(Time-stilled world, The floating island, 14 Minutes After Leo's Fall)
Karl sat in silence near the edge of the platform, his breathing shallow, his hands still trembling slightly— not from guilt, nor from grief, but from the act of remembering exactly how to appear broken.
The shiver in his fingers was subtle, well-practiced, while the dampness in his eyes was intentional.
Right now, all he needed to be was devastated.
"All I had to do was grab his hand…" he said quietly, his voice carrying just enough pain to seem raw. "His fingers were right there. I tried… he just didn't jump far enough."
Raiden turned away sharply, dragging a palm across his face as he kicked a loose chunk of stone over the ledge, watching it tumble into the abyss.
"Fucking hell," Raiden muttered under his breath, louder with each word. "We just lost Leo. Just like that. First Cipher, and now him? What the hell is going on with this goddamn world?"
Bob didn't say anything.
