"Are you okay?" a soft voice asked behind him.
Rong Ye blinked slowly, recognizing the owner of the voice immediately. His lungs burned and his breath came in ragged gasps, but he sighed heavily nonetheless. He didn't feel like looking.
"No…" he said.
He heard footsteps approaching cautiously over the shards of glass scattered on the floor. Then, a body knelt beside him. Eun-woo's hands rested on Rong Ye's neck, right where the warm blood was still oozing from the claws Arthur had dug in.
"Stop pretending to care." Rong Ye glanced at him.
"Sorry… I'm sorry I didn't get here in time to help you."
Rong Ye narrowed his eyes. A bitter laugh escaped his throat, choked with exertion. Blood still soaked his neck, and the icy wetness was beginning to chill his bones, but the apology felt unbearably ironic.
"Really?" He snorted contemptuously. "You didn't arrive in time, you didn't choose me as your Guide... and now you look at me like I hurt you. Stop looking at me with pity."
