The silence of the room was heavy, thick with the smell of old parchment and the metallic tang of failed experiments. For three days, I hadn't crossed the threshold. My world had shrunk to the four walls of my laboratory, fueled by a frantic, desperate search for a cure for my own deteriorating legs.
"This is useless!" I roared, my voice cracking from days of researching.
I snatched a vial of Minecraft Milk a desperate, logic-defying attempt at a chance to fix my legs, i hurled it across the room. It shattered against the wall, the white liquid dripping like a mockery of my failure.
"Even this won't work!"
I grabbed my hair, my fingers digging into my scalp as a frustrated scream tore from my throat. The panic was a living thing, clawing at my chest. But as the echoes died down, the adrenaline began to fade, replaced by a cold, hollow realization.
I sank onto the edge of my bed, the springs creaking under my weight. The blue glow of the interface hovered mockingly in the corner of my vision.
"The System can't help me..." I whispered to the empty air. My shoulders slumped. "So be it."
The moment I accepted the silence, it was broken by a soft, hesitant rap against the wood of my door.
"Mistress?"
It was Z23. Her voice was muffled, laced with a layer of anxiety she couldn't quite hide.
"It's been three days. Are you... are you alright?"
I stared at the door for a long beat. Slowly, I pushed myself up. I waited for the familiar, agonizing flare of pain in my nerves, but today, my legs remained stubbornly numb a reprieve that felt more like a countdown. I walked to the door and pulled it open.
Z23 stood there, her face pinched with worry. Flanking her were Ruby and Martha, their expressions equally grim.
"Oh. Hi, guys," I said, trying for a casual tone that fell completely flat.
They didn't wait for an invitation. The trio swept past me into the room, stopping dead as they took in the disaster zone. Shattered glass, discarded notes, and the lingering gloom of a girl who had given up on the world. Without a word, they began to move picking up debris, straightening sheets, and throwing open the heavy curtains.
"Hey! Stop that!" I barked, feeling a flush of embarrassment. "I can do it myself!"
They ignored me with the practiced ease of people who knew I was full of it.
"Don't worry, Agnes," Ruby said, pausing to offer a bright, radiant smile. "We're going to help you overcome this. Together."
The warmth in her eyes hit me like a physical blow. For a split second, she reminded me so much of... Daiwa. I shook my head violently to clear the memory.
"You don't have to do this," I muttered, my protest losing its edge.
"Your room is a biohazard," Z23 noted dryly, tossing a crumpled paper into a bin.
"To think, the woman who cured Oripathy lives like a hermit. My professional pride is hurting just looking at you."
That stung. "Hey! I'll show you pride!"
Grabbing a broom, I shoved my way into the fray. If I couldn't fix my leg, I could at least fix my floor.
Outside in the hallway, two figures watched the frantic cleaning through the ajar door.
"It seems Agnes has returned to her usual self," one remarked with a chuckle.
"Define 'normal' when it comes to her," the second replied, prompting a round of quiet laughter. "True enough."
Further down the corridor, Amiya beamed, her long ears twitching with relief. "Doctor Agnes seems to be lively again. I was so worried."
The Doctor nodded, adjusting their coat. "Good for her. She shouldn't have to carry it all alone. Come on, let's go pay her a proper visit."
Before they could take a single step, a shadow fell over them. A cold, clinical presence blocked the path.
"You aren't going anywhere," Kal'tsit said, her voice like dropping ice cubes into a glass. She gestured toward the command center. "Not until you finish this mountain of paperwork."
The Doctor's shoulders slumped in a perfect imitation of Agnes's earlier despair.
Meanwhile, the gloom of the past three days was replaced by the bustling energy of the ship's promenade. I found myself dragged along by Ruby, Z23, and Martha, weaving through the shops and taking in the artificial breeze of the deck.
"You should try this, Miss Agnes!" Ruby chirped, pressing a brightly wrapped candy into my hand.
"Thank you," I said, a small, genuine smile finally tugging at my lips.
I unwrapped it and let the sugar hit my tongue.
"it's so delicious" i sais before patting the head of ruby
A/n: did you miss me