Mary and Athissa spent hours packing most of the materials from the clinic and decided to sell the ones that weren’t necessary.
The night was already deep when they finished, and both of them lay on the floor covered in dirt.
“Ah, I never expected this to be fun, but it’s too damn tiring,” Mary exclaimed as she spread her arms wide, smiling cheerfully.
“Fun for you… not for me,” Athissa replied, looking at the ceiling.
“You know, I saved a lot of money to fund this clinic since my parents are against this as it’s not a ‘womanly’ figure to work, but I still made it.
Only for this place to be closed… forever.” She muttered sadly.
Mary instantly sat up.
“Don’t say that.
I’m sure you’ll have a clinic in Ravenfort!” She said to cheer Athissa up.
“Haha, that is if I remain alive at some point.
Mary, I’m sure you already know why I’m the one they want to send there, far from home,” Athissa muttered softly, still staring at the ceiling without a blink.
Mary’s shoulders slumped.
“Yeah, I know.
It’s really hard to be an unfavored child.”
Athissa glared at Mary in an instant.
“Ouch?
I know, but don’t say that out loud.
It still hurts, you know,” Athissa rolled her eyes, sat up, and pinched Mary’s cheeks.
“Don’t be too cheeky on me.”
“Owkayyyy,” Mary cried out, pulling herself away from Athissa.
After Athissa unhanded Mary, both of them laughed again and continued working.
It took an hour before they loaded the boxes into the cart they rented for that night.
“This will be the last time we’ll be seeing each other,” Athissa muttered softly, looking at Mary, who was placing the last box in the cart.
Mary looked back.
Teary-eyed, she walked closer and hugged Athissa, who was caught off guard.
Athissa softened and hugged Mary back, patting her head.
“Don’t worry.
I’ll still pay you.” She chuckled.
“EH!
That’s not the point!” Mary pouted, shaking her head.
“Alright.
Don’t worry about finding a new job.
I’ll make you a recommendation and a referral.
I’ll have it delivered to your home.
So you’ll be fine without me,” Athissa said, full of affection for the person she had worked with for many years.
“Okay, I’ll wait for your return, and thank you for everything!” Mary cried out again, hugging Athissa tightly and didn’t let go for a few minutes.
By the time Mary pulled back, Athissa’s dress was drenched in tears.
“Your snot in my dress!” Athissa exclaimed with amusement, pointing at the wet spot on her dress.
“I’m sowwy!
It’s just that I’m so used to working with you that I may find it hard to start over again,” Mary explained, pouting even more.
“I know, but I also know that you’ll be fine.
You survived me.
I’m sure you’ll survive a new job,” Athissa chuckled and pinched both of Mary’s cheeks.
“And who would be mean to you when you’re this cute?”
“Heyyyyyy, don’t shayyy that!” Mary pulled away and caressed her swollen cheeks.
Athissa smiled genuinely.
“I should go now.
I still need to pack my other stuff back at home,” she said and patted Mary’s head one last time.
“Okay, I wish you the best, Doctor!” Mary smiled brightly and waved goodbye while Athissa climbed into the cart.
Athissa waved back before pulling the horse reins and moving along.
“Goodbye, Mary,” she said and didn’t dare look back because if she did, she would cry.
It was just a short ride before she arrived at a private house she owned.
Most of her things were already there after she left her parents’ house.
“Well, there’s no rest for me today.
I guess,” Athissa sighed deeply.
Her body was already aching for a rest, but if she did, there would be more work for her later.
For a body like Athissa without a wolf.
She was functioning like a human, fragile, unlike those who had already received their wolf, which helped them improve more in physical attributes.
Athissa pushed her already tired body to place several clothes and important belongings into two large trunks.
She folded each dress neatly, wrapped her medical books in cloth to protect them from dust, and carefully packed glass medicine bottles with layers of old fabric so they would not shatter during a long journey.
Each item Athissa touched contained a memory of her struggles, both joy and hardship.
It made her recall the past years.
However, it was disrupted by a knock on her door.
Athissa remained silent for several seconds before slowly walking towards the door and unlocking it.
Standing outside was a tall man dressed in formal attire.
His bright, honey-colored eyes—so similar to hers were cold as ever, though they looked strangely tired.
“What are you doing here?” Athissa asked flatly.
“So it’s true.
You’re leaving tomorrow,” Anthony, the eldest of all siblings to Athissa, spoke while glancing past her shoulders at the packed trunks.
“I don’t remember informing you,” Athissa replied, crossing her arms.
She kept her distance from him.
“You didn’t.”
Silence settled between them.
Growing up, Anthony had never mistreated Athissa, but he had never defended her either.
Whenever their parents belittled her dreams, he simply stood by in silence.
“I came because Mother wanted to make sure you actually left,” Anthony finally admitted.
Hearing those words, Athissa gave a dry laugh.
“How thoughtful.”
“…”
“You can tell the one who birthed me.
She doesn’t need to worry, as I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning, not today,” Athissa shook her head.
She wasn’t surprised her own mother was so impatient.
“I’ll make sure to relay that to her later,” Anthony replied.
However, he still remained standing as stiff as a tree.
Athissa thought he was done with his business with her and got irritated when Anthony remained still.
“What?
What more do you want?” Athissa said, her voice rising.
Anthony looked away.
After a long pause, Anthony reached inside his coat and handed Athissa a heavy leather pouch.
It landed in her hands with an unmistakable click.
It was coins.
A lot of them.
“I don’t need your charity,” Athissa said immediately, trying to return it.
“It’s not a charity,” Anthony quickly defended himself.
He felt a bit offended by her refusal of his help, but he insisted.
After all, he knew it would take a long time for them to meet again.
“I don’t want you to be broke.”
Please remember that screaming at your screen will not change the chapter.
I tested it.
The characters continued making terrible decisions.