Asher's eyes fluttered open as he squinted against the light.
Above him stretched a tall ceiling. Sunlight filtered through the windows, and a soft breeze drifted across the room.
Somewhere nearby, someone was humming.
Thud… thud… thud…
The rhythmic sound of a pestle grinding something in a mortar.
Asher slowly pushed himself upright, rubbing his eyes.
"Oh… you're finally awake."
He paused for a moment.
That voice sounded familiar.
Looking up, he saw Sister Samantha standing nearby, dressed in her church cloak as she worked with a bowl of crushed herbs.
"I guess so…" Asher muttered groggily. "What happened? Where am I…?"
Then his eyes widened.
"Wait—Genzai!" he gasped. "Did I get him?!"
Sister Samantha chuckled softly as she mixed the ground leaves into a bowl of hot porridge and carried it over to his bed.
"Easy there. Don't push yourself. You're still weak."
She held the bowl toward him.
"Here. Eat this."
Asher eyed the porridge suspiciously.
