Calvin was still processing his tense conversation with Roland when he noticed James approaching him. The air between them was thick with unresolved tension, but Calvin could sense that James wasn’t here to antagonize him—at least not overtly."Calvin," James began, his tone measured and controlled, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. The usual edge in his voice was gone, replaced with something closer to acknowledgment, if not respect. "You’ve proven yourself. You cured me, something no one else could do. Because of that, I won’t interfere with your clinic. It’s safe from me... for now." He paused, his gaze hardening slightly. "But let’s be clear—if any other issues arise, I won’t be held responsible. This is purely business, nothing more."Calvin met James’s gaze with a knowing smirk. He wasn’t fooled by the veneer of civility. He knew James too well—this wasn’t an olive branch, just a reluctant concession. “Fair enough, James. I appreciate you not making things harder than they

Calvin and Lizzie finally arrived home, their bodies heavy with exhaustion. The journey back had been quiet, the weight of the day pressing down on them both. Even the usually lively hum of the city streets seemed distant, muffled by the fog of their fatigue. As they stepped into the familiar warmth of their home, the tension that had coiled tightly within them began to ease, replaced by a fragile sense of safety. For now, at least, they were home, away from the chaos that had consumed their day.Lizzie, though visibly drained, instinctively took charge. The house felt emptier than usual, but the presence of the bodyguards, assigned by Price, added a layer of security that she didn’t take for granted. She glanced at them, their faces blank and professional, betraying nothing of the long hours they had endured. Despite their stoic demeanor, she knew they needed rest just as much as she and Calvin did."You all can take some rooms upstairs," Lizzie said, her voice steady despite the fat

The darkness around Calvin thickened, swallowing him deeper into the void of sleep. But through the oppressive silence, a sound began to cut through—a voice, faint and distant, but unmistakable. It was Lizzie, calling his name, her voice filled with a frantic urgency that sent a jolt through his subconscious."Calvin! Calvin, wake up!"Her voice echoed through the void, distorted and faint as if coming from a great distance. Calvin’s heart pounded in his chest as he tried to respond, tried to move toward the sound. But his body felt impossibly heavy, like he was submerged in thick, suffocating tar. He struggled to open his eyes, to lift his limbs, but it was like trying to move mountains with his bare hands."Calvin! Please, wake up!" Lizzie’s voice grew more desperate, and Calvin could sense her panic, feel it like a knife twisting in his gut. He knew he had to wake up, had to get out of this dream. But the more he tried to pull himself to consciousness, the more the dream seemed to

Calvin floated aimlessly in the void, the weight of his situation pressing down on him like an invisible force. The emptiness around him was suffocating, and the realization that his strength was ebbing away made every second feel like a countdown to his end. He couldn’t see his body, but the sensation of heaviness was undeniable. It was as though something was pulling him deeper into the abyss, draining his life force, and there was nothing he could do to stop it."System," Calvin called out, his voice quivering, though he forced himself to sound firm. "I need to get out. Now. I’m getting weaker."His words seemed to dissipate into the void, swallowed by the oppressive silence. A faint pulse of light flickered in the distance, but it was dim, erratic. The system was trying to respond, but something was wrong—he could sense it.There was a moment of eerie silence before the system’s distorted voice broke through, disjointed and fragmented.[Warning... given... Warning... given...]The

Calvin pushed through the weight of the void with every ounce of strength he had left. The sound of the water was no longer distant but close, rushing like a river, beckoning him forward. He fought against the invisible force that seemed to tug at his limbs, slowing him down, but the closer he got, the more real the sound became.And then, suddenly, the darkness peeled away.Before him, bathed in a soft, ethereal light, was the *Fountain of Health*.It was breathtaking.The fountain towered high, carved from shimmering marble that glowed with an otherworldly radiance. Its surface reflected shades of gold and silver, as if the very stone itself were alive, pulsing gently with the rhythm of the universe. Water cascaded down its tiers in slow, graceful streams, crystal-clear and glittering as if infused with stardust. The water shimmered with hues of turquoise and emerald, catching the light in mesmerizing patterns as it pooled at the base in a circular basin made of pure obsidian.At th