Loraine pulled out a small stool and sat in front of her mother, a woman she couldn't even recognize anymore because of the Mana Crystal Disease that had manifested in their world. The crystals covered half of her body and half of her face, and it was still rapidly spreading, rapidly draining her life force.
Her fists clenched at her sides, as she wasn't certain on how long her mother would continue to live, even with the help of the hospital's medical equipment.
She took a deep breath, the cool air entering her lungs as she prepared to speak, her throat drier than ever in that moment.
Calming herself, she brushed a stray lock from her mother's face, preparing to speak, even though she knew her mother was unable to listen to her, nor would she respond.
"I've attended the Awakening Ceremony today.." Loraine started, a small pitiful smile on her face. "Your daughters finally all grown up now, ready to tackle the world soon..." her voice cracked a little as she spoke, trembling under the weight of her emotions as her fists unconsciously clenched at her sides.
The warm glow of the sun reflected in her eyes, eyes on the brink of tears from the pain of todays events. "Everything was supposed to go smoothly...I....I was supposed to be meant for greatness...."
Loraine recalled her earlier days at the academy, making friends, training alongside her classmates and excelling at things she didn't even know she was good at. The days at the academy were tough, but it was all worth it as she fought hard for only one goal.
"I failed you mom…I awakened a Low Grade Talent….." She whispered, her voice cracking with emotion as a tear fell from her eye, her body trembling from the weight of her guilt and sadness.
"I wanted to persue my dreams, to make you proud, and to save you from this damn disease that won't let you talk to me."
Loraine struggled to compose herself, breaking down at her mother's bedside as tears flowed freely from her eyes and staining the fabric of her uniform.
"All I want…" Loraine said between her sniffles, wiping her tears as she tried to stabilize her emotions "Is to-" Before she could finish, the door to the room slid open, startling her as she quickly wiped her tears away, a bit annoyed for being interrupted as she heard footsteps approaching her.
"Greetings Loraine, sorry for entering like this, but I've come to discuss of the payments for your mother's treatment." The doctor said, his tone soft but professional as he closed the door behind him.
Lorraine's heart sank at his words, her puffy eyes widening in shock. She glanced at the floor, her mind going back to the earlier events before she had arrived at the hospital.
Sponsors which had been supporting Loraine's mother's treatment and paying for her expenses at the Golden Seekers Academy had suddenly contacted her, letting her know that they were going to be cutting her off and demanded that she began paying back all the money she was owing them.
Their words struck her like lightning, but before she could even explain the situation and beg for them to reconsider, they had already hung up, leaving her to wrestle with her own thoughts as she didn't know what to do.
The sponsors had only agreed to fund Loraine, as they had believed that she would awaken a powerful Talent, and pay them back after she had completed her studies, but now they had changed their minds as they didn't see the point of investing in her anymore.
Even if she had graduated with excellent points in Academics, there wasn't much she could do, as the world only respected power, and Academics wasn't going to help them stop the Towers from breaking every now and then.
"The Etheareal Banks of Hunters had contacted us earlier before you had arrived, informing us that they would stop funding your mother's treatment, and now we need to plan on how we're going to have to move forward with this setback."
The doctor spoke, his words feeling like a stab to the chest as every word made Loraine feel all the more worse about herself. The doctor let his words sink in for a moment, studying her facial expression.
'....'
"Now that Ethereal Banks has stopped sponsoring you, it leaves us with a serious problem." He spoke, "The liquids that are used to keep your mother alive for the time being are incredibly expensive, as not only are they found on high floors of the Tower, making it increasingly difficult to obtain them, but their Drop Rates are significantly low as well, making them very expensive to purchase."
Loraine clenched her fists at his words, understanding what he was trying to say. She lifted her golden gaze from the floor, looking the doctor straight in his eyes, not with hatred, but with understanding.
"I know what you're hinting at, and I'm already planning on working on it." Lorraine said, knowing that the only way she could keep her mother alive now, was if she started hunting, and with how incredibly weak her Talent was, that was going to be extremely difficult.
'I have no choice, it's either this, or mom dies, and I promised dad that I would take care of her, no matter what.' She thought, her will hardening like steel.
The doctor nodded, "Then I suppose I need not explain further, I will see to it that you can pay off your mother's payments starting next week." The doctor said, his words shocking Loraine as she wasn't expecting the payment deadline to be this close already.
The doctor left the room, closing the door softly behind him as he left Loraine alone to finish her business with her mother.
"N-next week?" She asked, a nervous tone in her voice.
"Do I even have enough time for that….." Loraine asked herself, glancing at her hands. She quickly shook her head, snapping herself out of her thoughts.
"No, I can't think like that. Now's not the time to think, It doesn't matter whether or not I have enough time, all that matters is that I get the money as soon as possible."
Loraine thought, glancing back at her mother one more time. She wanted to spend more time with her, as she wasn't exactly finished with what she wanted to say, but she knew that there was no time to waste.
She walked towards the door.
"I'll be back mom, I'm not letting you die." Loraine said under her breath, her voice brimming with conviction, "I will find a way, this won't the end of you, not by a long shot."