Morning came quietly.
Arin opened his eyes.
The weakness was still there, but lighter than before. His body responded better now, though the strain hadn't disappeared.
He sat up slowly and tested his movement. There was still a slight tremor, but it didn't feel like he would collapse immediately.
It would hold, for now.
His gaze shifted to the terminal.
If he wanted to continue, he had to deal with this condition first.
He opened the search panel.
Best medical facility near me.
The results loaded after a moment.
Several options appeared.
He selected one near the Central District.
Estimated travel time: 15 minutes.
He stepped outside.
The moment he did, the sounds reached him.
Footsteps. Voices. Movement from different directions.
People were already out, heading somewhere with purpose. No one stood still for long.
Arin began walking.
A few glanced at him as he passed. His pale appearance stood out slightly, but no one stopped. At most, they looked once and moved on.
No one paid attention.
That was enough to understand the pace of this place.
He stopped near the transit area.
Vehicles moved in and out without delay. Some paused briefly before leaving again.
One of them descended and aligned in front of him.
Arin watched it for a moment.
No visible driver.
No sound except a faint hum.
The door opened on its own.
He watched it for a moment before stepping in.
He stepped inside.
"Astra Vale City — Eastern District, Sector 7."
"Location confirmed."
"Destination?"
"Central District Medical Center."
"Route confirmed."
Fare: 150 Credits.
He accepted.
The door closed.
The cab lifted.
The movement was smooth.
Almost no sensation.
Arin leaned back slightly and looked outside.
Buildings passed steadily on both sides. Some were closely packed, others spaced apart with connecting paths. Vehicles moved above in fixed routes, maintaining distance without slowing.
Below, people continued moving. Some entered shops, some crossed paths, others didn't stop at all.
Everything kept moving.
He noticed the messages again.
Unread.
Ren Talvik: Hey… how are you holding up?
He replied after a brief pause.
Arin: I'm better now.
Next.
Instructor Hale: I heard about your parents. I'm sorry. If you need anything, let me know.
He looked at it for a moment, then typed.
Arin: I'm okay. Thank you.
A call request appeared.
Instructor Hale.
He accepted.
"Arin… how are you now?"
"I'm better, sir."
"You sure? You sounded bad yesterday."
"I'm managing. It's better than yesterday."
A short pause.
"That's good… just don't ignore it. If something feels wrong, you tell me, alright?"
"I will."
"And… you don't have to handle everything alone."
Arin didn't answer immediately.
"I understand."
"Alright. Take care of yourself."
The call ended.
The cab continued forward.
The surroundings began to change gradually. Buildings were less crowded. The movement on the streets reduced compared to before.
"Central District reached."
The cab descended.
It stopped, and the door opened.
Arin stepped out.
The medical building stood ahead.
More than ten floors.
The exterior was clean, with people entering and leaving through separate paths. Some walked in quickly, others were guided inside without delay.
He stood outside for a moment.