INICIAR SESIÓNVaughn's unease made Valerian turn towards him. They held each other's gaze for several moments before their expressions changed in unison.
“Cassandra?” Valerian finally asked.
Vaughn nodded slightly. “What do you think?”
“We only held the reception last night,” said Valerian. “I think she's still tired.”
Vaughn's thoughts stalled. Valerian had raised a concern that made the decision even harder for him. “You're
Valerian's face filled the laptop screen in front of Vaughn. The video showed him in what appeared to be a hotel room. A large window behind him overlooked a cluster of high-rise buildings, and the late-afternoon light filtered through the partially open curtains.“Did you call just to make sure I'm still alive?” Valerian asked.Vaughn lifted his gaze from the documents he was reading. “How are you?”“I'm fine,” Valerian replied with a smile. “What about you?”Vaughn's answer was brief and simple. “Fine.”“No fever or flu?” Valerian asked.Vaughn shook his head once. “No.”“Thank goodness.” Valerian let out a slightly exaggerated sigh of relief. He briefly placed a hand against his chest before his expression turned serious again. “And Cassandra? She's fine, too, right?” he asked. “I don't want to hear that either of you has fallen ill.”Vaughn nodded briefly. “She's fine too.”The worry vanished from Valerian's face and his smile widened. “I was a little concerned that you two might
They continued to inspect several agricultural areas that were still accessible by vehicle. Cassandra walked with Stefan and August, while Wynn and the guards followed closely behind. Hadley followed with her notes, stopping occasionally to document the damage pointed out by local officials.Along the way, Cassandra saw farmers struggling to salvage what remained. Some were clearing mud from small channels, while others were carefully inspecting their crops, hoping that some of them could be saved. An elderly farmer stood at the edge of a field holding several plants whose roots had been torn from the soil.“Most of the crops here were only a few weeks old,” August explained. “We had hoped to harvest them in a few months, but now we don't even know if the soil will be suitable for replanting anytime soon.”Cassandra crouched down to examine the layer of mud near the plant roots. “Could the floodwater have carried contaminants from r
The following day, Cassandra continued her journey to the Merriton District. In her view, the problems there could not be solved simply by sending food to the evacuation centres.The disaster that had struck the district had not only flooded residential areas, but also cut off road access. The floodwaters had also swept across farmland, destroying crops, eroding the soil and endangering the harvest that many families were depending on.Emergency aid was certainly important. However, if the farmland wasn't addressed promptly, the consequences would be felt long after the floodwaters had receded.“Is the road to Merriton accessible now?” Cassandra asked as their vehicle left the coordination centre.Wynn, who was sitting in the front, checked the report on his tablet before answering. “Most of it has been cleared. A few sections are still muddy, but the inspection team has confirmed that our vehicle can get through. The escort team is alre
By late afternoon, Cassandra's group had gathered in a small room that was being used as an aid coordination centre. They continued their discussions there with the coordinators and relevant local officials. Several maps of the northern region, lists of residents' needs and preliminary reports from field teams were spread out on the table.Hadley had organised the notes by type of assistance, while Wynn had obtained the latest information on which routes were still accessible to vehicles. Cassandra reviewed everything, one item at a time.There was an urgent need for medical supplies. Several clean water distribution points required additional supplies. Some families still needed temporary shelter, and several buildings had to be inspected before residents could return.Cassandra asked the coordinators to prioritise urgent medical needs without neglecting food, clothing and children's necessities. She also instructed the coordinators to ensure that assistance wa
By late morning, Cassandra had visited several sections of the shelter. She had inspected the food storage area, spoken to healthcare workers about medical supplies and checked the rest area for children. She had also requested reports on elderly residents, those requiring special care and families who had been separated by the floods.Hadley recorded everything that required follow-up. From time to time, she approached Cassandra to confirm names, numbers or specific requirements, ensuring that no information was overlooked.Meanwhile, Wynn continued moving around them. He spoke with the guards, made sure the exit routes remained unobstructed and arranged brief meetings with the relief coordinators.Cassandra continued her visit to the area where women and children were resting. The atmosphere there was somewhat calmer.Several women sat in groups folding the clothes they had salvaged. Some were nursing babies, some were combing their children's hair and
Cassandra didn’t need everyone to like her. She just hoped that her presence wouldn't add to the burden of those who had already lost so much.When the vehicle finally arrived at the evacuation centre, the sound of people greeted them immediately. The displaced residents appeared eager to see her, though their expressions and reactions varied.The building being used as a shelter was a multipurpose hall owned by the district. Most of the ground floor was filled with sleeping mats, blankets, aid boxes and the residents' personal belongings. Outside, several additional tents had been set up in the courtyard. Volunteers moved back and forth, carrying food, drinking water and medical supplies.The atmosphere was far from peaceful. Children were crying. People raised their voices to be heard over the noise. Some residents stood in line, while others sat with exhausted expressions, staring blankly towards the entrance.As soon as Cassandra’s vehicle







