"You only have one week left."
Aurora could hear a hint of pity in the doctor's voice as she closed her eyes and felt the shaking of her skinny hands. The realization that she would soon cease to exist in this world was slowly sinking into her mind; her heart felt at loss.
She slowly opened her eyes and stared straight at the middle-aged woman in a white coat, then opened her mouth with difficulty.
"My parents… are they going to visit me today?"
The doctor paused for a long time, seemingly hesitating, before replying in an overly cautious manner.
"The president, he... told us that he has a company meeting today. And, Madam, she is currently abroad, attending a charity event at the behest of the company."
"Oh, is that so?"
Aurora's expression didn't fluctuate in the slightest as she gazed at the distant sky through the window on the side of her bed, but the doctor could perceive a slight bitterness and resentment in her voice.
The room suddenly fell into an awkward silence. For a long time, neither the sickly pale girl nor the female doctor said anything.
To be honest, Aurora didn't have much expectation that the news of their youngest daughter's impending death would be able to attract the attention of her heartless parents. Even when she was still healthy, Aurora's father and mother never paid much attention to her. The only things on their minds were their company, their wealth, and their status.
Even if she died, they still had several competent children that could continue their legacy. Losing one sickly and incompetent child didn't matter much to them anyway. At least, that is what Aurora believed.
Aurora let out a long sigh and waved her hand to the doctor.
"It's enough for today, doctor. You must be busy."
"What will you do today?"
"As usual." Aurora lightly glanced at the latest gaming VR helmet on the top of the desk before adding another word, "playing game."
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The doctor reprimanded her in a slightly concerned tone: "Don't overexert yourself. You've been staying too late recently."
"It doesn't matter. I'm going to die anyway," Aurora said indifferently.
"You…" Anger and helplesness flashed on the doctor's face as she was about to rebuke Aurora's words, but in the end, she simply shook her head and muttered in a low voice. "Don't say it like that..."
Realizing that she spoke too harshly to the doctor, a rare trace of guilt was shown on Aurora's beautiful face.
"Sorry, I said too much." She apologized. "I'll keep your words in mind."
The doctor didn't say anything else and prepared to leave the room. Before she stepped out of the room, a hesitant voice called to her from behind.
"Hey, Doc."
The doctor turned around at the call, and she suddenly froze, her eyes widening as she witnessed a beautiful smile bloom on the girl's perpetually expressionless face; just like an ephemeral morning glory that would wither in just a blink of an eye.
"Thanks for your care."
*
After the doctor left the room, Aurora slowly propped her body up, sitting on the bed with her back leaning on the pillow. Her phone screen flashed several times as chat notifications flooded the interface. Most of the messages came from her guild chatroom.
[Glory Guild Chat Room]
- TwistedMelonIsNotSweet: Hey guild leader, where are you? We're ready to raid the boss!
- OverweightTyrant: Yo, yo, boss! Come on, we get a lizard bitch to screw up!
- ShyBastard: Hehe, I can't wait to hear her sweet screams! Hehe!
- OverweightTyrant: You, sicko.
- TwistedMelonIsNotSweet: You, sicko+1
- Iambutaspeckofdust: You, sicko. +2
- GloryVanguard: You, sicko +999
- ShyBastard: I'm Sicko +666
Aurora couldn't help but chuckle as she watched her friends' shenanigans. Yes, friends. Due to her sickly constitution and status as the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in the world, she didn't have the opportunity to meet and interact normally with others. Thus, only after she stumbled upon an online game did she finally have some people that she could call friends.
No one knew hers, nor did she know the other people's identities, but it didn't dampen the enjoyment she got from playing and fooling around with them; especially since the release of Legend Online, the first immersive VRMMORPG.
In this game, she wasn't Aurora the Conglomerate's daughter, nor was she the terminally ill Aurora. She was simply a player called Auror, the strongest player with brilliant achievement, who, with her own effort, rolled around and struggled from the weakest class, Spirit Swordman, to the terrifying legend "Demon Swordsman."
Only in this game could she truly feel alive, and she was determined to leave her name and legacy behind.
Legend Online Hall of Fame
This was her target, and no one could stop her. Her name will definitely live forever, even though she will cease to exist in this world soon.
She typed a reply in the chat room, grabbed the VR helmet on the side, put it on, and adjusted her body to a comfortable position before softly muttering.
"Engine start."
The room turned into silence once more. Only her phone flashed occasionally.
- Auror: I'll be there soon.