The young man with downcast eyes seemed to have fallen asleep.
Benny still remembered when the projection appeared without warning, initially just a blurry shadow. It wasn't until he felt familiar soul waves from the shadow and could no longer contact Ronan that he realized something might have happened outside.
But he could do nothing, only watch as the shadow gradually became stable and clear, transforming into Ronan's likeness, unable to communicate, until now.
Gradually, Benny got used to standing quietly here for a while each day.
Sometimes Benny couldn't help but recall that sunny afternoon many years ago, how Ronan looked when they first met.
Back then, he was just a young man, his gaze firm yet wary, like a wolf that just emerged from the woods to fend for itself.
In some ways, they were very similar. Over the years, their relationship evolved from a mutually beneficial cooperation to a subtle and stable bond.
