The bedroom fell silent the moment Lian spoke the name Serenity.

  Lian sat back down on the edge of the mattress. "Zigh, where will you be sleeping?"

  Zigh jolted slightly, then offered a faint smile. "You see that large rug? I’ll be sleeping there."

  Lian crumpled the bedsheet in his hand, eyes fixed on the floor. "But..."

  "Don't worry about it. You need the bed… you're still recovering, and you need proper rest," Zigh insisted.

  Lian looked up at him. "You’ll be stiff by morning," he muttered.

  Zigh tilted his head. "Relax. The rug is quite thick—it’s not just some flimsy mat."

  "I see..." Lian replied softly.

  Zigh pulled out his phone and opened a pharmacy app. "Lian, take your medication before you sleep. I’m ordering the doctor's prescription right now."

  Lian shook his head. "Tomorrow is fine," he said quietly.

  "Lian... you really—"

  "I’m tired, Zigh. Just sleepy."

  Zigh sighed. "Fine. Get some rest. That’s what you need right now."

  Lian pulled the blanket over himself and lay down, turning away. "Good night."

  Zigh offered a faint smile. "Good night."

  He gathered the tray of dirty dishes and glasses, dimmed the center lights, and stepped out of the room with Outer trailing closely behind. Once in the kitchen, he quickly washed the dishes from their meal.

  Serenity... who is she? Is she someone important to Lian? Zigh wondered.

  After cleaning up, Zigh headed to the patio to wait for the medicine delivery. He stretched his limbs, the dim garden lights casting long, soft shadows across the yard. He walked along the row of trees. "I didn't realize the trees I bought back then had grown so tall."

  A moment later, the doorbell rang. Zigh rushed to the gate.

  "Medicine delivery for Zigh Eosvile."

  Zigh opened the gate. "Yes, that’s me."

  The courier handed him the package. "Here is your order, sir."

  "Thank you," Zigh said, accepting it before the courier departed.

  He quickly locked the gate, headed back inside, and returned to the room. He placed the medicine on the nightstand and stepped closer to the bed.

  "His breathing has steadied..." he murmured.

  He moved to his workstation, Outer still silently following. As the computer booted up, a password prompt appeared. Zigh typed a complex string of letters, numbers, and symbols with practiced speed. Outer watched his fingers dance across the keys.

  His desktop was cluttered with files. He opened the one in the top right corner.

  "The Oleander Organization—a thorn that constantly digs into my jurisdiction," he muttered, tapping the desk rhythmically. "They keep popping up like weeds."

  He glanced at Lian. "Lian... you are the key to weeding out this rot."

  He opened a browser and searched for "Serenity," but the page yielded no results. Zigh crossed his arms, closed his eyes, and leaned back into his chair. Serenity... should I search the national civil registry? No, he’ll just get upset with me again, he thought.

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  He closed the browser and the Oleander file, shut down the computer, and stood up for another stretch. He checked on Lian once more. "Good, his breathing is still stable."

  Zigh walked over to the large rug and lay down, while Outer sat at the edge of the bed, watching over him. Whatever, I don't sleep much anyway. I’m usually more comfortable at the office, he thought, his eyes slowly drifting shut.

  ***

  The alarm rang at 4:30 AM. Zigh snapped awake and silenced his phone. He stretched, his muscles tight, and walked over to stand by Lian’s bed, observing him as he slept.

  I want to check his fever, he thought, but that black creature will definitely take issue with me touching him.

  He sighed and headed toward his home gym. He surveyed the equipment. "It’s been a while since I've worked out here."

  He strapped on his boxing gloves and slammed a heavy fist into the punching bag, sending it swinging violently.

  He glanced back at the bed. The sound shouldn't be too loud in there, right?

  He grinned and launched into a combination.

  THUD! THUD! THUD!

  Sweat began to bead on his skin. Instead of slowing down, he pushed harder and faster.

  CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

  The morning sun began to climb the eastern horizon, piercing through the room's floor-to-ceiling windows. Zigh’s shoulders heaved, but he continued to strike the bag with relentless force.

  Lian opened his eyes and sat up. The heavy sound of impacts filled the room.

  "Outer, what is he doing?"

  "Eosvile has been hitting that bag since before the sun rose."

  "I see... what did he do while I slept?"

  "Eosvile checked on Lian, then left."

  "So, he was looking after me?"

  Outer offered a wicked smirk.

  Lian let out a long breath, stood up, and approached him. "Zigh."

  Zigh threw a particularly heavy punch.

  BOOM!

  The bag's chains rattled and groaned under the force. Lian flinched, stepping back. Zigh caught the bag and turned around.

  "Lian? You're awake." He wiped the sweat from his brow with his arm. "Sorry, I got carried away. It’s been a while."

  Lian remained silent.

  Zigh smiled. "Lian, could you help me undo the strap on my right glove?"

  Lian stepped forward and peeled back the velcro, eventually assisting him in sliding off his glove. "You... ah, thank you very much."

  Lian retreated two steps.

  What's wrong with him now? Zigh wondered.

  He took off the other glove, but Lian just stared out the window. "Lian, I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

  Lian turned back to face him.

  "Hey! What’s your problem?" Zigh asked.

  "You smell," he stated plainly.

  He left him standing there and sat on the bed.

  Zigh’s face reddened, his hands clenching into fists. Giving me high blood pressure this early in the morning, he thought.

  He took a deep breath and opened the large glass window to let in the fresh morning air. He glanced at Lian, his blood pressure spiking again. When he isn't being cynical, his honesty is just plain stinging.

  Zigh sniffed his damp shirt and exhaled through his teeth. "Ugh... how annoying," he muttered to himself. He grabbed a change of clothes and a towel, heading for the bathroom.

  Outer let out a low, mocking laugh. "Eosvile is angry."

  Lian snorted. "He does smell."

  He got off the bed and opened the balcony door. "I don't like the smell of sweat in the room."

  "Eosvile stinks, hee-hee."

  "But this house is huge," Lian mused. "It's as big as my old office before I was fired."

  "Lian... you don't need to worry anymore. Outer will make your work much easier."

  The sun climbed higher, leaving the horizon behind. Zigh returned, showered and refreshed, only to be surprised to find the bed empty. "Lian?"

  He turned to the open balcony door. "So, you're out there."

  He walked over. "Lian, it’s cold out here. Come inside."

  Lian turned. "I like the fresh air."

  "You need to come in. You’re still recovering."

  Lian sighed. "Fine."

  He walked back inside with a sluggish gait.

  Zigh ran a hand through his hair and followed Lian in. As he sat back down on the bed, Zigh grabbed his towel and handed him some spare clothes.

  "Lian, you need to shower as well," he said.

  Lian’s eyes widened. He hadn't cleaned up at all since leaving the Serion City military hospital and arriving in Echo. "I don't know how to use your equipment," he complained.

  "Hold onto this and follow me," Zigh said.

  They left the room, descended the stairs, and entered Zigh’s bathroom. Before entering, Zigh stopped. "Lian, can I check your temperature first?"

  "I'm fine," he replied.

  "I still have to check," Zigh pressed.

  Lian turned away. "Whatever."

  He placed his palm against Lian’s forehead. "Yes, it seems your fever has broken."

  Lian brushed his hand away. "I told you."

  "Right. Let’s get you inside."

  The bathroom was pristine, all white and polished.

  "Wow, this place is as big as a public bathhouse," Lian remarked.

  Zigh smiled. You could be a little nicer when you give compliments, Lian.

  He walked toward the shower area. "Lian, look! If you turn this red-labeled tap to the left, hot water flows—don't open it all the way, just a quarter or a third is enough. If you turn the blue one to the right, you get cold water."

  He moved to the toilet. "This is automatic. You just sit down, and when you're finished, press the button to have it wash everything for you."

  "Without toilet paper?"

  Zigh nodded.

  He then led him to the bathtub. "You can soak in warm water here. The controls are just like the shower."

  "I understand now."

  Zigh turned and stepped out.

  CLICK.

  The door locked.

  Zigh walked toward the living room, rubbing his temples. "Mornings are already so exhausting," he muttered to himself.

  To be continued...