"Maybe," he said, voice low. "It happens in big cities and small halls. Paths cross and we forget where. I am also feel same like you. But where? I don't know."

Ervin shifted his weight, cloak whispering over the stone. His eyes flicked from Watson to Ren and back, measuring the strain in both.

"You've been dreaming these last few nights," Ervin said, softer now. "Maybe it's because of that, you feel like he met you in the past."

Watson huffed a small breath that was almost a laugh. It broke on the way out. His hand pressed to his stomach as if remembering he'd barely eaten.

"I think too," he murmured, looking away to the window's pale glow. "But it feels like I met him in the past. His tone is sound familiar to me. I don't know but i feel something strange."

The sigils along the wall brightened and dimmed once, like an old lantern catching. Ren's gaze slid to them, then back to Watson. He took a step closer, careful not to crowd him.

"What do you feel? You remember something about it?" Ren asked. " it might be helpful to recall that."

Watson's brow knit. He closed his eyes, as if listening inward. "I feel," he said slowly. "We are good friends in the past" His mouth twitched, the hint of a smile that couldn't decide if it was joy or grief. "May be it's because of my current dreams."

Ren swallowed. His fingers curled and uncurled at his side. "Hmm... It's sounds like you need friends. Can we...," he managed. "Can we be friends?"

Watson opened his eyes again. He studied Ren's face the way a man reads a page he's sure he's read before.

"If we met each other," he asked, softer still, "than we are good friends? I know, you both hide something from me."

Ren's answer came without reaching for it. "Yaah we know eachother," he said. "Even before your memory loss."

He forgot that he should not remind Watson of anything. He had met his parents earlier. That is why he was trying to suppress it in his mind. But when Watson asked him, "Do I know you? Maybe we have met before.", he lost his temper and spoke impatiently without thinking.

Ervin looked down, jaw easing. "Let's start with something simple," he murmured. "Now Ren has already revealed about him, then I will tell you everything." Ervin tries to cover all things before Watson's lost in deep thinking.

Watson nodded once. The motion was small, but sure. He drew a steadier breath, then pushed his chair back and stood. For a moment he only stood there, close enough for Ren to see the fine lines at the corners of his eyes, the tired set of a mouth that was trying to remember how to smile.

"Okay," he said, a ghost of warmth in his voice. "Now tell me, How we know eachother."

"It's a long story but I will try to explain in short," Ervin said. He leaned back in his chair, his arms folded as Watson kept staring at Ren with that uncertain look.

"You really don't remember him?" Ervin asked, sounding casual, almost teasing. "I guess it makes sense. Back then you were half-dead at the time."

Watson frowned. "Back when?"

Ervin sighed as if pulling at an old memory. "During the parasite attack. "This man. Ren. He's with us. He's part of the rescue team. You've seen him before."

Watson's eyes narrowed slightly, like he was trying to reach for something inside his broken memory. "I… I know him?" he whispered, voice rasping.

"Yes," Ervin lied smoothly. "He was there when we pulled you out. You just don't remember clearly because of… everything."

Watson blinked, lips trembling. His breathing grew uneven, but slowly, the tension in his body eased. He slumped back, muttering, "Rescue team… with us… Ren."

Ren exhaled quietly, watching the lie settle into Watson's fragile mind. He didn't correct Ervin. There was no point.

For now, if believing Ren was part of the rescue kept Watson calm, it was enough.

Watson's gaze softened, unfocused but less hostile. "Then… he's not a stranger."

"No," Ervin said gently, placing a hand on Watson's shoulder. "He's one of us."

Ren nodded once, silently accepting the role he had been given.

In the dim light of the chamber, Watson leaned back and closed his eyes, murmuring something half-formed under his breath. The parasites had stolen his past, but for this moment, at least, the lie gave him a piece of safety to cling to.

Watson blinked, his lips parting slightly.

"Sorry," Watson went on smoothly. "Sorry, for the earlier misunderstanding. I don't know if you are part of the rescue team and you saved me."

Ren stiffened at the lie, but he stayed quiet.

He looked towards Lark, than again moved his gaze towards Watson.

A slow smile crept onto his face. He let out a soft chuckle. "No problem. I understand your situation. Don't worry. I am asking you again. Can you be my friend? I don't have any friend on my age. So we can be friends and explore this world. And also we can try to bring back your memories too."

Ren recalled that day of school when Watson asked him to be his friend. He felt too emotional but he hided his emotions.

Watson's expression softened. He looked at Ren with quiet gratitude, though confusion lingered in his eyes but his gut feelings called him to be Ren's friend. "Sure, we can be friends. But i think sir, Kiratava will not give permission to me to go outside."

Ren forced a small smile and nodded. "Don't worry, I will request him. He will give you permission to come with me."

The chamber felt warmer now, though the air had not changed. Perhaps it was the way Watson smiled faint, hesitant, but real enough that Ren's chest tightened again.

Watson leaned forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees, eyes flicking between the two men as if anchoring himself in their presence. "Friends… we are now friends" he repeated softly, like he was tasting the word for the first time.

Ren's fingers brushed the edge of the table, grounding himself. "Yes," he said simply, the word carrying more weight than he wanted to admit. "We are now friends."

For a moment, silence stretched again but not the heavy, choking silence from earlier. This one was fragile, almost delicate, like glass catching the light.

Ervin cleared his throat, drawing both their gazes. "We'll see what Kiratava says," he said evenly. "But for now… it's enough that you have someone beside you." His eyes lingered on Ren, sharp, as though silently reminding him not to overstep.

Watson nodded, his shoulders easing. He seemed calmer now, less restless. The tapping of his fingers had stilled. "I'm… glad you're here," he admitted, his voice low, unsure if it should be spoken at all.

Ren only offered him a small smile in return. It was easier than words.

The Archive's runes pulsed once, faint light crawling across the stone floor like veins of fire. A reminder that time was moving, that their presence here was already stretching long.

Ervin stood, his cloak whispering as it brushed the floor. "We should go," he said firmly. His gaze flicked to Ren, then back to Watson. "There are matters waiting for us outside these walls. Urgent ones."

Watson looked up at them, his brows furrowing. "You're leaving?"

"Yes," Ervin answered, his tone carrying the finality of command. But softer, he added, "We'll return when we can."

Watson hesitated, then gave a slow nod. His hands curled and uncurled in his lap, restless. "Alright," he murmured. "I won't stop you."

Ren stepped closer, lowering his voice as he spoke. "Take care of yourself, Watson. Eat properly… don't let those dreams eat more of you than they already have."

Watson's lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. "I'll try. And… I'll wait. For when you come again."

Ren's throat tightened, but he forced the corners of his mouth upward. "Good."

They left together, the heavy wooden door closing with a groan behind them. The hall beyond was dim, lit only by the glow of sigils tracing along the stone archways. Their boots echoed faintly as they walked, the silence between them taut with unspoken words.

Finally, Ren glanced sideways at Ervin. "You lied to him."

Ervin didn't break stride. "Yes. Because sir, Kiratava told that. He is very sensitive now." His jaw clenched, voice low but steady. "Let him believe you're part of his past. Let him cling to that, until he's strong enough to know everything. But you lost your temper. I have handled everything somehow. Be careful from now on."

"Sure, i will. But sorry for that."

Ren replied. His hands curled briefly at his sides, then relaxed. The lie weighed on him, but he couldn't argue not when Watson's fragile smile still lingered in his memory.

"Don't worry. Just be careful from next time. I can understand your situation." Ervin spoke gently.

"I will. Thanks for everything." Ren replied.

Behind them, inside the Archive, Watson sat in silence. His fingers returned to that same gentle rhythm against the armrest, like a heartbeat. His eyes were distant, his mind reaching for something just out of grasp.

But for the first time in days, he didn't feel entirely alone.

And that small thread. However fragile, however false. Was enough to hold him together.

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