Arin stood in front of the interface, his gaze resting on the list of options.
For a moment, he didn't move. Then something surfaced—not clearly, but clear enough to leave an impression. A familiar room, a weak body lying still, and two figures beside it.
Voices followed, faint and tired, trying to remain steady.
"We'll try again."
"It should work this time."
The images didn't stay long, but the feeling did. A dull tightness formed in his chest, unfamiliar yet heavy, as if the body remembered something his mind could not fully accept.
A thought followed, something he had carried from before. Back then, people believed that after death, the soul would move on—offerings were made, incense burned, so that nothing was left behind and the departed could leave properly. If a wish remained unfulfilled, then the end was not complete.
They had tried everything.
Even after they were gone, they had still left something behind for him.
If this body remained like this, then their wish would remain unfinished.
Arin exhaled slowly. If it could be fixed, then at least their wish would be fulfilled, and they could finally rest.
The thought settled, and he moved on.
His attention returned to the interface.
The options remained unchanged. Cheaper treatments would improve the body for a while, but not fix it. The results would fade, and the same process would repeat. Spend, recover slightly, decline again.
That path had already been taken.
His current condition was proof of it.
A body like this couldn't support anything further. If he ignored that and forced progress, the risk would only increase.
The conclusion was simple.
Temporary solutions had no value.
His gaze shifted to the higher-cost options. They were expensive, but they addressed the problem directly.
Money could be earned again.
Health could not.
The thought settled naturally.
There was no hesitation after that.
He selected the option.
Full Body Healing.
The cost appeared clearly—8500 Stellar Credits.
Arin confirmed it without pause.
The interface dimmed, and a section of the wall shifted open, revealing a narrow passage leading inward. The transition was smooth, as if the system had been waiting for his decision.
He stepped forward.
The treatment room was compact and sealed. At its center stood a single medical unit, enclosed with transparent panels. There was nothing unnecessary inside, only a clear focus on function.
Arin approached and lay down.
The surface adjusted immediately, supporting his body without strain. His posture aligned naturally, removing the tension he had grown used to ignoring.
"Treatment will begin."
A scanning light passed over him once.
The chamber closed.
A mechanical arm extended from the side. A fine injector aligned beside his arm, steady and precise.
The injection came quickly.
A sharp sting followed by heat.
It spread faster than expected, not gentle.
The warmth moved through his veins with pressure, forcing its way across his body. His muscles tightened in response, fingers curling slightly as the sensation deepened. His chest felt heavier, and his breathing slowed, not entirely under his control.
The process did not pause.
The heat intensified briefly before beginning to stabilize. It spread more evenly now, no longer forcing its way forward but settling into place. The tension in his body began to reduce, not instantly, but steadily.
The weakness did not disappear, but it no longer dominated.
Something was changing beneath the surface, rebuilding and correcting what had been worn down over time. His body gradually stopped resisting, the reaction fading into acceptance.
His breathing returned to normal. The strain lessened.
For the first time since awakening, his body no longer felt like it would collapse at any moment.
It held.
The process continued without interruption.
His awareness began to fade slowly, drawn under by the treatment itself. The last thing he noticed was the absence of that constant pressure that had followed him until now.
Then everything went quiet.