Jimmy looked up with a calm smile, his hands already moving in practiced signs.
"Dr. Mu, how are you? Belly, good morning."
Dr. Mu returned the smile, her eyes softening. She thought, "Still smiling after everything. So much will to live…"
"Belly, check his vitals," she said gently.
The small bell-shaped Whisp—Belly—floated forward with a cheerful hum. "Bel… bel bel bel…"
Golden light shimmered from its body as it hovered around Jimmy, casting a soft halo that brushed across his skin like silk. Its swirling patterns pulsed with each scan, and a subtle ring echoed in the air as its psy-scan completed.
Dr Mu pressed her hand to her chin, thoughtful. "His physical condition is excellent. His brain domain has expanded to… 12%." Her brow furrowed. "That's… very rapid. Did he eat something strange?"
Before she could ask again, she caught sight of Sister Lisa a few paces away—reprimanding the dove rather harshly.
"Du-du! Du-du du!" The dove flapped defensively as Lisa scolded her. "I told you to watch him, not splash around and fall asleep in the pond!"
The dove gave a small pouty coo and turned away, wings drooping like a child caught in mischief.
"Lisa," Dr Mu called out. "You said he just ate what I prescribed?"
Lisa took a breath to settle her frustration and nodded. "Yes. He ate the food exactly as you ordered, then fell asleep."
Dr Mu looked around the small house, its worn wood and gently swaying vines. She nodded slowly. "This place… it feels like his home."
Lisa's expression softened. "It is. Whenever someone in the orphanage mistreated him, he ran here. It's quiet… safe. He's been here often—on good days and terrible ones."
Dr Mu crouched beside Jimmy's meditation spot and tapped gently on the ground. "But the brain increase… it's not random. Something triggered it."
Lisa hesitated. "He… he probably remembered yesterday's incident again. Maybe during his sleep."
Dr Mu sighed, standing up. "It's not unheard of. Deep trauma—or emotional overload—can rapidly expand the brain domain. It's dangerous, but in some cases… if the mind survives it… the brain adapts faster."
She paused and added thoughtfully, "And for Jimmy… it looks like this pain opened a gate. It turned into something good."
She turned again. "What about his Whisp companion? Has he been assigned one officially yet?"
Lisa shook her head, her expression falling. "He can go now. He's eligible."
"But?" Dr Mu raised an eyebrow.
Lisa's tone grew colder, more bitter. "That egg—his egg—was stolen. The man was caught, yes. But the egg ended up with someone from the Mitican Family. One of their spoiled brats made a contract with it."
"What?" Dr Mu's voice hardened.
"The Alliance brushed it aside. Said Jimmy wasn't awakened when the incident happened, so the contract was legal. To cover it, they gave him a 5-million rupee voucher as a… memento, nothing more." Lisa's fists clenched. "As if that makes up for it."
Behind them, Jimmy was pretending to play with the dove, gently tugging on her wings, tapping her forehead, laughing without sound—but his eyes stayed fixed on the adults. Every word reached him.
After a moment, he walked forward, hands ready, expression composed.
"What happened to the man who took it?" he signed clearly.
Lisa exhaled. "Your Uncle Goat saw to it. He made sure that man was arrested and that the government acknowledged the crime."
Dr Mu added, "You've been compensated—though not nearly enough. They gave you a 5-million rupee growth voucher for training, schooling, and equipment."
Jimmy frowned, counting on his fingers. "But... that's 10 million in total, right?"
Lisa blinked, then gave a small laugh. "Yes. You remembered well. First a reward from your Goat Uncle's efforts, and then the Alliance's voucher."
Jimmy didn't react with anger. He only nodded slowly, internalizing the weight of it. Then his stomach growled, and he signed with a smile, "Food first. Then we go to the Whisp Nexus?"
Lisa chuckled. "Yes, food first."
Jimmy and the dove sat down, sharing their small meal quietly. She chirped and squawked in protest as Jimmy once again signed, "Fatty, pass the nuts."
"Du-DU!" the dove screeched, wings puffed in indignation.
Jimmy laughed—his laugh was soundless, but his body shook with pure mischief. He wiped his mouth, then looked up at Lisa again and ask for phone.
..................
Lisa watched Jimmy scroll through her phone, his fingers quick and steady, eyes sharp despite everything he'd endured. The bruises may have faded, but his resolve was clearer than ever.
"Three schools replied…" he signed, glancing up.
Lisa leaned over, curious. "Which ones?"
3
Jimmy pointed with a faint smile:
"Midfield Whisp tamer Academy.""North Edge Preparatory.""Raikiri Training Grounds."
Lisa whistled. "Those are real names now. Not just dreams. Midfield's decent and steady. North Edge is young, but promising. Raikiri though…" she gave a soft exhale.
Jimmy tilted his head, prompting her.
She hesitated. "It's competitive. Like… top-tier. Most get in because of family money or connections. But—" she looked at him more closely, "—you might have a chance now. Especially after what happened."
Jimmy nodded, quietly determined. He handed the phone back, then turned toward the dove who had been waddling nearby, preening her damp feathers.
He gave her a long look, then signed with a small grin:"Fatty… can she come with me today?"
The dove froze mid-preen and immediately cooed, fluffing up her feathers proudly.
Lisa, however, raised an eyebrow. "She's still on thin ice, Jimmy. She let you almost die in the middle of the night while splashing around like a duck in the pond."
The dove shrank a little, chirping defensively—Du du du!—trying to argue her case.
Jimmy started to smile, but Lisa held up a hand before he could sign anything.
"No. She's not going with you."
Jimmy blinked.
Lisa pointed toward herself instead. "She's coming with me. I've got to drop by the Whisp Nexus and fill out your forms in person anyway. If I take her, I can make sure she doesn't get into more trouble."
The dove let out a shocked "Du?!" and looked at Jimmy with wide eyes.
Jimmy raised both hands in surrender and smiled. "Better her with you than getting me scolded again," he signed.
Lisa smirked. "Exactly."
The dove gave a grumbling flutter of her wings but reluctantly hopped toward Lisa's side, clearly not thrilled about the arrangement.
As Lisa turned to leave, Jimmy looked up once more. "Sister… can we go to the Whisp Nexus in the afternoon instead? Just a little time—here, before I leave it behind."
Lisa paused and looked back at him. The quiet way he said it—no voice, just movement in dust and light—carried more weight than any cry could have.
She nodded. "Yes. I'll handle the paperwork. You walk. Remember this place… properly."
Jimmy smiled, a soft one this time—grateful, not bitter.
Lisa patted his shoulder, then headed off with the disgruntled dove trotting beside her, muttering her usual nonsense: du du… dududu... du…
Jimmy watched them go. He turned toward the weathered stones and tall grass surrounding the clearing. This was home. Not always safe, not always warm, but it had shaped him.
And now, he was finally ready to move beyond it.