Jimmy didn't look convinced. He knew she wasn't telling the full truth—but he let it go.
Then, lifting his fingers, he began to count silently. One by one, he signed the names of the others:
Bruce. Alice. Brook. Nower. Lily… and many more.
His hands stilled. He looked at Lisa with a faint, bitter smile and signed,
"So… they've already chosen their Whisps."
Lisa nodded gently.
"Yes. They've registered their talents and gone to the 'Echoes & Embers – A Whisp Repository' or 'Whisp Arcana'. They'll be back for summer term."
Jimmy lowered his hands slowly, nodding in return. The truth settled heavily in his chest. He was happy for them—truly—but part of him felt like a leaf left behind after the wind had moved on.
Suddenly, he rubbed his stomach.
Lisa noticed immediately. "Right. The food the doctor prescribed."
From the bundle beside her, she pulled out a small wooden bowl filled with crushed Amekano nuts, their trident shapes still visible in the mash, glowing faintly bluish-green. Beside it, a flask of softly luminous liquid—a MoonBerry shake, cool and smooth, its soft glow pulsing like gentle tides in the glass.
Jimmy accepted both and ate in slow, thoughtful bites, savouring the calming energy they brought. The bitterness faded from his face.
After finishing, he tapped his temple and signed:
"My brain hurts…"
Lisa's face tightened with concern. "Too much blood loss. And look at your skin—it's gone pale. Quickly, put these on."
She handed him a clean set of clothes, simple but warm. Jimmy dressed himself with effort, wincing in pain as he pulled the sleeves up his arms.
Lisa straightened and raised her voice gently.
"Healing sound."
Perched nearby, the little squirrel Whisp lifted its head and scurried up a wooden beam. It chirped into the quiet air:
"Qiu qiu… qiu… qiu… qiu qiu qiu…"
The song was soft and warm, like tiny waves brushing a distant shore. Jimmy slowly relaxed, his breathing evening out. His fingers uncurled from his forehead as his body gave in to rest. With a long sigh, he slumped sideways onto the wooden veranda and fell asleep.
Lisa exhaled deeply and turned to the white dove sitting patiently beside him.
"Dove, stay with him."
The dove cooed softly and waddled closer. Lisa passed her a small pouch of food and gestured toward the nearby pond.
"Eat first. Wash your dish after."
The dove nodded, fluffing her feathers before taking off toward the edge of the water.
Lisa turned once more, her eyes softening as she looked back at the sleeping boy.
"No one's coming for today. Be careful. Just wait for today, one work is done, just remaining some …"
She knelt, pulled the blanket over him one last time, and walked away, disappearing into the trees where the others were waiting.
The dove sat beside Jimmy once more, eating the simple mix of nuts and fruit she'd been given. When she was done, she flapped back to the pond and dipped the dish into the cool, clear water.
She didn't notice it.
Just beneath the surface—still, silent—two faint amber eyes opened. A Whisp, long-forgotten and slumbering deep within the water, stirred. Watching.
By the time the dove returned, Jimmy remained still, breathing softly under his blanket. She settled beside him, tucked her wings in, and curled against his arm to keep him warm.
And though she meant to stay awake, the long night weighed on her too. Slowly, gently… she drifted into sleep, just as the first golden hues of dawn touched the sky.