A First Delicate Ring

Consciousness arrived with a quiet snap. I found myself upright behind transparent plastic, enveloped in deep crimson shadows. With a slow, deliberate tilt of my head, a miniature brass bell on my headdress swung free and tapped against the clear front pane. A crisp, faint chime echoed within this miniature stage. I extended one gloved finger forward, lightly touching the clear barrier—and felt the cool surface beneath my own will.

1 Nauk