Chapter 22: Second Growth
"And after this?" Ethan Cross felt his heart racing.
"It will grow," Cillian Forrest confirmed.
’There were too many questions surrounding her. As an F-level Healer-class, she could interrupt his Disorder Period, cleanse Starbug toxins, and even absorb another person’s spiritual power.’
’Things that should have been impossible for anyone else were happening to her.’
Ethan Cross, completely unaware of Cillian’s thoughts, was lost in the joy of Sophie Wexler’s Level potentially increasing. "This is wonderful! The toxins affecting you, Your Majesty, and the other generals can be cured!"
"But don’t forget, she’s only F-level. It’s still unclear how much she’ll grow," Cillian Forrest reminded him.
"But at least there’s hope now, isn’t there?" Ethan Cross shot back.
He knew the Marshal meant he shouldn’t get his hopes up, in case Sophie Wexler’s final Level wasn’t high enough. But compared to before, this was a massive improvement. At the very least, they had found a sliver of hope in what had been a certain death sentence.
When Sophie Wexler woke up, she felt incredibly weak and utterly exhausted.
She reached up to rub her head, and only then did she remember what had just happened. She shot up in bed, but a wave of dizziness washed over her as she tried to stand, and she tumbled to the floor.
Cillian Forrest had been discussing military matters with Ethan Cross. He stopped mid-sentence at the sound, and Ethan glanced toward the room.
Cillian Forrest rose from the sofa, pushed open the door, and went inside, where he saw Sophie Wexler on the floor.
Sophie Wexler’s brow was furrowed in pain as she rubbed her arm. The next moment, a large hand was extended toward her.
Sophie Wexler looked up to see Cillian Forrest and snapped back to reality with a jolt of surprise. ’He’s usually so cold to me. Did the sun rise in the west today? I’m actually seeing Cillian Forrest show concern for someone?’
However, she didn’t take his hand, instead using a nearby table to pull herself up.
"Don’t push yourself," Cillian Forrest said quietly, watching her.
"I’m fine." ’It’s not like it’s a big deal, I just lost my footing and fell.’
Having just woken up, Sophie was a little thirsty. She let go of the table corner and started walking out of the room. But the next second, it felt as if she were walking on cotton. She lost all control of her legs and pitched toward the floor again.
Sophie squeezed her eyes shut in a panic, a million regrets flooding her mind. ’So *that’s* what Cillian meant by ’don’t push yourself.’ If I’d known, I wouldn’t have refused his hand.’
Just as she was about to hit the ground, a pair of strong arms shot out from behind her, wrapped around her waist, and pulled her back.
Sophie let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks."
’If he hadn’t acted so quickly, I really would have gotten up close and personal with the floor again.’
"You’ve over-expended your spiritual power. You’re completely drained," Cillian Forrest explained.
"Oh, okay," Sophie Wexler nodded. ’That explains why I feel so weak.’
Speaking of weakness, she immediately thought of the Starbug. "What happened to the Starbug in the end?"
"It’s dead," Cillian Forrest said, his voice flat.
"Dead? That’s good." Sophie let out a long sigh of relief. Recalling the scene still made her shudder.
"I remember those people from the military showed up at the end. They were so slow," Sophie suddenly recalled, unable to stop herself from complaining. "Is that really the best the military can do? Why didn’t they just wait until I was dead before showing up?"
The words had barely left her mouth when Sophie stepped out of the room and looked up to see someone standing in the living room.
Sophie froze on the spot, blinking slowly. ’Am I so weak that I’m hallucinating?’
’How is the man I saw at the Wexlers’ home in my house?!’
Sophie turned to Cillian Forrest, her expression full of confusion.
Cillian Forrest said, "He’s from the military. He was part of the support team and brought us back."
Sophie Wexler: "???"
Sophie Wexler: "!!!"
’This guy is from the military?’
’Doesn’t that mean I just badmouthed them right to his face?’
Sophie moved closer to Cillian Forrest and whispered through clenched teeth, "Why didn’t you tell me we had a guest?"
"You just woke up. I didn’t have a chance to tell you."
"My apologies for entering your home without permission," Ethan Cross said apologetically.
"No, no, not at all! I should be thanking you for rescuing us last night and bringing us home," Sophie Wexler said, waving her hands dismissively.
"How does your Spiritual Sea feel right now?" Ethan Cross asked, looking at Sophie.
At his words, Sophie finally took a moment to check her own Spiritual Sea. "Huh," she murmured.
"My spiritual power is... full?" Sophie’s eyes widened in confusion.
She remembered that her spiritual power had been completely drained when she was calming the violent rampage in Cillian Forrest’s Spiritual Sea.
Restoring spiritual power takes time; there was no way it should be full already.
"That’s right, it’s full. You absorbed the energy from the Starbug’s Star Core."
Sophie’s eyes went wide. "I absorbed the Star Core’s energy?"
Cillian Forrest gave a slow nod. The moment he’d felt Sophie absorbing his spiritual power, a bold theory had formed in his mind: ’If she can absorb my spiritual power, can she absorb other forms of energy as well?’
That’s why he had placed the Star Core he brought back into her palm.
And just as he’d suspected, from the moment it touched her, the energy from the Star Core began to flow rapidly into Sophie’s body, continuing until the core lost its luster and crumbled to dust in her hand.
It all clicked for Sophie. ’So that’s what happened.’ No wonder she had woken up so quickly this time, when she’d been unconscious for three whole days after helping Cillian before.
Then she focused, carefully sensing her Spiritual Sea, her eyes filled with disbelief. "My Spiritual Sea... I think... it’s gotten bigger."
"If I’m not mistaken, Miss Wexler, you’ve entered a post-awakening secondary growth phase."
She knew about the secondary growth phase; he had already explained it back at the Wexlers’ home.
"But didn’t you say only a very small number of highly talented people..."
As she spoke, she saw Ethan Cross looking at her with a smile in his eyes. His expression clearly said, ’Don’t doubt yourself.’
"We can confirm it’s a post-awakening secondary growth, but we’ll need to run some tests to know the specifics."
"Your case is unique, so the tests at a regular medical facility won’t be accurate enough. I’ll submit an application to the military hospital and take you there for a detailed examination."
"Thank you. We appreciate the trouble," Cillian Forrest said from the side.
"It’s no trouble at all. It’s the least I can do." As he spoke, Ethan glanced at Cillian before continuing, "The Empire should be paying more attention to Healer-class individuals anyway. This is only right."
"Alright, I was mainly concerned there might be further issues with your health. Since you’re awake now, I’ll be heading back."
After saying his goodbyes, he looked at Cillian Forrest, who was standing beside Sophie.
"Cillian... Forrest," Ethan Cross felt a jolt of panic as he said the name, but his expression remained impassive.
He said in a commanding tone, "Report to the military district next week."
"Yes, sir," Cillian Forrest replied, his expression unchanged.
Sophie Wexler: "?"