The silence in the old research wing was thick—heavy enough to feel on the skin, broken only by the faint hum of the Core deep beneath the earth. Seo Jin clung to Li Ran's shirt, fingers trembling, breath shallow. His glow had dimmed back to its soft, bluish pulse, but Li Ran held him as if it might explode again at any moment.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Li Ran simply held him, hands stroking slowly down his back, grounding him, steadying him. His voice was low, quiet, as if speaking too loudly might disturb the fragile calm.
"Hey," he murmured. "You're still here."
Seo Jin swallowed hard, lifting his face just enough to meet Li Ran's gaze. "Barely."
"Barely is enough," Li Ran whispered, brushing his thumb along Seo Jin's cheek. "Barely means you came back."
Seo Jin's breath stuttered, and he leaned forward until their foreheads pressed together. "Ran… I don't know how long I can keep fighting the Core."
