The silence that followed Cassian's words didn't just linger; it thickened, pressing against every chest in the room like an invisible weight.
Even the faint hum of the healing formation seemed to fade, its glow pulsing softly over Mina's bandaged form as if afraid to disturb the fragile thread still tethering her to life. No one moved. No one spoke. The air felt restrained and delicate, as though a single wrong sound could shatter this moment.
Sage stood at Mina's bedside, his gaze locked on her. For several long seconds, he remained outwardly still, his expression composed and breathing controlled.
Yet inside him, something shifted quietly, a heavy sensation, like a stone sinking into deep water. The words "Not good" echoed in his mind, persistent and clear.
