“Mrs. Sandra, I’m going to get your stuff to the first floor. Don’t try to move anything heavy, okay? Just ask Arthur if you need to,” Layla said before going down. Meanwhile, Arthur was packing some items onto cardboard boxes while thinking about how the old woman would rather accept her end when she could actually live longer.

“Hah... I’m going to miss her so much,” the old lady sighed.

“Are you close with her, ma’am?” Arthur got curious.

“Yes, I am. I think she is the closest I have to a relative after the apocalypse took everyone away. She was my reason to keep living,” She smiled.

“Ten years ago, she lost her family as well. Being kindred souls, we got close to each other, filling a hole in each other’s heart,” the old woman reminisced.

“Is that so? I guess she was lucky...” Arthur could not help but envy Layla; he was all alone while she found someone who cared for her.

“Arthur... in life, everyone has their own struggles. I don’t know what you've been through, but everyone has scars in their heart,” She said as if she could read his mind.

“Yes, ma'am. I will try to remember your words,” he solemnly said.

“Good,” the old lady smiled at him before continuing sorting through her belongings.

After a few moments, Arthur turned to the old woman, “by the way, where are you moving to, ma'am? If you're going to miss Ms. Hawkins, why are you moving?”

“I’m going to a nursing home. Soon I will need help for almost everything. I can’t have Little Layla worry all the time.”

“I see,” Arthur responded. He did not know how to react.

“Arthur, can I ask for a favor?” suddenly, she looked all serious.

Arthur was silent for a second before replying, “If I can do it, then I will help you with anything, ma'am.”

“You know... Little Layla might be a little bit rough sometimes, but she has a good heart. She genuinely cares for others,” She started, but Arthur could not help but interrupt.

“She is kind of extreme... I thought she was a bad person... still kinda think that way even now,” he honestly said.

“... then it might be too much for me to ask,” the old woman looked a bit down, which made Arthur feel guilty for saying such a thing about the person she cares about.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“You can ask anyway, ma'am. Who knows if I might be of any help,” he offered.

The old lady looked at him before she started talking once more, “Little Layla had lost so many people in the last decade, and with the world being like this, I’m afraid she will be alone again... If you ever find her alone, can you take her side, Arthur?”

Arthur bit his lips, troubled by her request, “I can’t promise you that I will take her side, ma'am, but I promise you that when the time comes, I will consider it.”

“That's good enough, Arthur. Thank you for considering this old woman’s selfish request,” Mrs. Sandra tried to bow to Arthur, but he helped her up, not allowing the feeble woman to do such a thing.

“Arthur, here, keep it with you all the time. It's a talisman. I made it before I lost my cultivation. Consider it as my appreciation,” she took a small pouch from her pocket, giving it to Arthur.

“Thank you, ma'am. I will keep it close all the time,” He smiled at the old woman. It was the first present he received after so many years.

With so much more to occupy his mind, Arthur continued to help the woman pack her stuff; when he was done, it was already late at night.

“Thanks for your help, Arthur. You can stay the night if you want. It's late already,” Mrs. Sandra offered.

“I’m alright, ma'am. I don’t want to get punished if I’m late to work again,” he said with a laugh, which earned him a glare from Layla.

‘Moreover, I don’t need the others to gossip about me again. They always assume the worst,’ Arthur thought about Simon and the others' habit.

The night sky was a bit cloudy, but he could still see even without moonlight, one of the perks of being an animal cultivator.

‘The others should be asleep by now,’ he thought.

When Arthur arrived in front of the dorm building, he found someone sitting beside the door.

‘Who is that? Why sit there at this hour?’ he wondered as he could not see clearly without an additional light source.

Arthur walked closer to get a better look when the clouds parted, and moonlight illuminated the night. He found the person sitting by the door to be familiar.

‘What is she doing here?’

Athena was sitting by the door, asleep while holding two wooden swords. Selena was not with her, so he assumed the bond was in the dorm.

“Athena, wake up,” he shook her shoulder a bit while calling her name. He did not use her nickname since he is already used to calling her name, changing it feels weird.

“Mom... Dad... don’t go...” She mumbled in her sleep.

‘Tsk... it would be awkward if I wake her up, but it's not like I can leave her out here... can I?’ he deliberated.

‘She seems to be dreaming about her family... It seems what Mrs. Sandra said was true, the Apocalypse leaves scars on everyone’s heart, unseen yet can’t be healed completely.’ He pitied her.

After he shook her a few more times, the girl stirred awake.

“Arthur? ... Oh, you are back. Let's train,” she offered him the sword.

“Ugh... Athena, it's late already... let's go inside and sleep. We need to wake up early tomorrow,” He awkwardly said.

The girl looked down for a second before nodding and walked inside, leaving him behind.

“Don’t tell me she had been waiting for me here all this time...” Arthur mumbled as he walked inside.

*Squeak!* Riley whipped his cheek with its tail, protesting for something, but Arthur did not know what.

The rat was growing larger and larger, but it still liked to be on his shoulder. With its current size, it could only dangle on his shoulder.

‘Today is supposed to be my rest day, why does it seem I have more and more to think about?’ he sighed internally as he went into the dorm room.