"Has little Maria come?" An aged female voice sounded from the room. A few moments later, an old but amiable looking old Elvin woman slowly walked out.
"Mother!" Maria emotionally called out when she saw her mother.
The old woman glanced at Maria with a loving look and nodded before her gaze found Max and the group standing behind her.
She smiled lightly and said, "Why is everyone still standing out? Please come in. Cough! Cough!"
Maria hurriedly walked up to her and supported her. "Mother, you aren't allowed to overexert yourself, right? Why did you come out? Let's go in." She then led her inside.
The old man smiled wryly, seeing that Maria only seemed to care for her mother. He then glanced at Max, and the group politely invited them in. "Please come inside."
…
After a while, Maria's mother and father were sitting on a wooden bed and Max and the group were on another. Maria was standing beside her parents' bed with her head held down.