Xin Yan sat on the edge of his bed in the middle of the small, sterile room, its white walls blindingly bright even to his sightless eyes. His silver hair fell in thin strands over his face, like a sheet of blank paper untouched by ink. The air was thick with the quiet hum of machinery, but otherwise, all was still — a silence so complete it felt like it had weight.

You unlocked the heavy door, the metal creaking in protest, and stepped inside.

"Xin Yan," you greeted softly, careful not to startle him. He turned toward your voice, and a small smile crept onto his lips. Though his eyes were vacant, his expression was full of joy, a fragile thing that made your heart tighten.

But as you drew closer, your own voice faltered with the weight of your task.

"It's time… for another experiment." You could see his face fall, just for a moment, but then he reached out, his fingers brushing against your cheek. "It's fine," he whispered, pinching your cheek lightly, as if to reassure you.

You both stood, moving slowly toward the door, and for a moment, it felt almost normal — two people walking side by side. But as the familiar scents and sounds of the lab drew nearer, you felt his body tense beside you, and his grip on your arm tightened. His breaths grew uneven, and you knew what was coming.

Then, without warning, his posture shifted, his smile twisted into something sharper, and his head turned slightly, as if listening to a voice only he could hear. Yi Xian had awakened, his presence a chilling contrast to the gentle boy you had just walked with. The air seemed to thicken with his emergence, his aura palpable, and you braced yourself, knowing you were now standing beside a different soul altogether.