"Report to the Specialist Board."
Iris didn't wait for a response.
She walked away.
They didn't move.
For a moment—
No one did.
Then—
One stepped forward.
The rest followed.
Their footsteps echoed through the street.
Too loud.
Too sharp.
No one spoke.
No one looked at each other.
The Specialist Board stood ahead.
Unchanged.
Inside—
The noise faded as they entered.
Voices lowered.
Movement slowed.
Even without understanding—
People noticed.
Lyra stepped forward.
Head slightly lowered.
"Good day, Miss. How may I assist you?"
"Reporting an expedition."
Her voice was steady.
She recounted everything.
Entry.
Engagement.
Retreat.
Marek.
She didn't skip anything.
Didn't hesitate.
Didn't falter.
The clerk listened in silence.
Hands still.
Eyes focused.
When Lyra finished—
There was a pause.
Then—
"What happened… wasn't your fault."
No response.
"No one could have reacted in time."
Still—
Nothing.
The clerk resumed typing.
Efficient.
Detached.
"Your report has been confirmed."
A brief pause.
"Five hundred del will be issued to your group."
Lyra nodded.
They turned—
And left.
Collapse
The door closed behind them.
Silence followed.
Then—
It broke.
Darius staggered slightly.
His shoulders trembling.
"Why…?"
His voice cracked under the weight of it.
"I'm sick of hearing that."
No one interrupted.
"It's not our fault… it's not our fault…"
A hollow laugh escaped him.
"Then whose fault is it?"
Still—
No answer.
"We couldn't do anything."
His voice dropped.
Unstable.
"I couldn't do anything…"
Silence pressed in.
"He was right there."
His fists clenched.
"And I just…"
A pause.
"…stood there."
Sera stepped forward.
"Darius—"
"Don't."
Sharp.
Immediate.
"Just… don't."
She stopped.
"We let Marek die."
The words hung.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
"If we were faster…"
His voice trembled harder.
"…if I was faster…"
He dropped to his knees.
"…he wouldn't have—"
The sentence never finished.
"I was useless."
Quieter now.
More dangerous.
"If I wasn't there…"
Andrei stepped forward.
"Don't say that."
No response.
A pause.
"Let's go home."
No one argued.
One by one—
They left.
Until—
Only two remained.
What Remains
Darius stayed on his knees.
Andrei stood beside him.
"We weren't ready."
His voice was calm.
Measured.
"None of us were fast enough."
Darius lowered his head further.
"If I was stronger…"
Andrei didn't respond.
He stayed.
Until—
"Come on."
He reached out.
Pulled him up.
Darius didn't resist.
The Cost
They walked.
Slow.
Heavy.
Then—
"Mommy, look!"
They stopped.
A small girl pointed at them.
Bright.
Unaware.
"It's one of big brother's friends!"
The woman approached.
A gentle smile on her face.
"You're Darius, right?"
He froze.
"You were with Marek."
Silence.
"I heard he went to the Black Region."
A pause.
"Where is he?"
Darius collapsed.
Again.
His body shook.
He tried to speak.
Nothing came out.
"…I'm sorry."
That was all.
The woman's smile faded.
Slowly—
Understanding replaced it.
Her legs gave out.
She fell.
Not suddenly.
Not violently.
Just—
Gone.
Her hands trembled as she tried to hold herself together.
"Mommy?"
The girl tugged at her.
Confused.
"Where's big brother?"
Silence.
Darius lowered his head.
Andrei stood beside him.
Neither of them answered.
Because they couldn't.
Around them—
The world continued.
People passed.
Voices carried.
Life moved forward.
Unchanged.
But for them—
Everything had already stopped.