The two of them sat in silence for a while longer. Somewhere in the distance, a weakened building finally gave up and collapsed with a thunderous rumble. The sound echoed through the ruined city, then faded again.
Myles felt the pressure in his chest tighten. He could not keep everything bottled up anymore.
"It looks like all the monsters are gone," he said at last, his voice dull and tired.
Lilian nodded. "Of course. After the appearance of a high-ranking entity like that, lesser creatures would sense it immediately and flee the area. You and your group were the only ones reckless enough to approach it who fought it."
Myles let out a slow sigh. The words felt like another weight settling on his shoulders.
"That was my call," he said quietly. "If I hadn't made them fight that thing with me… Nadine would still be alive. The others wouldn't be carrying wounds like this."
