While Alex ate, Jack's mother watched him carefully before finally speaking. "How's the war? Did you get good loot?"
"Yes, Mom, don't worry," Alex replied, slurping the soup. "I earned enough to cover our bills. But I got something even better."
Jack's mother raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Better than money?"
Alex set his spoon down, meeting her gaze with a calm confidence. "I got a skill that might be able to heal you."
For a moment, she just blinked at him. Then she let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head. "Jack, that's not something you should joke about."
"I'm serious," Alex insisted, his voice steady. "It's still untested, but if it works, you might not need the healer anymore."
Her smile faded, replaced by something much more complicated—disbelief, hope, and a growing sense of dread. "Jack… What did you do to get this skill?"
