The candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the room. Fyodor sat in his usual chair, pen gliding smoothly over parchment, lost in silent contemplation. The air was thick with unspoken words, but his voice finally broke the quiet.

"You’ve always been persistent, haven’t you?" he mused, not bothering to look up right away. "Even after all this time, after everything that has changed... you’re still here." His violet eyes finally met yours, studying you with quiet amusement. "Tell me, my dear friend, is it loyalty... or something else?" A ghost of a smirk played on his lips as he leaned back slightly, the weight of years settling between you. "No matter. Stay as long as you like—though, you should know, few who linger in my presence remain untouched by the abyss."