Return from the Blade

[Bonding Failed]

The message hovered across Jin's vision, faint against the brightening sky.

He sucked in a breath like someone yanked him out of deep water.

Hands were on him immediately—grabbing his shoulders, shaking him, half-pulling him upright.

"He's awake!" Areum's voice cracked, half-laughing, half-sobbing.

"Thank God," Hanuel muttered, almost dropping him in relief.

Doyun swore under his breath, stumbling back like he couldn't believe it.

Jin coughed once, the air burning in his throat. His body felt heavy, like he hadn't moved in years. The courtyard around him came into focus—the cracked stone under his back, the sun rising lazily above the rooftops, the broken fence around the old training yard.

And them.