The city of Meltdown glowed beneath the night sky, neon lights flickering against the glass walls of rebuilt shops and humming generators.
Julian walked quietly beside Aya, his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the now-bustling street. Her small frame moved beside him, a box of mechanical parts hugged tightly to her chest.
"The atmosphere's different," Julian said softly, his tone calm, almost thoughtful. "It doesn't feel like an apocalypse anymore."
Aya's gaze wandered across the crowded street at the people laughing, at the flickering lamps above them. Her voice, soft but steady, broke through the hum of the city. "You're right… It was worth it. Protecting them."
Julian glanced at her briefly, the faintest of smiles on his lips. "Yeah… it was."
