While Rocco had been hesitating and wasting time, Sylas had endured an onslaught of insults from his mother until—finally—he collapsed, unable to take it any longer
But then, Rocco shook his head violently.
No, that's not right.
What are you giving up for?
Sylas hadn't fallen into the lake yet.
There was still time.
There's still time!
I can still make it!
Rocco thought with determination blazing as he prepared to act.
"──Brother!"
The smug confidence on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by raw urgency as he threw himself forward, running with everything he had.
From an outside perspective, he probably looked anything but cool—desperate, frantic, and clumsy.
But none of that mattered.
Rocco ran with all his strength, grabbed Sylas's arm, and pulled him with every last ounce of power he could muster to drag him back to safety.