By morning, the second ring on Shi Mu's wrist had fully settled.
It no longer pulsed erratically.It breathed with her.
Like it had always been there—waiting beneath her skin.
She stared at it during breakfast, the sleeve of her uniform rolled up just slightly. Fu Yunshen sat across from her, watching without asking.
Zhou Zhi, for once, said nothing. His gaze flicked between them, worried but wisely silent.
When the mark glowed faintly with her breath, Shi Mu finally broke the silence.
"She's not just inside me," she said. "She is me. Or maybe… I'm what's left of her."
Fu Yunshen's expression was calm.But his voice was tight.
"Do you feel like you're losing yourself?"
She shook her head.
"That's the problem."
He frowned. "What do you mean?"
Shi Mu met his gaze.
"I don't feel like I'm losing anything. I feel like I'm finally remembering everything."
After breakfast, she returned to her room and stood in front of the mirror again.
This time, the girl in the reflection stepped forward with her.
Perfectly in sync.
Not behind.
Not distorted.
Equal.
"You were always there," Shi Mu said softly.
"Yes," the girl in the mirror replied. "But you were not ready to carry me."
"And now?"
"You're ready."
The reflection raised its hand.
So did Shi Mu.
But only one hand touched the glass.
Both of theirs.
At once.
[System Notification]
Oath Synchronization: 85%
Vessel Compatibility Stable
Echo Identity Alignment: Near Completion
Brotherhood Value +175 (Spiritual Acceptance + Internal Harmony Reached)
Current Total: 5,435 / 1,000,000
Shi Mu turned away from the mirror.
She felt stronger.
Sharper.
More complete than she had in years.
But not untouched.
At lunch, Fu Yunshen sat beside her again.
This time, he didn't wait for her to speak first.
"Will I still recognize you when the oath completes?"
She didn't look up from her tray.
But her voice was steady.
"You already do."