125 TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

Meanwhile, Zoe searched around the Capital for Erin. 

Fortunately, Erin was still in the alley of women's accessories.

She didn't know if she was waiting for her or she just missed shopping. 

But as soon as she saw her, tears started to fall again like waterfalls cascading down her face.

"Oh, Erin!"

"What's the matter? Are you hurt? Tell me!"

Erin dropped her bags and hurriedly scanned her out from head to foot. 

Zoe shook her head as she sobbed and cried. 

Erin hugged her and caressed her hair. "Ssh! I'm here, dear."

The people are already looking at their awkward situation.

Zoe tried to compose herself but she was too heartbroken to stop the tears from flowing down her eyes.

"We cannot stay like this." 

Erin pulled her into the park which is just nearby their area.

"Tell me what happened."

She asked Zoe as soon as she saw her get back to her old self.

"I-I saw him."

"Raigon?!"

By this time, Erin already knew his real name as Zoe kept on talking about him over and over again. 

Zoe nodded. "He's okay. He's alive and in better shape than I expected."

She couldn't help but smile thinking that he was out of the woods and recovering now.

"Oh my! Really? That's great news! I was worried for him too. But why didn't he come back for us? Or even Azra?"

Zoe explained his situation to her, which she also understands.

"I would do the same if I'm his mother. But how about you? What's your plan now? Will you make him remember you?"

"No." Zoe shook her head.

"I don't want him to remember me."

"Are you sure? Seeing you wasted three months of your life because of him, I'm sure it will be difficult for you to let him go."

"I know. But after everything that I put him through, I don't want to endanger him again. I'm okay with knowing that he is alive and back to his homeland. If he recognizes me, he might risk his life again."

Erin sighed. "It's sad that it is such an ill-starred love."

"I think I am now ready to go back," Zoe uttered.

Erin's previous sad empathetic face beamed in delight.

"For real? I really miss the malls and tv dramas, you know. And my nails need to change colors now. I'll probably avail a heavenly design with rainbows and stones just like Terra."

Erin reacted hoping to lighten up the mood of her downcast friend.

She has already suffered enough.

"Yeah, let's do that." Zoe tittered.

"I'm coming back. Hey yeah, I'm coming! I'm coming back. Hey yeah, I'm coming!" Erin sang.

Zoe hugged her. "You must have suffered a lot. I'm sorry."

"Don't sweat it. What're three months compared to your story from childhood to now? But wait, what about your parents? I thought this is where they died."

"I also want to know about that. But I don't want to extend your sufferings."

Zoe looked down with her lips down downward..

"Well now that you're back to the old Zoe, I guess it is not much of a suffering. I wouldn't mind if we would extend our stay. You go find your history, and I'll go find a fling."

Erin joked around.

"Erin! Seriously?"

"Why not? I'm not sure if we can go back to this place again once we leave anyway. What do you say, Lady Asha?"

Zoe squeezed her tight. "You're a true friend, Lady Selena."

Erin eased herself out of Zoe's bearhug.

"On the condition that…. You will do all the household chores starting from now on."

"By all odds, milady." 

Zoe chuckled as she gazed at her friend.

They picked up the bags that contained the things that they bought and were about to leave, when they saw Tristan again.

"Jiejie!"

He bawled as he ran to her. 

"What is wrong, Tristan?" Zoe and Erin chorused as Tristan reached them.

He pulled Zoe's hand and pleaded to her. "Please come with me!"

Erin and Zoe nodded at each other and went with Tristan.

He came inside an aesthetically beautiful house with a wide sparkling gate and a spacious garden at the front.

As they came inside, their jaw dropped open at the magnificent structure of their residence.

"If this is just a house in Terra, I wonder what the Castle looks like?"

Erin commented in obvious admiration.

Zoe didn't reply as her concern is the reason for Tristan's plea.

He brought them to a room where a man is lying unconsciously. 

He looks calm and serene but his paleness reveals that he is in a dreadful situation.

Tristan's mother was also there, crying, beside him.

"Oh Tristan, you shouldn't have brought them here."

Her mother mumbled as she wiped her tears away.

"The doctors cannot do anything for him anymore. We just have to accept it."

Tears were starting to form within her eyes again.

"She can heal him!" Tristan pointed to Zoe. 

Zoe's eyes widened at Tristan's sudden action.

She quickly waved her hand. "No, y-you must be mistaken, kid."

"Can you not help my older brother like you have helped me?"

He pleaded with puppy eyes. They were still red from crying.

"It's not that."

She glanced at Erin for help who just shrugged her shoulders.

"If the doctors here cannot help him, how could I?"

She wanted to say, 'I don't have apparatuses. I don't even know if there is a surgery room here.'

"You could at least try." 

Erin whispered as she pursed her lips to point to her Hebao.

Zoe had a habit of always bringing a basic medical kit wherever she goes ever since she started her on the job training as a doctor. 

She brought it unconsciously when she saved Tristan in the forest and hid inside her Hebao.

Zoe nodded. She really couldn't leave without trying to help somehow.

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Things never look quite as scary when you have your best friend with you.

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