When Collins left. Niki made a point of asking for his contact details.


    After Collins had departed. Dr. Ray fixed Niki with a serious gaze. “Niki,” he began, using Niki’s nickname. “you don’t think that medicine came from the Pharmacist’s Guild, do you?”


    Niki settled back down on the couch, lifting a teacup from the coffee table and sipping it thoughtfully before replying, “No, it didn’t.”


    “Even Devon, with all his skills, couldn’t produce a medicine of <b>this </b>S+ grade. I’ve only evere across it once before, through an acquaintance, who, unfortunately, had also won it in an online auction. After that, it just vanished from the market for a year or two.” Niki’s gaze drifted off into the distance.


    Ancient remedies were not easily concocted, and even when they were, it was rare to achieve an S grade!


    Dr. Ray’s face registered shock again. Devon was a senior pharmacist within the Guild, a genius among geniuses. If he couldn’t even produce this kind of medicine… Then, how incredibly gifted must this mysterious medicine maker be? No wonder Niki had asked for Collins‘ contact information.


    “It seemed like the Pharmacist’s Guild was full of hidden geniuses, but I never imagined the real experts to be out there in the world,” Dr. Ray mused after a long pause.


    Niki stroked his salt–and–pepper beard, his tone enigmatic as he observed. “There are always higher skies above us and people beyond our reach. The Guild, whenpared to some of these reclusive families, doesn’t really count for much.”


    At this, Dr. Ray fell into a deep silence, realizing there were levels to this world he simply couldn’t fathom.


    After dinner, Mirabe retreated to her room. Fresh from the shower, she took out her phone. and shot a video call to Catherine via Messenger. Within moments, Catherine’s familiar face. popped up on the screen. Mirabe talked while drying her hair. “You look much better.”


    Holding the phone, Catherine beamed like a child seeking praise, “I’ve been taking your medicine on time.”


    “Good, and the Gilberts haven’t tried to coax you back home


    casually.


    have they?” Mirabe asked


    “No, I’m doing well here at home. Don’t worry about me,” Catherine replied with a pause, then suddenly added, “By the way, Mira, some neighbors mentioned that someone’s been asking. around for a miracle healer.”


    Mirabe’s hand paused mid–stroke through her hair, and her eyes narrowed slightly.


    “You mentioned before that your mentor practices alternative medicine. Could they be looking for him?” Catherine inquired further.


    “I doubt it.” Mirabe responded coolly, not betraying any emotion.


    “Oh, that’s good to hear. Also, I’ve <b>taken </b>the liberty of tidying up some things for you in the cottage,” Catherine added.


    At this, Mirabe pursed her lips and nodded slightly.


    Twenty minutester, after ending the video call with Catherine, Mirabe sat pensively for a while. Then, standing up, she retrieved a piece of paper from the jacket hanging over a chair the one Vincent had given her.


    Unfolding the paper, she looked at the physics problem with a sense of mncholy. Eventually, she picked up a pen and began to work on the solution.


    Summer had just returned to the Gilberts after a get–together with her girl group. The atmosphere at home was tense; her parents, Colton and Mandy, along with her brother Aiden. were not in the best of moods – the air was thick with gloom.


    Summer furrowed her brow and caught a glimpse of Aiden’s smug expression. Summer could guess why the family mood was so heavy. Composing herself, she walked over and greeted t hem as usual.


    “Hey, Mom, Dad.”


    Mandy looked at her and couldn’t help but confront her, “What happened with yourpetition results this term? They were terrible.”