The silence that followed was suffocating. Well not that much.
For a long moment, none of them moved. The only sound was the hum of the barrier field, soft and steady, like a heartbeat echoing through glass.
The silver reflection stood before them — barefoot, translucent light threading under its skin like liquid mercury. Its eyes were pale, glowing faintly, but without the harshness of the Echo's violet. It looked... curious.
Almost gentle.
Seo Jin stared, disbelief clouding every thought. He could feel it — the connection humming in his veins, a strand of familiarity that wasn't quite him, but wasn't separate either.
It was as though part of his soul had learned to breathe on its own.
Li Ran's grip tightened around his waist. "Stay back," he warned, his voice low, protective, Alpha-deep. His body was tense, every muscle coiled and ready to strike if it came closer.
