POV The scene that unfolded before me was a vast, seemingly endless field. The grass, short and sparse, swayed gently in a wind that carried both vitality and decay. It was a strange contradiction—the wild grass looked half-dead, yet it moved as if alive, like a spirit caught between two worlds. Between the blades of grass, faint blue lights flickered and danced, embodying both freedom and entrapment, as though they couldn’t decide whether to escape or remain bound to this place. I found myself lying in a shallow stream, the cool water gently brushing against my skin. It was only then that I noticed I was completely naked. Strangely, the absence of clothing didn’t bring embarrassment. Instead, it felt liberating, as though I had been freed from invisible chains that had held me captive for far too long. The feeling was so exhilarating that I wanted to leap up and run, to sing loudly and embrace this unshackled state. The stream’s water wasn’t entirely clear; it