(ZELLA’S POV) As morning came and sunlight poured into my room, I opened my eyes and sat up. It felt unreal. Being alive, surviving the six-hour hell, was a luxury seemingly beyond reach just some hours ago. And now I’m in my bed, with new, upgraded abilities, a new connection, and a lot of money. Behind me, Mike sprawled on the couch, one arm dangling, wiped out. He hadn’t even made it to his room. As soon as we got home, all his adrenaline just vanished, causing him to pass out on the couch. I loosened the pouch containing our stones just a bit, enough to catch a glint of uncut heavenly violet jade. Three of them! If you didn’t know what you were looking at, they seemed ordinary. To the right person, though, these meant freedom, safety, and power. I snapped the pouch shut. Mike started to stir behind me. He groaned, dragged himself upright, and pressed his hands to his face. “Please tell me we didn’t just imagine all that,” he said, his voice muffled. “We didn’t,” I answered
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