The silence lingered after Watson's words, stretching between them like an invisible thread that neither man could quite grasp. Ren's chest felt tight as he stood there, Watson's eyes resting on him with quiet curiosity searching, but never finding.

Ren lowered his gaze for a moment, forcing his breath steady. "He really doesn't remember me…" The thought was like ice pressing against his ribs. Still, he raised his head and gave a small nod, forcing calm into his voice.

"I'm glad," Ren said softly. "It's good that you're well."

Watson smiled faintly, though the expression never reached his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, his shoulders sinking deeper into the wooden frame as if tired from holding the weight of words he could not say. The tapping of his fingers on the armrest returned, steady and rhythmic, almost like a heartbeat.

Lark glanced between them, his arms still crossed. His sharp eyes caught everything the slight tremor in Watson's voice, the way Ren's jaw tightened when Watson looked at him without recognition. Yet, he said nothing. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

The room held its breath. Dust hung in the dull lattice of afternoon light, and the faint hum of the Archive's sigils thrummed underfoot like a slow pulse.

Watson's gaze stayed on Ren, searching, the muscles at the corners of his jaw working. His fingers tapped once against the chair's arm, then stilled.

"Why does your face look familiar?" he asked quietly. "Have we met before?"

Ren's throat tightened. He let the silence sit a heartbeat, then eased a hand to the back of the empty chair, grounding himself on the cool wood.

"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."

Lark 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," Lark said, softer now. "May be 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.

Lark looked down, jaw easing. "Let's start with something simple," he murmured. "Now already Ren revealed about him, than I will tell you everything." Lark trying 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," Lark said.Lark leaned back in his chair, his arms folded as Watson kept staring at Ren with that uncertain look.

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

Watson frowned. "Back when?"

Lark 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," Lark 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 Lark. 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," Lark 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," Lark went on smoothly. "Sorry, for earlier misunderstanding. I don't know you are the part of 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."

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