Chapter 128: Something Worth Growing
Jin woke to the smell of something cooking.
For a few seconds, that was the only thing he could register—something warm and savory in the air, the faint crackle of a stove or pan somewhere nearby. The world around him was soft, muted. The morning light filtered through cracked blinds in gentle stripes across the floor, catching dust motes in the air.
He blinked slowly, pushing himself upright.
He was in one of the classrooms. In a makeshift bunk space the recruits had been using. Someone had laid a folded blanket under his head and pulled a spare coat over his shoulders.
He stared at it for a second, then let out a quiet breath.
"Seul," he murmured.
She must’ve carried him inside last night after he’d dozed off in the courtyard. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep on his feet, but apparently, exhaustion didn’t need permission anymore.
He ran a hand through his hair and stretched. His muscles protested, but not violently. The kind of ache that promised he’d survived something heavy, not that he was still in the middle of it.
The smell of food was stronger now. Eggs, maybe. Something with rice. Maybe even broth. It tugged at him harder than he expected.
He rose, rubbed the last bit of sleep from his eyes, and followed the scent down the hall.
Jin stepped into the cafeteria, and for a moment, all fifteen heads turned toward him.