Ravyn lingered at the entrance of the lab longer than he intended, the sound of Bryan's laughter wrapping around him in a way that felt unfamiliar, almost unsettling, because it carried a kind of carefree joy he hadn't heard from the boy in a very long time, if ever.
His gaze settled on Seraphine standing beside him, guiding him patiently, he couldn't ignore the quiet realization forming in his chest that this version of Bryan, bright and unrestrained, existed so easily around her.
For a brief moment, he simply watched.
Then the laughter faded.
Not gradually, not naturally, but as if something unseen had pressed down on the moment and altered it, replacing that warmth with a low, vibrating growl that immediately tightened the air.
Ravyn's attention snapped toward Voren, the change too obvious to ignore, his brows drawing together as concern edged into his expression. "Voren… are you alright?" he asked, his voice steady, though there was a clear note of caution beneath it.
