Chapter 365: The Dynamic Among Your Men

April’s vision had first landed on Oliver’s new class.

Divine Healer...

The title echoed in her mind with an undeniable weight. It fit Oliver so perfectly it almost made her chest ache. He wasn’t just a skilled doctor with a scalpel; he was her sanctuary, the man who pledged to keep her alive and repair whatever broke her. She already had revitalization water, but it was not eternal—not after the upgrade.

Seeing the System confirm what she already felt deep in her heart brought a quiet, profound sense of satisfaction.

Then her eyes drifted down to the sixth entry, locking onto Emily’s line.

Unique Class: Aegis Bearer.

April went still, her mind racing to parse the title. Aegis—a shield, an impenetrable symbol of protection, sanctuary, and ultimate defense. Bearer—one who holds or carries a sacred duty.

A heavy, lingering knot in April’s chest finally loosened, replaced by a wave of sweet relief. Between Oliver’s newly assigned class, and Emily’s own class sounding like the ultimate defensive shield, her twin sister seemed completely insulated from harm.

An Aegis Bearer... April thought, a soft, reassuring curve touching her lips as her anxiety over Philippe’s dark love fortune faded into the background. The System gave her a protective class. She’s meant to be safe, guarded by the ultimate defense.

She had no reason to suspect the System’s mechanics. She had no way of knowing that the class wasn’t designed to shield Emily from the world—but actually...

"April?"

Oliver’s voice broke through her deep trance, pulling her back into the quiet library. His dark eyes searched her face with quiet concern behind his wire-rimmed glasses, his hand still resting steadily on her waist.

April blinked, the blue interface fading from her sight as she brought her focus back to the doctor. She tilted her head up, a soft, affectionate smile warming her features.

"How do you feel?" she asked softly, reaching up to rest her palm against his jaw, her thumb lightly brushing his cheekbone. "Do you feel... any different?"

"Not particularly," Oliver murmured softly, his dark eyes searching hers behind his wire-rimmed glasses as he pondered her question with his usual clinical precision.

He paused, bringing his free hand up to rest flat against his chest, right over his steady, beating heart.

"...but," he continued, his raspy voice dropping into a quiet, wonder-filled register, "I do feel light."

April looked at his hand against his chest, a soft, knowing smile touching her lips. The subtle shift had taken root—the quiet, immense warmth of the Divine Healer settling into his pulse, sharpening his senses and easing the unspoken exhaustion he had carried for so long.

"Light is good," April whispered, reaching up to cover his hand with her own, her fingers lacing through his. "You carry enough weight on your shoulders, Doctor. You deserve to feel light."

Oliver’s thumb stroked the back of her hand once more, but he didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he looked at her through his wire-rimmed glasses, his gaze carrying a quiet, analytical weight.

"While we are speaking of weight, Miss April," Oliver began, his raspy voice dropping into a low, measured register, "there is another matter you ought to address before the disaster forces us into tight quarters."

April tilted her head slightly, her fingers still resting over his. "What matter?"

"The dynamic among your men," Oliver said plainly, stripped of any malice or pretense. "Particularly Nat and Xavier. I have noticed on differnet occasions that Nat speaks down to Xavier continuously, testing boundaries and asserting dominance—and you have allowed it to pass without interference."

April paused, a subtle flicker of surprise crossing her eyes.

She had simply thought that was just Nat’s character and that there wasn’t much anyone could do about it. He was naturally arrogant, crude, and talked down to virtually everyone. She hadn’t considered the long-term friction to be a real issue—if anything, she had assumed those sharp, sarcastic jabs were just their strange way of bonding.

"They have strong personalities, Oliver," April murmured, her brow furrowing slightly. "I just thought they could settle it on their own—they have their pride as men, right? I thought letting them handle it between themselves was the best approach."

"It isn’t," Oliver countered softly but firmly. "Men like Nat and Xavier are predators accustomed to absolute control in their respective worlds. If you do not establish the hierarchy yourself, they will constantly fight to erect one of their own—and Nat will keep pushing until he fractures the balance completely."

April looked down at their joined hands, processing his words. "What am I supposed to do, then? I’m still learning how to handle all of this. People, and feelings."

"Take control," Oliver advised, his dark eyes unwavering behind his lenses. "Set explicit boundaries. Remind them that they stand before you as equals, and that walking over one another is a direct slight to your authority. Lay down consequences if they cross those lines. You are the center of this circle, April. If you do not command the order, chaos will."

A sharp, resolute clarity settled in April’s chest. Oliver was right. She couldn’t afford a fractured house when nine days were all they had to be this... free.

"Equal footing, no exceptions," April whispered, her gaze hardening with new resolve. "I’ll make sure they understand that tonight."

Oliver offered a rare, subtle nod of approval before gently stepping back, adjusting his glasses as his professional, composed demeanor returned.

"Miss April, Samuel informed me that you needed medical supplies and high-grade equipment," Oliver said, his raspy voice steady and grounding. "I have already authorized everything under my personal medical license and research credentials. You can acquire as much as you need—the government and regulatory organizations will not flag your purchases or flag your shipments."

April looked up at him, momentarily stunned. Securing heavy pharmaceutical stockpiles, surgical setups, and restricted antibiotics without raising red flags with health authorities had been a major headache looming over her planning. And here he was, calmly handing her the master key.

A surge of relief and affection swept through her. Leaning in, April captured his lips in a deep, lingering kiss. She caught the faint, subtle trace of herself resting on his mouth, but she didn’t care in the slightest.

Oliver gasped softly against her mouth before wrapping an arm firmly around her waist, deepening the kiss with a quiet, passionate intensity before slowly letting her go.

"Thank you, Oliver," April whispered against his lips, her dark eyes shining. "Truly."

"Anything for you," Oliver murmured back, a soft, rare warmth softening his features as he smoothed her hair. "Now go handle your storehouses. I will begin sorting a few of my own stuff."