When we arrived at the room we were called to, Jet and Winter were already there waiting for us.
"You're better already?" I asked Winter.
"The healers did a good job."
"We can talk later. It must be important if we were called here on such short notice," Jet said stoically.
After she spoke, she knocked on the door, and soon Master Roan opened it, guiding us inside.
"It's good that you're awake," he said to me.
"Just in time, I guess. What happened? Why did you call us here?" I asked him.
"Tyris… she lost."
"WHAT?!" we shouted instantly.
"It was bound to happen," a calm but pained voice came from the next room.
Saint Tyris was sitting on a bed, her skin unnaturally pale, frozen parts still lingering on her body, and her soul essence visibly disturbed.
"What happened?"
"After you fought it and eventually disappeared after cutting a part of it, it became enraged. That abomination fought with much more purpose. It became much harder to contain, and my strength was consumed faster and faster."
"Fuck…" I growled.
"As you can see, she can't fight it like this, and so Army Command decided to transport her to East Antarctica today," Roan continued.
"But we still need three or four days to transport all the people there," Sunny said, frowning.
"The ships will arrive in the coming days. But with no one to contain the Winter Beast… a day or two at most until it reaches here," Roan said sadly.
Silence fell over the room for a few seconds until I broke it.
"Thank you for your hard work," I said, saluting before turning to leave.
"I advise you to be on the ships that leave now, or tomorrow at the latest," Saint Tyris said while seeing us off.
We walked in silence and soon settled into my Rhino, which was parked near the port.
"So, how can we hold back the Titan for two or three days?" Sunny asked expectantly.
"We can't, Sunny. Titans are on a different level — not to mention a corrupted one," Jet answered.
"But Tyris held it back for over a month, and even you fought it for a while. Surely, with so many of us here, we can manage something," Sunny pressed on.
"We can't, Sunny," I said quietly. "Tyris countered its ability using her specific advantage. Even then, she could only hold it back while piling up injuries. As for me? The only reason I could fight it was because I was already in melee range and because I can somewhat counter its ability. And even then, I was out for two weeks after. Without Tyris, we can't even get close to it."
"So that's it? We just give up and leave?" he asked, growing angry at his helplessness.
"I don't know about you, but I'm not leaving. You know, even if I stay, I won't die. And the people here need the false hope — to believe they have a chance."
"Coincidentally, we don't like ships that much, so we're staying too," Jet cut in.
"Come, Sunny. I'm going to visit the professor, see if he's improved enough to beat me at chess. Meanwhile, you can catch up with your little girlfriend," I teased, starting to walk away.
"What are you talking about?" he asked cluelessly, following after me.
"Nothing…"
As we walked, he asked in a low voice, "How do you think the people will react to being abandoned here?"
"How else? They'll panic. It'll be hard to maintain order. That's exactly why we have to show a strong front and make them believe they still have a chance."
"But… isn't that cruel?"
"Is it better if, in their last moments, they remain desperate and curse the others who escaped?"
To this, he didn't answer, and we continued walking in silence. Soon, we arrived at the now mostly empty living quarters and knocked on a door. After a few seconds, a young woman with glasses opened it and greeted us, surprised.
"Hello to you too. I've come to test whether the professor got any better," I said, amused.
"Professor, your playmate's awake and here to entertain you."
"Ah, Christopher — it's good that you're awake. You don't know how worried everyone was about you," he said, already unpacking the chess pieces.
We sat down and started to play while Sunny briefed them about our situation. A few hours passed like this, and then the ship carrying the White Feather clan departed. The crowd soon fell into shambles, and panic broke out.
"It's our cue, Sunny," I said, standing up.
After we left and helped contain the chaos and maintain order, we finally got a chance to rest.
The next day, it was much colder — snow and ice piling up everywhere.
"It'll arrive by tomorrow morning. More likely tonight," I murmured while checking my communicator.
I made my way to the professor's quarters, and to my surprise, I found Sunny already there.
"You spent the night here or what?" I asked.
"Hmm? I did."
"Anyway, get ready. The ship will arrive shortly — probably the last one. The professor has to be on it."
"Okay, wait a minute."
After about ten minutes, the three of them came out with just one bag, and we made our way to the port. Ahead of schedule, two ships arrived instead of one — and I recognized one of them.
I guided us toward the familiar ship, and soon a well-known presence came into view.
"Master Gunlaug, how nice of you to grace us with your presence," I teased.
"I got your message. What is it you need? I'll clear the whole ship if that's what you want."
"You misunderstand. Just help me get these people on the ship," I said, pointing at the professor, Beth, and Sunny's cohort. Sadly, my cohort was reported missing in action.
"You mean you won't come?"
"What are you worried about? Death can't claim me if I don't want it to."
With everything arranged, we said our final goodbyes. I turned to Professor Obel.
"Professor, I know your worries. You hesitate to take a place for yourself while so many others need it."
"If you understand that, then you should give my place to someone young and promising."
"Professor — you and I both know things will get much worse, much faster. Humanity needs your experience and knowledge. If you feel bad about saving yourself, then make it worth it. Innovate something. Teach more young scientists so they can carry on your work. Make it count."
After reluctantly agreeing, I left with Sunny and watched the ship sail away from the wall.
"Get ready, Sunny. It'll arrive tonight."