The leader breathed deeply, as if air had finally found its way back to her lungs. She raised her hand and wiped her tanned forehead, where sweat had gathered despite the coolness of the room, then spoke in a voice carrying genuine exhaustion:
"This is enough… I will take charge of them for these coming days."
The other five stopped moving at the same instant and turned toward her with total discipline.
"Understood!"
They spoke in unison, without hesitation. They moved out of the room with quick, organized steps. As the last of them exited, the leader stepped forward and closed the door herself.
The sound of the latch was faint… yet it seemed to separate an entire world from what lay behind it.
She turned slowly, then sat on the sofa near the two beds. She leaned back and closed her eyes for a moment before speaking in a low voice, barely audible:
"That boy injured in his chest…"
She opened her eyes and looked at shimoro.
"…It seems he carries energy far greater than his physical strength, to the point that most of his energy channels closed on their own."
She fell silent for a bit, then added in a more cautious tone:
"I must not tell this to anyone… for the time being."
Silence prevailed.
In the room, there was only the sound of ryo's steady breathing, shimoro's weaker breaths, and a faint hum coming from some of the devices.
The situation remained unchanged. The leader sat on the sofa, her hands clasped, her gaze shifting between the two beds.
As time passed, the sun began to dip…
Golden light filtered through the high windows, reflecting off the green metal of the walls.
She whispered to herself, with a voice carrying clear ambition:
"I must care for them until they wake up…"
Then she added with a slight smile, not devoid of hidden calculations:
"So that I can raise my rank… and manage my affairs."
Night fell.
The hours passed with a heavy slowness.
The leader did not leave the room. From time to time, she would stand up, check the indicators, touch the forehead of one of them, adjust the positioning of the devices, and then return to her seat.
Until…
Drowsiness overcame her.
Her head dropped slightly, and she surrendered to sleep on the sofa, while the faint light stood guard over the room.
At dawn, she woke up.
She opened her eyes slowly, as if her body refused to return to movement, then stood and headed to the small sink. She washed her face with cold water, breathed deeply, and returned with steady steps.
She started first with ryo.
She checked the indicators…
She stopped.
She drew closer.
....
She whispered in genuine astonishment:
"This… doesn't happen unless his body is accustomed to this!"
The recovery had accelerated.
The energy channels were stabilizing.
The body was acting as if it knew pain… and knew how to overcome it.
She moved next to shimoro.
She examined him more carefully.
She breathed calmly.
"And this one has become better…"
Then she added in an analytical tone:
"But his healing pace is normal… perhaps because most of his energy channels are closed."
She was still lost in thought when the room door opened.
Two doctors from her team entered.
The first was a young man with short black hair, a single lock hanging over his forehead, his skin yellow-golden, and his black eyes reflecting the green lighting of the place.
He bowed slightly and said in a voice carrying clear concern:
"Madam Freina! What is the condition of the injured?!"
Freina looked at him, then gave a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, infelonz. They are doing better."
Then she added confidently:
"You go and lead the team in my stead today."
infelonz straightened up immediately.
"Very well, Madam, it is an honor for me!"
Then he turned to the one beside him and said enthusiastically:
"Let's go to the team!"
"Alright!" the second replied quickly.
They left the room, and it was clear that infelonz was almost jumping with excitement.
Freina followed them with her gaze, then let out a small, warm laugh and said in a tone mixing relief with nostalgia:
"That new recruit… always enthusiastic and works hard."
Suddenly…
"What the—"
She froze.
Freina turned quickly toward the bed.
Eyes open.
It was the young man with black hair tied back in a ponytail, skin a shade less than pure white, grey eyes with that look… the black clothes with tears revealing a flexible, athletic physique… ryo.
He was holding his head with his hand, his features blurred, his breathing ragged, but…
He was awake.
Freina's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"You…!"
To be continued...