Seo Jin woke to the sound of rain pounding against the cave. His body ached, the exhaustion still hanging over him like a cloud. His head throbbed, his arm felt heavy, and the curse mark seemed to have… settled, though the pain lingered in his bones.
He groaned, sitting up slowly. The fire was still burning weakly in the center of the cave. The Villain wasn't in sight, but the soft crackle of fire and the lingering chill of the night made it hard to focus.
His arm had been treated, but the skin still felt tender, as if a part of him had been ripped away. It wasn't just the mark — it was the connection.
Seo Jin rubbed his wrist, recalling the intensity of the Villain's energy flooding through him. The icy cold had nearly burned him alive, but…
There had been something else in it. Something… caring.
The fox appeared on his shoulder, tail twitching nervously. "Host, don't overthink it. You were almost dead! Be happy he didn't just leave you in the rain."
