NOVEL NEXT Chapter 616: Outburst
"I'm so glad you woke up! I was sooo confused," Blue cried, her voice cracking with a mix of relief and lingering fear. She wiped her eyes, and JJ winced slightly as she rubbed her own aching head.
"Wh-what happened?" JJ asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The memories came in fragments, scattered and sharp like shards of glass. She remembered Rui, the strange sensation of energy coursing through her, the pain—
Blue sat up, her wings fluttering anxiously. "You were just laying there quiet, and then he said he was going to figure out why you couldn't use your skills," she sniffled. "But before he left, he gave you something... a gift, he called it. And then he gave me this creepy grin—it seemed nice, but also... creepy."
JJ lifted a hand and placed a finger gently over Blue's lips, her eyes softening. "Thank you, Blue. I think I can piece together the rest." She gave a shaky sigh, feeling a chill run through her as she thought about the Black Bulls, about Ty. "Did we go back through that black liquid?"
Blue nodded rapidly, her tiny form bobbing up and down. JJ took another deep breath, steadying herself. "Listen, Blue. For now, we can't tell anyone about this, alright? Not Ty, not anyone." She held Blue's gaze, seeing the worry still lingering in her friend's eyes. "It could put Ty in immense danger if anyone found out his sponsor was linked to the Black Bulls. Until we figure out what to do next, it has to stay between us."
Blue sniffled but nodded, determination mixed with uncertainty. "Okay, JJ. I understand."
JJ pulled out a small pocket watch from her belongings, flipping it open and glancing at the time. She exhaled, her breath visible in the cold air of the room. "It's time for you to do your recon work, Blue. I'll get you close to where the king is having his meeting, and you do your thing."
Blue wiped her tears away, her wings straightening, and puffed her tiny chest. "I'll do it! I'll do it amazingly!"
JJ smiled at the little fairy's energy, but the smile faltered when she saw Blue's expression crumple again. "Wh-why are you crying, Blue?" she asked softly.
Blue's small voice trembled. "I-it's because I let Ty down so badly." She fluttered to JJ's hands, dropping herself into her palms as she cried. "He asked me to keep an eye on the old guy—Lt Daemon—and I just flat out failed. I can't imagine how mad he must be at me. I failed him."
JJ's eyes softened as she gently cradled Blue in her hands, her thumb brushing across the fairy's tiny shoulders. "Blue, you can't blame yourself for that. You did what you could. And Lt Daemon... he went out fighting until the very end." She paused, her throat tightening. "I can't imagine he would've wanted it any other way. Ty won't hold that against you. We just need to focus on what we can do now."
Blue sniffed, her wings giving a weak flutter as she looked up at JJ, her eyes glistening. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll do my best."
JJ nodded, a small smile crossing her lips. She slipped off the bed, standing up straight and giving her muscles a stretch. After a long shower, she changed into a pair of black leggings and a snug, black top. As she dressed, she noticed the mark on her side—silver eyes embedded in the symbol of a black bull. She hesitated, sliding her fingers over the mark. She swiped right, and for a moment it disappeared, but she took a breath and slid left, bringing it back.
The weight of her decision felt heavy. "If Ty ends up dying, what was the point of all this?" she whispered to herself. "I have to at least put my best foot forward."
Once she finished, she walked out of the small bathroom and into the infirmary room. To her surprise, she found Jui-Lao leaning against the bed, Blue sitting on her fingertips, chattering quietly.
JJ gave a small smile. "Hey, Yun... How are you holding up?"
Yun looked up, her eyes weary. "I-I'm doing fine. As fine as can be, I suppose." She sighed, glancing at JJ with concern. "I wanted to check in with you. With Lt Daemon gone, there's a bit of a void, you know? Especially with us waiting for the second stage."
JJ nodded, moving closer to the bed and sitting down on its edge. "That's true. Things are really ramping up this year, huh?" she murmured.
Yun-Jin nodded, her eyes distant as she thought about recent events. "The Black Bulls and other factions have become more daring. I can only imagine what they're planning next. We have to have each other's backs moving forward."
JJ swallowed, her gaze dropping. The weight of Yun-Jin's words felt like a stone pressing against her chest. Secrets were all she seemed to carry these days—and Yun-Jin's trust was one of the few things keeping her afloat. She took a deep breath, the decision making itself in the silence that stretched between them.
"Of course, Yun," JJ finally said, her voice trembling slightly. "I wouldn't have it any other way." She paused, her thoughts racing. If she didn't tell Yun-Jin now, things could unravel further. Trust, once broken, would be impossible to mend. She had to find a way to tell her while keeping certain details hidden.
"Yun-Jin," JJ began, her voice barely above a whisper. Yun-Jin had turned away, her eyes fixed on Blue, who was twirling above her fingertips, leaving trails of sparkling light in the dim room. She smiled slightly, almost wistfully.
"What is it, JJ?"
JJ took another deep breath, her eyes searching Yun-Jin's face for any sign of what was to come. "I... I've been contacted by the Black Bulls," she said, her voice quivering. "And I don't know how much longer I'll be alive." Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire
Yun-Jin's entire body went rigid. Her expression turned dark, her eyes flashing with something close to rage. In an instant, she moved, spinning around and grabbing JJ by the collar. She shoved her back against the cabinet, knocking over a tray of medical supplies. The clattering echoed in the small room.