Aiden Knight's POV
I wake to the sound of soft footsteps in my villa. Dawn light filters through the basement windows where I spent the night in cultivation. The black stone's energy has finally stabilized within my meridians, but something feels different upstairs.
The guest room door stands open when I reach the second floor. The bed is made with military precision, and the first aid supplies have been returned to their exact positions. No trace remains of Jade's presence except for a small piece of paper on the nightstand.
I unfold the note, recognizing her precise handwriting immediately.
Chief Instructor - The debt I owe cannot be measured in words. You saved my life when you had every reason to turn me away. I offer three favors, to be claimed when you have need. Simply speak my true name - Livia Holloway - and I will come. The pill I promised is hidden beneath the loose floorboard by the eastern window. Use it wisely.
Your servant in the shadows
