章 226: Emotional Withdrawal

"We understand what you're going through, please talk to me." Kaelix added.

Eirik didn't move. His eyes remained fixed on the corner, unblinking, his face devoid of emotion. Kaelix's words seemed to hover in the air before falling into the void. Kaelix tightened his grip on Eirik's hand, his throat tightening with desperation.

He could see Eirik's throat working to suppress the tears that threatened to spill.

"Please, talk to me," Kaelix urged again, his voice breaking. "Even if it's to yell or cry, anything is better than this silence."

Eirik's gaze flickered for the briefest moment, his lips parting as if he might say something. But the moment passed, and he sank deeper into his silence, leaving Kaelix feeling helpless.

"It wasn't your fault," Kaelix tried again, his voice trembling slightly. "You couldn't have known. You couldn't have stopped it."