"I never attended a formal medical school," Juniper answered truthfully. "As for a mentor... I did have one, but he passed away."


    A long time ago, in fact. He was just an old man at the monastery who spent his days tinkering with herbs. She''d been bored and had passed the time by helping him organize his supplies and reading his medical texts. The knowledge just sort of stuck.


    "I see," Dr. Landon said, running a hand through his hair. It seemed like such a loss. "Your mentor must have been an incredible master."


    “He was alright,” Juniper replied casually.


    A bit worse than her, actually. She recalled several "medicalpetitions" where he had fainted from sheer frustration, muttering about how teaching an apprentice only meant the master would starve. He''dined that she had no tact, always showing him up so thoroughly. And she had only been using half her skill. The old man had passed out cold when he found that out. After he died, her other seniors would joke that she''d literally annoyed him to death. She waspletely innocent, of course.


    "Ms. Payne, we have a few particrly difficult cases. Would you mind taking a look?" Dr. Landon asked, holding out a file with a hopeful, deferential air.


    "Sure." Juniper took the file and instinctively nced at Shanley, licking her lips.


    "Give me your bag," Shanley said immediately. He opened her backpack, pulled out her water bottle, uncapped it, and held it to her lips.


    Dr. Landon and the other doctors exchanged bewildered looks. Was that... Mr. Schwartz, waiting on someone? This girl was clearly special to him. Could she be the future Mrs. Schwartz?


    “Alright, everyone, gather around..." Juniper said after taking a sip.


    The doctors swarmed her instantly. Shanley stepped back, giving them space. He leaned casually against a desk, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the young woman who was now confidently exiningplex medical concepts. She was brilliant, beautiful, and had a captivating voice.


    A true prodigy!


    ...


    At five in the afternoon, after nearly two days at the hospital, Juniper finally agreed to get some fresh air once she was certain Saskia was out of danger Shanley drove her Era High School to pick up J.


    As the final exam ended, students


    poured out of the building. In the


    crowd, they spotted Qadir, Queenie,


    and Dolce, who excitedly waved


    who wayed at


    Juniper from the car window.


    "So you''re really okay." Queenie said, relieved. “That''s good. You had us so worried."


    "But Juniper, you''re not going to have a score for this exam," Qadimented. "I was hoping you''d be here to teach Era High School. lesson, the whole thing Without feels pointless."


    "Not entirely pointless," Juniper said with a raised eyebrow, ncing at Queenie and Dolce. "We still have them."


    “This exam actually felt a lot easier than the others,” Dolce chimed in with a shy nod. "Your study guide was incredibly helpful, Juniper.”


    "d to hear it," Juniper smiled, then turned to Felton. "Has J answered her phone yet?" The girl should have been out by now.


    "No, Ms. Payne," Felton replied respectfully. "However, Mr. Steele has gone to the other gate to look for her."


    "My brother?" Juniper frowned. "Don''t tell me he''s been waiting at the school gate this whole time."


    Felton''s silence was all the confirmation she needed.


    "Tsk," Juniper clicked her tongue in disapproval. "He''s really going for it. Shameless."


    "...Don''t say that,” Shanley muttered, his jaw tightening slightly as he tried to remain calm. Juniper''s words had, after all, hit two targets with one stone.