Sunlight broke over the horizon, brushing the marble spires with gold. The palace that had once felt cold and unyielding now seemed warm, alive, almost sentient. Birds swooped above, their calls punctuating the soft hum of morning bells from the temple nearby.

Ava stood on the balcony, bare feet on cool stone, hands gripping the carved railing. The same sky she had stared at through the broken hostel window years ago stretched endlessly before her now. Nothing had changed, and everything had changed at once.