After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World

City G, seven months ago

A sunny mid-morning in one of the country’s most premier tourist cities, a very eye-catching couple held hands as they walked along the beautifully greened street.

The weather that morning was excellent, the temperature was cool and the breeze was refreshing. Most importantly, they finally got to spend some time with each other.

It has been a while since they’ve gone out for the sake of a walk. Garan’s deep azure eyes turned to his wife. Her hands entwined with his, her attention was fixed on looking around the new city.

She was the embodiment of an avid sightseer. Her emerald eyes dilated occassionally, mouth parting a little when she saw something of interest. Very curious, and very cute.

Garan felt guilty of not being able to give her this as often as he’d like. Althea always liked to explore and go to new places, and yet he couldn’t give it to her.

He raised their hands and kissed her palm, cerulean eyes looking at her gorgeous emerald ones with apology and love.

He always told himself it was for a stable future for their family, but a huge part of him felt he kept missing important things.

If only he could divide himself, he would.

She blinked under his hot stare and mouthed ’what?’. But instead of answering, he just smiled and shook his head. He simply raised her hand and placed the back of her hand against his lips.

Althea’s eyebrows rose, curious, and her free hand found his stomach, knowing he had a ticklish spot there. He flinched as his lips twitched. This made her giggle and continue to ’attack’ him, thinking she could get him to tell her of his thoughts.

(In fact, Garan did not have a ticklist spot at all, at least not after puberty, as his body was trained very thoroughly to not have many weaknesses. However, he was sure to play along with his wife every time.)

Garan pretended to flinch so he could pull his wife flush on to him, making her gasp. His eyes darkened and he leaned down, ready to capture her lips.

Before the two could go on an all-out PDA, however, the laughter of children approaching caught their attention. They were five children, very cute, and they were playing and laughing, oblivious to the world outside their own.

They were so adorable that the very sight of them placed a smile on her face.

But as one ran in their direction, trying to escape the ’it’ in their game of tag. He did not notice that there was a tile slightly ajar. Althea saw it though, and she immediately looked worried at the sight.

”Oh no, watch out!” She uttered out.

It was too late and the child fell down near them. Althea quickly got out of Garan’s grasp and she leaned down to help him up.

His playmates also arrived next to them standing up next to the fallen child.

The children gaped at her as she patted the dust off their cartoon jumpsuits.

”Are you okay?” She asked, voice very gentle and soothing.

”Yes. Thank you beautiful sister~” one child said.

”Thank you beautiful sister~” The others repeated.

She giggled and they blushed, scurrying off with their small feet after saying another milky thanks.

Althea didn’t notice how her eyes warmed. ”What lovely children…”

”Hmmm,” A voice sounded beside her, ”You will make a good mother.” He said as he placed his huge hand behind her waist. She chuckled as she returned to his embrace, also returning the compliment.

”And you will make a good father.”

At this, he looked unsure, showing a rare silly expression on his face, making Althea’s lips twitch in both amusement and a little melancholic.

”Oh, stop doubting. You’ll make a great father.” She repeated, ”You forget how you were when Ansel and I were growing up.”

She touched his chiseled chin with her soft hands, ”Not many big brothers can be so patient.”

Garan still looked unsure. He didn’t have a father figure growing up as he was already grown up when he was adopted, joining the cadets shortly after.

He really wasn’t confident that he would be a good father.

”If they look like you…” he mumbled, after some thought.

Althea rolled her eyes, but Garan’s eyes brightened as imagery of his words popped inside his head.

Garan immediately began to see them with children. It was a lovely sight and his heart warmed just thinking about it.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t imagined it before—he had already had an image of their family the moment he realized his feelings for her weren’t platonic. However, the images had never been so concrete, likely because subconsciously he had been afraid that they wouldn’t come true.

But when the happy image passed by—he was carrying adorable daughters that looked exactly like his precious wife—a breath of warm air in the cold winds surrounded his body.

”Then, shall we try?” He asked, bringing her to him.

How lovely would it be to create life with their own bodies? Further, with a child to accompany her, she would also have more pieces of him when he’s away.

She giggled. ”Hmmm.”

Garan’s eyes brightened at her agreement, and he almost carried her back to their hotel.

And they did create a life that night, still two of them.

…____…____…____…

Altera Village, Present

They immediately transferred Althea to the clinic with as much speed and care as they could give her.

At this time, they already had wheeled hospital beds and Sheila pushed the bed to the operation area.

Although the clinic had not yet opened officially, everything was already installed, cleaned, and settled.

The clinic occupied four units and was large enough to serve twice the current population.

For ease of movement, the emergency area was entirely on the ground floor, and they gently placed Althea in the outermost room.

”Hnmmnn….” Althea groaned out as she gritted her teeth. Her whole body was drenched with sweat. Her eyebrows were furrowed deeply, her face red from pain, and her eyes threatening to pour out tears.

She had not made another noise after that one heartbreaking scream. And the sight of her silent endurance was even more heartbreaking—especially for her team.

Although pregnant, Althea had always been their anchor. Now that she appeared so vulnerable and was suffering like this, they all felt unbalanced and in pain.

Lily came back after disinfecting everything. Disinfectants were something not yet developed with local materials, although it was an ongoing study by Althea herself. Lily happened to have alcohol in her space, and it was the last bottle.

They had asked Oslo to make some tools with his ability. Although metal abilities were limited to black iron and could only last a few hours, it was better than nothing.

Anyway, they wouldn’t insert the tools inside the wounds. Ideally, Althea will give birth naturally. Their current conditions just couldn’t support a caesarian section.

If it was a caesarian section… then there was really no guarantee.

The news placed a heavy weight in everyone’s heart, terrified of what could happen to the bright, intelligent, beautiful woman that they knew.

Sheila and the others closed their eyes and held their hands, praying for her to be okay.