The city had quieted, almost as if it were waiting. Even the Core's pulse, once chaotic and overwhelming, now beat in measured, almost deliberate intervals. But for Seo Jin, the calm was deceptive. His own heart refused to settle. Each thrum reverberated through his chest like a warning — or a promise.
Li Ran was already awake when Seo Jin stirred, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bed. His eyes were fixed on the floor, hands folded, lips pressed together as if holding back a storm. The tension was palpable.
Seo Jin rose slowly, trying to gauge him without words. His glow, faint but persistent, traced the lines of his arms, flowing like liquid light beneath his skin. Li Ran's eyes followed every subtle movement, betraying worry he refused to voice aloud.
"Ran," Seo Jin said softly, voice still raw from last night's dreamstorm, "you've been awake for hours."
