Nina grabs Shion, hoists her onto her shoulders, and starts leaving.

  Patience jogs to keep up, eyes fixed on Nina's back.

  "Hey lady, who are you?"

  Nina keeps walking, saying nothing.

  They walk into the woods. After a few minutes, a small wooden house appears ahead. Nina approaches it.

  The door slams open. An empty room, with a single table in the center. Nina drops Shion onto the table; her body slumps down with a heavy thud. Her mouth trembles.

  Nina yanks out a box from under the table, flanking it open with a metallic screech. Her eyes scan the contents, her face twisting in a snarl.

  "Fuck! Something's missing."

  Nina's gun clatters to the floor. She snatches scissors from the box, her movements brutal as she cuts away Shion's clothes, exposing the wound. Her gaze darts, clinical and cold, taking in the gory mess. Shion's face is deathly pale, her eyes glazed.

  "No clean clothes out here..." Nina mutters. With a fluid motion, she sheds her coat, revealing a white top underneath. The fabric whispers softly as she pulls it over her head, the sound amplified in the tense air.

  She folds the top into a makeshift compress, her hands moving with practiced urgency.

  Nina shoves cash at Patience.

  "Get me adhesive tape and antiseptic wipes from the shop east of here. Now."

  Patience darts off.

  She returns breathless, hands trembling as she passes over the items. Nina's eyes flicker with approval as she works swiftly, her fingers stained with Shion's blood.

  "She's lost a lot of blood," Nina mutters, her voice tight with concern. Shion's eyes flutter, her breathing shallow.

  Shion's hands shake steadily. Patience holds her hand, sobbing.

  "I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry... it's my fault you ended up like this."

  Nina speaks while treating Shion's wound.

  "Kid, there's something I don't get... why did Shion choose to help you?"

  "She wasn't interested in helping me at first. But somehow, along the line, she changed her mind."

  Nina's hands move swiftly as she cleans and dresses Shion's wounds. She chuckles.

  "What just happened today... is something I've never experienced since I've known Shion. She doesn't hold back. She never helps people. Only focuses on her mission."

  Patience nods.

  "Yeah, she's cold. Cruel. I witnessed it firsthand. But deep down, I can tell she's soft."

  Nina applies antiseptic wipes, staunching the bleeding, then secures gauze with adhesive tape.

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  "I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it for myself. But seeing her take a knife for you... I definitely believe you. She’s got a soft spot."

  "Will she survive?"

  "Yes, she will. But she won't be able to fight today, though."

  Patience narrows her eyes.

  "What did you mean by that?"

  "You heard me, love. She's going to survive. And she will have to fulfill her mission. But not today."

  "That's cruel. She's injured, she should—"

  Nina cuts in.

  "Shut it right there. Don't you know the limitations you put her in? She's laying down now because of you. If it hadn't been for you... she'd have finished the mission."

  Patience lowers her head.

  "I'm sorry."

  Nina drops a faint smile.

  "So what's your status, girl? Where are you from?"

  "I'm from this town. Been brought here ever since I was ten. I have a younger sister, Mary."

  "Parents?" Nina asks.

  "Dad fled. Fell for another woman. My mother turned into a hooker. Killed in the street. We had to bury her... me and Mary."

  Nina nods sympathetically.

  "Tragic... I feel your pain. So where's Mary?"

  "Taken. I gather it would be one of Silas's warlords."

  Nina grins.

  "Right... she's all set. Now we take her to a medic shop in town. I know one. A really good guy. He'll get her fixed up."

  Nina strides into the hospital, Shion lying across her arms. A young doc rushes over. Nina hands Shion over with a sly grin.

  "Take care of her. Make sure she doesn’t die."

  He gives a cheeky smile and wheels Shion away.

  Patience and Nina drop onto the waiting area seats.

  Patience gazes at Nina in surprise.

  "You're different."

  Nina cocks her head.

  "Come again."

  "I said you're different," Patience repeats. "Unlike Shion, you're free. Open to talk to easily. I was afraid of you at first. But now, I see an ordinary person."

  Nina shakes her head.

  "Honey... don't get me wrong. I would've killed you back there without holding back. Who cares what you want?"

  "Why didn't you kill me then?"

  Nina curls her lips into a smile.

  "Because I was fascinated. Wondering what made you turn Shion into a simpleton. You might be her only weakness."

  Patience’s jaw drops.

  “That’s a weird reason to let someone live. But… what’s the deal with that ability of yours?”

  “What ability?” Nina doesn’t look at her.

  “The bullet thing.”

  Nina lifts a finger, tracing a slight curve in the air.

  “A normal bullet flies straight. Mine doesn’t.”

  Patience frowns. “You’re saying you control it?”

  “I decide where it lands before I fire.” Nina taps her temple. “If I can hear the hit in my head, the bullet… follows.”

  “That… doesn’t make sense.”

  “It doesn’t have to.”

  Patience hesitates. “How about the… vanishing thing I see you guys do?”

  Nina rolls her shoulder. “It’s called Shadow Movement.”

  Patience furrows her brows. “Shadow Movement? That… looks scary.”

  Nina smirks. “It isn’t.”

  Patience narrows her eyes, desperate. “Tell me. How does it work?”

  Nina leans back, relaxing. Silence.

  “The world folds. Just for a second. To you, we disappear. To us… the distance shortens.”

  Patience blinks. “Everyone in that room… only a few could do it?”

  “Most learn to shoot,” Nina says. “At Level One, you learn timing.”

  “Timing?”

  “Rhythm.” Nina shrugs. “Same thing.”

  Patience studies her. “So… you and Shion are Level One?”

  Nina lets out a faint laugh. “Level One just means we didn’t die early.”

  “You and Shion… the strongest fighters?”

  Nina’s eyes sharpen. She adjusts her gloves. “There are many fighters in the world. Far stronger than us. We can barely hold a candle.”

  Patience leans closer, curiosity dragging her forward. “Tell me… is there any rank stronger than Level One?”

  Silence.

  Nina curls her lips into a menacing smirk. “Kid… you’ll learn that someday. If you survive long enough.”

  Patience opens her mouth again—

  “That’s enough.” Nina cuts her off. “You don’t need the rest. I’m not your teacher.”

  She smiles faintly. “When Shion wakes… ask her.”

  Nina strides toward the door.

  “I’ll be back by night.”