10 Friend or Foe?

After several attempts to wake him, the man remained motionless, his blood-stained face serene as if he were lost in a blissful dream.

An idea, bright and awkward, flickered in Lupus's mind. Clasping her hands together in apology, she murmured, "Sorry, Mr Jack!"

Without hesitation, she unzipped his top, exposing a frail frame. His ribs protruded prominently, evidence of severe malnourishment in the unforgiving void of space. Her gaze fixed on his chest as she pressed her bunny ear close, listening for a heartbeat.

"Ha! It's still beating!" she mumbled, a flicker of relief in her voice. "Only faintly…" The thought unsettled her, worry creeping back in.

There was no time to waste.

Her choices were grim: use her healing essence to stabilise him, risking a significant drain on her withering mana and leaving herself vulnerable, or attempt traditional CPR.

With Jack's vital signs rapidly deteriorating, Lupus decided on the latter. She knelt beside him, lacing her fingers together and placing her hands firmly over his sternum.

"Please work! Otherwise, I'll have to use Iasis!" she prayed aloud, her tone weak yet resolute.

With rhythmic precision, she began chest compressions, counting steadily while exerting enough force to generate artificial blood flow.

Then, a mortifying thought dawned on her.

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Her face darkened at the realisation.

"Holy Dolly! I didn't think of that!" she whispered, her fingertips brushing her lips as she hesitated.

It wasn't that he was unattractive, but she had never kissed a man before — not even a peck on the cheek for her twelve brothers or her father.

Despite being twenty-two, she had remained chaste, entirely focused on honing her Arc athletic skills, which had recently earned her an Olympic gold medal and the title of Olympic Mage just months ago.

Shaking off her selfish thoughts, Lupus steeled herself. This was no time for embarrassment. His life was in her hands; it was, after all, her fault he was in this near-death state.

Her resolve firmed as she leaned over him, her puckering lips hovering near his. Her face flushed crimson, and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push past the wave of embarrassment.

"Ay?! What're ya doin'?" a deep voice cracked suddenly, shattering the moment.

Lupus jolted back, brushing her fringe awkwardly to hide her flustered heart.

"N~nothing!" she stammered, her timid gaze darting away.

Jack sat up with a groan, confusion etched across his face. He looked down at his exposed chest, his mind racing to piece together what had happened.

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Two questions loomed large: Why wasn't he in the underworld? And why was his chest bare?

Glancing at Lupus, the likely culprit, he squinted suspiciously. "Lady, were you trying to grope me while I was out?"

"What?!" Lupus's voice boomed, her jaw dropping in utter disbelief. She quickly regained her composure, crossing her arms defensively. "In your dreams, uncle! I was trying to save your life."

"Oh… right… Okay," Jack muttered, his words sluggish as he struggled to process the events.

Slowly, he zipped up his top, his mind still foggy. "So… are we good?" he asked uncertainly, eyeing her warily.

"Yep, I'll believe you this time, despite the absurdity of your claim," Lupus exclaimed, flashing a toothy grin, her small fang glinting brightly. She then added with a chuckle, "But judging by the wound on your head, I reckon you must've hit it pretty hard when you crash-landed."

"Finally, someone who doesn't attack first and ask questions later," Jack quipped, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

Lupus's face fell slightly. She fidgeted with her fingers, her expression akin to a child caught red-handed. "Well, sorry…" she murmured, her voice soft and apologetic.

"It's fine. I'm alive, aren't I?" Jack paused, initially tempted to tease her but deciding against it.

Given her youthful demeanour, he guessed she might still be a teenager. Instead, he continued more gently, "At least you tried to… save my life."

The girl's face brightened instantly, her golden eyes sparkling with joy. She sprang to her feet with boundless energy, approaching him and extending her hand.

"Let me help you, Mr Jack Squire! I'm Lupus Hoffmann, the Olympic Mage for the agility division!" she declared proudly, her silver hair flowing like a mesmerising cascade in the gentle breeze.

Jack nearly lost himself in her radiant beauty but quickly snapped out of it.

Wait… she was a full grown adult?! Ugh, that's the least of my worries.

Grasping her outstretched hand, he hoisted himself up and smiled politely. "Thank you. Nice to meet you, Miss Hoffmann," he said with a nod.

"The pleasure's all mine…" she replied, though her tone faltered. A nervous chuckle escaped her lips as she realised 'pleasure' wasn't exactly her first impression of him.

Still, from what she had observed, Jack seemed honest, gentle, and respectful.

Even at death's door, he hadn't resorted to touching her thighs to free himself. She marvelled at the thought, a man of such honour was rare in her world.

"Oh, you can just call me Jack. No need for the formalities," he offered amicably, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Alrighty, Jackie! Then please call me Lupy!" she exclaimed, overjoyed, bouncing on her heels like an excitable child. Perhaps it was one of her Wildren personality traits, given her rabbit-like nature.

Jack blinked, slightly startled by her sudden casualness, but eventually relented. "Jackie's fine…" he said with a slight shrug.

Lupus nodded enthusiastically, clearly pleased.

The way she said his name triggered a pang of nostalgia, reminding Jack of the few people he could still remember.

David, my friend… People around me just keep dropping dead, he thought grimly, his expression neutral but the grief in his eyes unmistakable.

"What's wrong?" Lupus asked, tilting her head, puzzled by his sombre shift.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking about something," Jack replied vaguely, laughing it off to deflect her concern.

"How about you join us? We're heading to the refugee camp," Lupus suggested cheerily, her voice carrying a sing-song quality.

As she spoke, she gently brushed her hand over his silver hair, careful not to aggravate the clotted wound on his head. "I reckon you'll need some patching up too," she added softly, her tone filled with genuine care.

"Th~thanks…" Jack stammered, averting his gaze as his thoughts raced. Calm down! She's just being kind. I need to find my family, but I can't go on in my current state.

As if on cue, Lupus's group of survivors emerged to greet them, a few dozen metres away. Jack raised his hand in a small wave and dipped his head in a polite bow. Together, he and Lupus rejoined the caravan of refugees, each step taking them closer to the uncertain path ahead.

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