" Melinda, is that you?" Melinda who was sobbing on the floor alone, with her box clenched in her arms suddenly perked up and turned around to see an old woman with a lantern in hand, Who stood infront of her house.

" I heard a commotion and came to see what all the fuss is about, I didn't think you were involved. Oh dear, please come inside, you'll catch a cold if you stay out too long." The old lady stared at her with pity in her eyes.

Melinda knew the old lady, she always called her aunty Finley, her only true friend in the village and also a good friend of her parents. She was even the one who introduced her to her husband before they got married.

Melinda slowly got up before following Aunty Finley, inside. Aunty Finley was old yet she still had Melinda settle down in her house before bringing her some blankets and a freshly brewed cup of tea to keep warm.

" Thank you Aunty." Melinda smiled bitterly before blowing gently on the cup, then she sipped the hot tea. After a few sips, her body felt warm once again.

" Drink slowly, it's ok dear, just try to get warm." Aunty Finley looked hurt seeing her little Melinda in such a dispirited state. She took a seat herself before staring at Melinda.

" Melinda, please tell your Aunty what happened, did that no good husband of your's kick you out." Aunty Finley huffed, looking rather angry.

" If only I had known he was a no good man, I wouldn't have ever let you meet him–"

" Aunty he didn't kick me out." Melinda said quickly, not wanting Finley to continue. It wasn't that she didn't believe her husband had actually tried doing such before, what troubled her was that, She just couldn't bring herself to hate him now after how he tried changing his ways. Recalling how her once distant husband had suddenly become a caring partner, her emotions felt conflicted.

" Dear, if he didn't kick you out, then why were you out on the streets this late at night?" Asked old lady Finley, her expression one of doubt as if she didn't believe her one bit.

" Aunty... My husband really didn't throw me out, I assure you, we had no fight of the sort." Melinda chuckled to lighten the atmosphere. She didn't like seeing her dear friend worrying over nothing, it wasn't good for her health being so old and all.

" If he didn't kick you out, then why were you outside this late at night." Aunty Finley finally revealed a look of confusion.

Melinda turned silent, not knowing what to say. She knew she couldn't just tell her that her husband had gotten injured, if others learned about it, they would naturally be curious and might even try to see for themselves. If they discovered that she had been harbouring a demon, wouldn't that lead to even more trouble.

In the end, Melinda decided to lie and tell her that her husband had incurred a debt of magic stones and she was out trying to exchange her savings to see if she could get any to help alleviate the dept.

" You poor thing... Dear, you shouldn't cry. If anything, your husband should be the one out this late, not you." Aunty Finley sighed.

" Wait one moment Melinda dear. I'll be right back." Aunty Finley dropped her cup of tea on the table before heading upstairs. Melinda wondered what she was up to but miss Finley soon returned with an object wrapped in cloth, in her hand.

" Aunty..this is?" Melinda stared at cloth with curiosity but gasped the next moment when miss Finley unwrapped the cloth to reveal several magic stones

" Dear, these are High level Magic stones. Please take them, I'm sure they can help you and your husband."

" Aunty Finley, where did you get this–" Melinda asked only to cover her mouth, revealing an apologetic expression. " I didn't mean to be so rude Aunty Finley.." Melinda apologized, to think she had tried asking about whether the stones were legal when Miss Finley had gone out of her way to offer it up to her.

" It's ok dear, there's no need to be sorry. Let's just say a certain unfilial daughter of mine keeps sending them to me from time to time." Miss Finley waved her hand dismissively.

" I want nothing to do with that traitorous child, you taking them would even be doing me a favour." she added yet her words couldn't fool Melinda, although she didn't know much about Miss Finley to know her family nor her daughter, she could still tell that her reassuring words were an act to lessen Melinda's guilt.

" Aunty Finley, I don't think my savings are enough for all this." Melinda stared at her little wooden box, a high grade mana stone was worth 10,000 gold coins, she only had about ten gold coins in her box yet here miss Finley was, offering her several high level mana stones at once.

" Just take it, if you can't bare to, then just consider it a loan from me." Miss Finley shoved the high grade mana stones into Melinda's arms. She understood how stubborn Melinda could be at times but she knew now wasn't the time for her to be reluctant.

Aunty Finley wasn't doing this for her husband but because of Melinda and her two children, she felt she wouldn't be able to sleep properly tonight if she didn't hand these over to her.

" Thank you Aunty Finley." Melinda broke into tears as she kept the high grade mana stones aside before giving Miss Finley a tight hug.

" There there, it's ok dear." Miss Finley reassured Melinda while gentle patting her on the back. " I'm sure everything will get better." Miss Finley smiled while enjoying the young woman's warm embrace.

After a long while, Melinda finally let go of Miss Finley, she wiped her tears away whilst pushing the stray strands of hair on her face behind her ear.

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