Lyra's body and soul were both scorched by the raging flames, the light enveloped her with waves of heat, searing every inch of her skin.
Lyra no longer knew how long she had been gripping the sword hilt; the prolonged high temperature and pressure had blurred her senses.
She could see nothing, hear nothing, only the blinding light that numbed her senses and the ever-spreading pain remained.
Perhaps three or four hours had passed... or maybe just five or six minutes...
Lyra wasn't even sure if her hand was still on the sword or if her legs were still standing.
Was she still alive?
After an unknown period, the heat and light that seemed infinitely close to the sun finally dissipated, and a cool sensation began to spread in Lyra's mind.
Her hands seemed to regain sensation. As Lyra was about to move, her wrists felt tightly bound by something.
