—Viora’s POV—

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The room was silent. Only the sound of breathing could be heard within the dimly lit bedroom.

After a few minutes of sitting beside Viora, Woo Jin had also fallen asleep because he was too tired.

As the orange glow of the setting sun continued to fade away and shadows stretched across the walls, Viora’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

Then slowly... Very slowly, her eyes opened.

At first, her expression was blank. Just like every time she woke up, her mind was still caught between dreams and reality.

Also, the warmth of sleep still lingered around her body, and she instinctively shifted slightly as she pulled up the blanket to her face.

"...Mmm."

A small sound escaped her lips and, for several seconds, she remained still.

The warmth of the blanket surrounding her body remained comforting and familiar, making her want to return to sleep.

However, before she could do that, she noticed something unusual. Her fingers were holding onto something, or maybe, someone.

Her fingers were tightly wrapped around a piece of cloth. Viora blinked once and then twice.

She didn’t remember grabbing anything before falling asleep, and it also didn’t feel like a bedsheet or anything belonging in this room.

Slowly, she moved her fingers and the cloth also moved with them. Soon, she was able to tell someone was lying beside her.

Immediately, her sleepiness disappeared and she carefully pushed herself upright while making sure not to let go of whatever she was holding.

"...?"

After sitting on the bed, she tilted her head slightly. Still, all Viora could hear was breathing and nothing else.

However, this breathing sounded familiar. Viora moved her hands and tried to touch the face of the person beside her, and recognition appeared on her face.

"Woo Jin...?"

Her voice came out soft and laced with a bit of surprise.

Yet, she got no answer in return. The only response she received was the slow rhythm of his breathing.

She remained motionless as she tried to think about why Woo Jin wasn’t answering. Then understanding slowly appeared on her face.

"He is sleeping?"

With that, a small smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

Carefully, she pulled her hands away from his face, making sure not to wake him up.

And since she couldn’t see him, her fingers searched through the air until they finally touched something warm, which was his shoulder.

From there, her hand slowly moved upward. First it reached his neck, then his cheek, and at last his hair. The smile on her face deepened.

It was him.

The familiar warmth and presence. Simply confirming that he was beside her made her chest feel lighter.

"..."

Viora lowered her head. Then her fingers brushed against his face again. Unlike before, she paid closer attention to the shape of his jaw and the slight roughness near his cheek.

Whenever Woo Jin was nearby, she found herself unconsciously trying to memorize him, including his face, voice, and scent. Everything.

For now, simply having him here with her was enough. However... the smile on her face gradually weakened and her fingers paused.

Something felt wrong, very wrong. At first she couldn’t identify it. But after a few seconds, her nose twitched slightly as it picked up a strange scent.

A scent she had missed earlier due to being half asleep.

"B-blood...?"

The moment she realized that, her expression changed. The warmth she was feeling vanished and the smile disappeared.

Immediately, Viora leaned in closer and her hand moved across Woo Jin’s arm. The fabric felt rough and different than usual.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Her heartbeat began to accelerate. The sound echoed loudly inside her ears.

Without realizing it, she moved even closer until her nose nearly touched his chest. Now, she could not only smell blood but also healing potions she had once used, not to mention his torn clothes.

The more she smelled them... the colder her expression became.

She moved her head back and a strange pressure slowly spread through the room. It was as if the air itself seemed heavier.

For a long time, she remained completely still. There was no movement or any sound.

Until... her finger lightly touched his hand. Even through the healing potions and treatment, she could still feel how badly it had been injured.

Someone had hurt him.

Someone had made him bleed.

Someone had nearly taken him away from her.

When that realization settled inside her chest, something deep within her began stirring.

A faint purple glow appeared within her eyes. At first it was weak, then it gradually grew brighter.

The blanket beneath her fingers tightened and a quiet ripping sound filled the room.

Riiip!

The fabric tore. Yet, Viora didn’t seem to notice it as her mind was completely focused on Woo Jin’s injuries.

"...Who?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Woo Jin’s breathing remained slow and steady. This should have reassured her. Instead, it only made the feeling inside her grow stronger.

If he returned in this condition... then whatever happened must have been dangerous.

Dangerous enough that he nearly didn’t come back.

The glow inside her eyes intensified and a faint cracking sound echoed from beneath the bed.

Tiny cracks appeared on the wooden frame. The room temperature seemed to drop and the shadows along the walls twisted slightly.

"...Who hurt him?"

This time her voice was colder, far colder than before. Her mind subconsciously created an image of a faceless figure.

Someone who was standing in front of Woo Jin and making him bleed. Her nails slowly lengthened as they turned sharp and thin, almost claw-like.

If someone entered the room right now... they would immediately die under Viora’s anger.

Yet despite all that... Woo Jin suddenly shifted slightly in his sleep.

"...Viora..."

The faint mumble escaped his lips, which made Viora freeze.

Immediately, the pressure in the room vanished, the trembling air calmed, and the glow in her eyes weakened. Even the nails stopped growing.

Then she blinked.

The dangerous emotions inside her chest slowly settled. Not completely, but enough. Because despite being unconscious, the person he called wasn’t someone else.

It was her.

Slowly, she touched his head. Then she carefully began to caress his hair.

"...Dum..."

Her voice was soft again. It wasn’t like the anger had left her. No. The anger and worry remained alongside the desire to find whoever had hurt him.

But for now, she was relieved that he had returned to her alive.

Outside the window, the last rays of sunlight disappeared beyond the horizon and night arrived.

And eventually, while listening to Woo Jin’s breathing, Viora slowly leaned against his shoulder, then she closed her eyes.

Yet even as sleep slowly approached her again... one thought remained inside her mind.

A simple yet big question. And whoever the answer belonged to... she already wanted them dead.

"...Who hurt my Woo Jin?"