Cassy’s mouth fell open, but no words came out. She shifted glances between Jinx and Lieutenant Blay-Black.

Jinx saw Cassy’s reaction but ignored it and smiled at Black. "B.B.C," Jinx said the name like a whisper.

Officer Jinwoo’s face turned pale with confusion as he glanced at Jinx, wondering who the lady was referring to.

Black smirked. "Call me Blay, Lieutenant Blay. That’s my actual name."

"Lieutenant Blay," Jinx said, testing the name on her tongue. "So that means Black is also not your real name?"

"Something else. But you already know that name."

Officer Jinwoo stood up, clearing his throat. "I’ll leave you to your... discharge." He nodded at Jinx, then at Black, and then walked out of the room without turning his head.

Cassy knew what Jinx’s eyes were communicating, yet she froze her ass on the chair.

Sweet air flew into the room as she kept watching Jinx and Black as if she were watching a tennis match.

When two minutes flew by, Jinx turned to Cassy. "Didn’t you say you needed to check on something?"

"I did?"

Jinx’s eyebrow raised slightly as she secretly signaled Cassy to the door.

Cassy’s eyes smiled as she quickly scrambled to her feet, nearly tripping over, and fled through the door. She hesitated after stepping outside, then pulled it shut behind her.

...

Black walked slowly toward Jinx, lowering his gaze. "You look better." He glanced at the center of her breasts, then smiled.

Jinx blushed, then closed the gap.

Black brushed his fingers through her hair, releasing the bonnet. "Red dress suits you."

Jinx crossed her right arm, then raised her eyebrow like a tortoise in a race. "You came all this way to compliment my dress?"

"Shh..." Black placed a hand on her lips, then shook his head. "I came to make sure you were still breathing."

His voice was so quiet that Jinx had to lean in to hear it. "This current world doesn’t leave much time for doing checkups."

Jinx’s body softened, her breathing coming in rags. "You’ve been fighting?"

Black pulled back slightly, but his stare at her never lingered. "Every day."

He watched Jinx bite her lower lip, then moved closer, close enough that both of them could smell the faint trace of smoke clinging to his jacket.

The smell was so intense that it made Jinx speechless.

Black moved his left arm from her hair and tapped her shoulder until he touched the sling on her arm.

Jinx’s body tingled. Electrical signals moved from her arms to her abdomen, and caused her glorious pinky pie pulse.

As he loosened the knot, peeling the fabric, he marveled at the wound that had healed beneath. What was then a jagged tear was now a thin pink line, surrounded by fading bruises.

"You’re healing faster than any normal person," he murmured, furrowing his brow. He brushed his fingertips at the edge of the scar.

Jinx shivered and exhaled a chilled breath. "Maybe... I’m not... normal."

With every word, her shoulders jerked as the current moving within her intensified.

When Black noticed that Jinx was struggling to maintain her stance, he calmed his mind then slowly allowed the air to continue without saying a word.

Rays of the early afternoon fell on the leaves that were dancing happily in front of the open window.

Birds’ hums filled the air so loudly and charmingly that they soothed the pressure rising in the walls of Jinx’s room.

...

"When will you be discharged?" Black asked, staring deep into Jinx’s eyes.

She stared back, then answered. "Today, apparently." By then, she had regained her stance and gestured at the bag of supplements on the table.

"The doctor said I could go home."

"Home." Black’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly with each letter. "To the nurse’s estate?"

The name alone clenched Jinx’s heart. She looked at the walls for a moment, then closed her eyes. "There’s nothing left there."

"Then where?"

The thought had come, but Jinx never listened to it. The estate was ruined, Lena was dead, and the only place she’d felt safe in years was now a place sealed by Merlin’s orders.

Also, she wasn’t ready to head back to Bion City or the Western Temple.

"I don’t know," she admitted.

Black picked up the duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Then, come be my guest at my place."

Jinx turned to him. "You’re offering me a place to stay?"

"I’m offering you a place that isn’t a military cot. No strings attached. I promise."

Jinx wanted to joke upon hearing the words, but noticing the exhaustion in Black’s eyes made her stop. "Okay."

Black blinked once, as if he hadn’t expected her to agree so easily. "Okay?"

Jinx threw a sharp stare on him. "Don’t make me repeat myself."

A genuine smile lingered on his face. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

Before any of them could add another statement, a knock echoed from the door.

Cassy poked her head in, carrying a sheepish expression. "Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a nurse here asking about Kai."

Jinx’s brow furrowed as she moved toward the door. "What about Kai?"

Cassy pushed the door open, and behind her, a young nurse in a blue uniform stepped inside. She looked flustered, clutching a clipboard to her chest.

She looked at the lieutenant first, then focused on the white-haired lady. "Miss Jinx? I was told you’re his emergency contact."

"Yes, I am. What’s going on? Has something happened to him?"

The nurse swallowed hard, tightening her grip on the clipboard. "A young woman came to the barracks this morning. Blue hair, mid-twenties, and a scar on her face. She asked for Yung Chin K. When the guards said they couldn’t let her in without clearance, she left a message."

Jinx’s heart paused as she exchanged glances with Black. "What message?"

For two seconds, the nurse didn’t respond. And when she did, her voice dropped as if repeating something forbidden.

"She said, ’Tell him the mango tree still stands. I’ll be at the eastern edge of the camp until sunset.’ Then, she walked away."

’The mango tree.’

Jinx’s blood ran cold. The description of the lady and the mango tree ignited memories of her, Mike, and Oin visiting Gilgal Village for the first time.

"That’s not possible," she whispered. "Everyone from Gilgal Village died."

A faint smile appeared on Black’s face as he reached out for Jinx’s shoulder. "Apparently not everyone."