Upstairs.


    Chapter 141


    Mirabe, clutching her belongings, twisted the knob and pushed open the door to the neighboring


    room.


    –


    With a flick of the switch on the wall, the sparse roomyout – one bed, one desk came into view, all


    cast in modern, minimalist decor and suffused with cool tones. On the wall hung two framed certificates


    of achievement that caught her eye.


    She set her things down gently on the desk and made her way over to the certificates. Her curiosity


    was aroused by the recognitions they bore. One was for the prestigious Norsen Prize in Medical


    Biology, a hallmark of excellence within the medicalmunity of the States, awarded triennially to


    individuals who exhibited extraordinary talent in the medical field. The other was the Rasko Medical


    Award, equally renowned on the international stage. Either de on its own was a testament to the


    significant contributions the recipient had made to medical science.


    Mirabe hadn’t expected that this brother of hers, whom she had never met, was a medical prodigy.


    She noted the date on the awards – both from five years ago. Nick would have been around twenty at


    that time?


    Mirabe’s curiosity about this Nick intensified. It was a shame he was abroad. Otherwise, it could have


    been an opportunity for an engaging exchange.


    Shifting her focus, she drew the curtains closed, turned on the air conditioning, and waited for the room


    to reach the desired temperature before she began sorting through the heap of herbal ingredients on


    the desk.


    Creating incense sticks wasn’t particrly challenging, but the tricky in precisely calcting the


    amount and ratio of powdered sandalwood and medicinal herbs. While not a professional incense


    maker, Mirabe had a natural affinity for mixing fragrances andpounding medicines. Her ability to


    combine several potent herbs without causing adverse reactions and her near–obsessive precision in


    understanding and manipting medicinal properties were nothing short of extraordinary.


    For her, concocting theposition for Incense of Calm was a walk in the park.


    Two hourster, Mirabe set down her tools and gazed at the freshly molded incense sticks on the


    cutting board, exhaling deeply. All that remained was for the incense to dry outpletely over the


    next couple of hours, signaling the sess of her endeavor.


    She twisted her stiff neck and nced down at her fingers smeared with incense y before heading to


    the washroom to clean up.,


    After lingering in the room for another half–hour to ensure the incense was problem–free, Mirabe


    finally opened the door to leave. No sooner had she pulled the door shut than she saw Zach stumbling


    at the stairwell.


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    Chapter 141


    Quickening her pace, Mirabe moved toward him. Her nose was immediately assaulted by the


    pungent scent of alcohol. She frowned and hurriedly steadied him.


    Zach, slightly inebriated but conscious, beamed at Mirabe. His grin bloomed like a flower. “Mira, did


    you wait up just for me to get home?”


    At the sound of “Mira,” Mirabe’s support ckened, and Zach, caught off guard, bumped into the


    wall. He hissed in pain, catching himself against the wall to prevent a fall. When he turned his head, his


    sses were askew, teetering on the brink of tumbling off. “You…”


    Mirabe adjusted his sses for him. Her expression was unaltered as she said, “Sorry, Zach, I don’t


    have much strength. I couldn’t hold you.”


    Zach, his mind muddled by alcohol, processed the words more slowly than usual. “Oh, oh, no worries.


    My bad.”