The morning light in Seoul was supposed to be ordinary—thin rays threading through high-rises, buses sighing at curbs, and tired commuters spilling like clockwork into the streets. But the illusion cracked the moment the air itself trembled.
Lin felt it first. The tether inside him pulsed, a violent shudder that nearly buckled his knees. He caught the edge of a railing, gasping as the city skyline wavered like a mirage. His skin prickled with heat. The scar was no longer confined to the abyss. It was here—pushing into daylight.
Min-joon was at his side instantly. "Lin—" His hand gripped Lin's shoulder, firm, grounding. "What is it? The tether?"
"It's… bleeding through," Lin hissed, sweat breaking across his brow. "The scar—it's not waiting for night."
