Joseph reached the gate of Jardin Paisible. A man dressed as a postman waited for someone to open it.
"Is this Jardin Paisible? Oh! Joseph, I guess today is your birthday," the postman greeted him.
Suddenly, Johan appeared from the bushes. "You... Since when have you been working as a postman?" Joseph asked, gazing at the man doubtfully.
"Not a very long time. This is my part-time job." This man is Eloise Josephine, a 25-year-old man, disguised as a postman.
Johan asks Eloise, "Why are you lying?"
Eloise starts sweating and confesses that he reads all the letters sent to Jennifer, dressed as a postman.
"Listen, no man would ever try to propose to her because of you. Nobody has this level of guts." Johan adds, "Sorry… for Emma's behaviour yesterday. Is your hand okay?" Johan asks him gently.
"Almost broke, but now I am fine," Eloise replies in attitude.
"Aha! What kind of postman are you? You didn't get your invitation," Johan told him sarcastically.
"You invited me! Ahh… and I worked as a postman for the whole day!"
"What is the event today?" Joseph asked Johan, feeling hollow.
"Just come with me," Johan led him inside.
"I will go and change my dress soon," Eloise ran off.
"Change your uniform, you honest postman," Johan called after him with a laugh.
"Shut up!" Eloise shouted back.
Joseph entered the house with Johan. The whole entrance was decorated. Joseph remained silent, his mind still reeling from the hospital.
"Why are you always emotionless during these exciting moments? Let's have fun, it's your birthday. Is something happening at school?" Johan asked, worried.
Joseph replies, "Nothing. I just lost them."
Suddenly, Jennifer arrived, holding flowers and wishing him, "Happy birthday, Joseph."
Jennifer opened the hall door. Inside, the kids, neighbours, and close friends waited. Everyone wished him well.
But Joseph remained silent. Jennifer saw the troubled look on his face. "Joseph! Joseph! Are you okay?"
"I'm just tired. Can I go to my room?" Joseph looked weak.
"Of course," Jennifer said, deeply worried.
Joseph walked to his room, talking to nobody.
Concern etched Jennifer's face. Johan came and consoled her. "He is okay. That happens often when someone grows up without parents."
A guest stood up and told everyone, "But you are truly amazing that you raised him with so much love that many real parents can't give." Everyone in the hall clapped for them.
Jennifer felt a momentary relief, but soon returned to enjoying the moment of happiness.
At night, Johan came to Joseph's room with a cake. "You are the only person alive whose birthday is celebrated by others, but he sleeps on his birthday. Be alive! Be alive!"
Jennifer also entered. Suddenly, Joseph woke up. "I have to tell you something."
Joseph told them everything: Anni's suicide attempt, the strange note, and Dr. Arthur showing him the World of Souls and their true identities.
Jennifer sat down, head in her hands. Johan stood and looked out the window. "This is precisely the kind of situation Arthur knew would force my hand," Johan finally said, his voice flat. "This is the only way to convince me to use my powers once again to help people. If he had called me directly, I could definitely have rejected that."
Jennifer stood and hugged him. "Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you," she whispered, trying to console Joseph despite her sadness.
"Sleep now. We never use our powers again. We will never talk about that," Johan promised Joseph.
They went out and closed the door. Jennifer sat down on the floor and asked Johan, "Does he tell everything?"
Johan replied, "No, he just knows about our identities, not his own. But this world catches us every time. If some Oneiros do such a hilarious thing, how much do we believe other races? Others have more powers. To keep the balance, I have to go. I can't become selfish"
Jennifer stood, her eyes reflecting his determination. "Let go... To save someone's life. Without me, you will kill yourself. You risk your life like a foolish child. My power is for fighting; without me, you are merely a soldier without a weapon. Don't risk your life in there."
"Ok, Ok, I will be careful." Johan comforts her by saying this.
Jennifer sees in his face a little bit of excitement.
"What, I return in my ownself. We are in our parent's pathway.", Johan says with a smile.
Jennifer takes a deep breath.
They took an umbrella and left for the hospital.
In the hospital lobby, a sleepy receptionist was startled awake by a powerful presence: Mr. Jones, the Mayor, dressed in imposing black court attire, arrived with three silent bodyguards.
The receptionist jumped up. "Oh… Mr. Mayor, welcome to the hospital. Do you need any help? We have many expert doctors to assist you."
Mr. Jones, his voice a low, cold rumble, said, "No, my daughter is admitted here. I have come to see her."
The receptionist, relieved, offered, "All right, sir, please tell me your daughter's name so I can guide you to her room. It's a pleasure to help you."
Mr. Jones rejected the help with a chilling, cold smile. "Nothing for you to do. I can find her." He dismissed the receptionist with a wave and walked purposefully down the corridor, his bodyguards following in lockstep.
The receptionist sank back into his chair.
Suddenly, one of the bodyguards peeled away and came back to the reception desk. He looked at the man with his scary eyes. "I just need a favour. Just die."
He formed a dark ball of energy in his hand and threw it at the receptionist.
The receptionist's body seized, his eyes rolling back, turning pure white. He was screaming—a high, agonised wail—as his own body worked against his will. He grabbed the pen next to him and, in a horrifying, forced action, stabbed himself in the eye. Then, he slammed his head repeatedly onto the reception table. Blood spread everywhere.
Some drops of blood came onto the bodyguard's face. With an evil smile, he deliberately licked the blood on his skin. The man is Jevier from Oneiros.