Chapter Nine

The stranger Elena and Forest brought back had been sleeping since they carried him into the restaurant. He did not open his eyes all through the period when they took care of him. His breathing was rapid at some point, coming out in harsh puffs, causing Elena to become worried. Mac helped to remove the man's attire and dressed him in more comfortable clothes. When he was done, Elena took over from Forest and began to wipe off the man's sweat. His breathing eventually became normal, and Elena sighed in relief.

The man slept for a long time, and they all surmised that his body required the much-needed rest. So they went about their daily duties as the man slept. Later in the evening, as they were preparing for the public banquet, the man woke up. Forest was the first to find out as he was in his room searching for what to wear. When the strange man woke up, Forest jumped in alarm when he called out to him. Finally recognizing who was talking, Forest reached out to the man and