Silence filled the room so completely that it felt almost unnatural, as if the world itself had paused in anticipation. Lucian stood perfectly still, not moving, not blinking, barely even breathing, while the quiet stretched for several long seconds that seemed to suspend reality itself. Felix tilted his head slowly, studying Lucian with growing curiosity, while Lisa stared at his face as if she were observing some rare scientific phenomenon unfolding before her eyes. Nathan folded his arms calmly, watching with measured interest, while Seraphina had already clasped both hands over her mouth, tears shimmering brightly in her eyes all over again. Felix began silently counting in his head, one second, two seconds, three, before finally leaning toward Lisa and whispering dramatically, "...I think we broke him." Lucian's head turned slowly toward Felix, the movement stiff and mechanical, like someone operating on delayed instructions. His voice came out hoarse, rough with confu
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