Lanling cupped Haruki's face, pressing their foreheads together. A soft smile lingered on his lips as he closed his eyes, letting the last of his tears fall.
"I did... Ruki. I named you. It's me, Lanling~"
Haruki's soul stirred, a sense of renewal surging through him. Who would have thought his reaction could change so much between hearing Lanling's detached introduction and the affectionate warmth of "it's me"?
Those words struck a chord deep within, tugging at buried memories. His eyes closed involuntarily as a crushing force seemed to hammer at his mind. Blurred and fragmented images surfaced, difficult to piece together, like shards of a shattered mirror.
But amidst the chaos, he latched onto one memory—a proud, arrogant young boy naming him after the ruler of the skies.
Haruki groaned, staggering back before catching himself against the nearby table. Lanling reacted instantly, his hand gripping Haruki's waist with firm urgency, steadying him before he could fall.
