The air in the quiet courtyard felt still, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Edward Gray, the man known as the God of War—a man who had faced down armies without blinking—was on his knees. His voice, usually a cold command, was ragged and thick with unshed tears.
"Jessy Williams... I am that man," he whispered, his eyes searching hers for a spark of memory.
"I'm the man you helped when you were only eight years old. Do you remember? I was twenty, bleeding out, and I thought the world was ending but then there was this tiny girl... a girl who knew medicine better than most surgeons. You saved my life, Jessy."
Jessy stood frozen, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The words hit her like physical blows.
"What did you say?" she gasped, her voice barely audible.
"No... who did you say you are?"
Edward looked up, a sad, knowing smile touching his lips.
