"So... They are all gone," Jessica muttered, staring blankly at the ceiling of the small hospital room. Her voice was flat, devoid of the military sharpness Mirabella had witnessed moments before.
Mirabella remained silent, allowing the General a moment for the reality of her loss to sink in. After a minute of quiet grief, Jessica slowly turned her head toward Mirabella.
"The hospital bill?"
"Don't worry," Mirabella replied softly. "I took care of it."
Jessica slowly nodded, closing her left eye briefly.
"Don't stress yourself. Just lie down," Mirabella advised, her tone surprisingly gentle. "Although your internal injuries are healed, you're still weak. You need time to recover your Spirit Energy."
"I can't believe I'd be hearing such simple, kind words again, and in a hospital." Jessica said, forcing a faint, broken smile.
"....?"
Mirabella looked confused by the remark.
"Mirabella," Jessica began, tears finally leaking from her closed eye. "I grew up with no relatives. I don't have a family. I only had the military. I took it as my family and worked tirelessly to protect it. From a cadet, I rose to the rank of a Four-Star General. And in one day, because of my arrogance and bad decisions, I lost everything—my men, my eye, my promise."
'In my previous life, none of this happened.' Mirabella thought, analyzing the critical change.
'Jessica didn't lose all her soldiers, and she became one of humanity's strongest shields. Why this dramatic shift?'
"General--"
"My name is ok..." Jessica cut her off.
"Jessica," Mirabella began, using the name as instructed. "Who told you about the Devil's Grave?"
"I don't know him," Jessica admitted, her voice hollow. "I only remember a figure in a black robe that concealed his face. That's all I know." She scoffed, self-loathing evident.
"I should have gathered more intelligence before rushing into that place."
'Is this just a coincidence, or is someone deliberately destabilizing the human faction?' Mirabella realized the gravity of the situation.
'If we lose Jessica, humanity loses a powerful future ally.'
"Um... Jessica, how about joining my Guild?" Mirabella offered, making a calculated gambit.
"That is kind of you, Mirabella, but I need my rest now," Jessica said, gently declining. She closed her eye again, signalling the end of the conversation.
"Okay. I will come and check up on you later." Mirabella stood and quietly walked out, Cupcake leaping onto her shoulder, as she softly closed the door.
Jessica stared at the closed door, sighed, and surrendered to the exhaustion.
____
[Outside The room.]
"How is she?" Carl asked, leaning against the wall, striking a pose that attempted to look casual but only emphasized his inexperience.
"She is not okay," Mirabella replied, looking back at the closed door.
"I finally found you again, Senior."
Both Mirabella and Carl turned to see a familiar black-haired girl walking toward them, a cheerful smile on her face.
"You?" Mirabella was genuinely stunned.
"Hello, senior Mirabella," the girl said, her smile broadening.
"Grace? What are you doing here?" Mirabella asked, surprised to find the junior student in a hospital.
"Senior, I work here. I am the one who helped treat your friend's internal injuries," Grace said with a slight nod.
"Wait... you are a Healer?" Carl asked, standing bolt upright.
"No, I am a Mage," Grace clarified. "But I gained a Healing Skill from a Beginner Round. While I am inferior to true Healer Bloodlines, I can still treat wounds."
"Wow, you're so lucky," Carl laughed, slapping his thigh. "I gained the Assassin Bloodline, and apart from my attack and agility, I gained nothing else useful."
"Wow. You and Senior Mirabella are both Assassins then," Grace noted, remembering Mirabella's impossible speed during the zombie encounter.
"Huh? No, My Queen has the Mage Bloodline. I've seen her use powerful skills," Carl contradicted confidently.
"Oh?" Grace looked confused, sensing the discrepancy between Mirabella's known agility and Carl's statement.
"Forget about me," Mirabella interjected, walking toward Grace. She placed a hand on the junior's shoulder.
"You are doing great, but you need to be careful. Remember what I told you: not everyone is trustworthy in this world."
"Yes, Senior, but how can I know who to trust if I don't try?" Grace countered gently.
"When I first met you, I trusted you despite your methods. If I hadn't, what would have been the outcome for me back then?"
"Oh... She has a point, My Queen," Carl pointed out, nodding seriously.
"I can't seem to implant proper sense in you," Mirabella sighed, shaking her head. "Help me look after the General. Come on, Carl." She walked past Grace, Cupcake snuggling into her shoulder.
"Okay, Grace! I will see you later!" Carl said with a friendly smile, quickly following Mirabella.
__
After catching up, he asked: "So now, we are going—"
"—Yes. We've checked up on her. Now we need to take care of that Blood-Red Knight and its sword. I need to know what that Legendary weapon is capable of," she whispered, walking quickly out of the hospital, Carl following close behind.
"Okay, My Queen!"
"My Queen?"
The two stopped instantly, recognizing the voice. Ethan, flanked by Angela, Alice, Miranda, and six other Level 5-10 players—a new, expanded Warriors guild—stood blocking their path. Ethan was clearly the strongest, now boasting Level 15.
"It seems Mirabella has truly wrapped you around her little finger, Carl," Alice sneered, focusing her contempt on Mirabella.
"You should be hanging out with us, the future leaders of this server, rather than this weak, homeless girl," Miranda added, her disdain aimed pointedly at Mirabella's low displayed level.
"Mirabella," Angela whispered, trying to play the sympathetic friend. "We will forget everything and guarantee your safety if you join our Guild."
Ethan stepped forward, folding his arms, radiating smug confidence at his newfound Level 15 status. "Mirabella, as your ex-boyfriend, I will give you your last chance. Come back to me, and I might give you some monster cards to catch up."
"Anything I want?" Mirabella's voice was cold, completely devoid of emotion.
"If I tell you what I truly want, Ethan, you might collapse just from the terror."