For a suspended moment after Mansa’s words hung in the air, Linsy could only stare, her mind blank with pure, uncomprehending shock. The beep of the heart monitor beside her bed seemed to sync with her own racing pulse.

Mansa ended the call with a soft click, the sound final in the quiet room. He met her gaze, his expression a mixture of apology, determination, and a deep, unshakable resolve.

“Mansa… what have you done?” Her voice was a whisper, thin with disbelief. “That wasn’t… ...