The following morning dawned with a strange, heavy stillness that seemed to permeate every corner of the house. Ren was up before the light touched the floorboards, already moving through the rooms with a quiet, efficient purpose that signaled the beginning of their final preparations. Fang found him in the study, surrounded by the hum of active wards, his concentration absolute.
Fang paused in the doorway, watching him. There was a protective aura radiating from Ren that made the very air seem to bristle, a reminder of the raw, focused power he could command when his family was at stake. Ren glanced up, his expression softening the moment he saw Fang, the intensity fading into a familiar, intimate warmth.
"You look better," Ren said, his voice holding a hint of relief.
Fang crossed the room, feeling the tension of the previous night drain away as he entered Ren's space. "I slept without the machine," he replied simply.
