Time slowly passed inside the room.

Theo barely moved the entire time.

His fingers still lightly brushed through Iris’ hair while he silently listened to her breathing.

Outside the room, faint footsteps and distant voices occasionally echoed through the hallway.

Yet none of it mattered to him right now.

For the first time since the beast tide began... everything finally felt peaceful.

After nearly two hours had gone by, Iris began to shift slightly in her sleep.

Theo tilted his head slightly, a very faint but warm smile on his face.

Slowly, her brows furrowed while her fingers tightened around the blanket again.

Then her eyes slowly opened.

For a second, she looked utterly confused as her head rose.

Her blurry gaze wandered around the room aimlessly before finally landing on Theo.

The moment she saw him awake, her eyes widened instantly.

’’T-Theo...?’’

Theo gave a weak nod.

The next second—

Thud!

Her chair nearly tipped over as Iris jumped up and wrapped her arms around him.

’’T-Theo!’’

Her arms tightened around him while faint sniffles echoed out behind him.

’’You idiot!’’ she sobbed, her voice trembling. ’’You absolute idiot...!’’

Theo’s eyes widened slightly as she buried her face into his chest.

Her entire body trembled while quiet sniffles escaped her nonstop.

He... didn’t even know what to say or do.

Finally—

He just wrapped his arms around her.

Iris’s quiet sobs continued for several long minutes, soaking spots on Theo’s fresh clothes.

As she pulled back, her eyes looked puffy with red circles underneath them.

’’How could you do all those things?’’ she said between sobs. ’’E-even for you... this was too much.’’

Theo tilted his head slightly.

’’All those things?’’

Iris sniffed before nodding.

’’You know... y-you could’ve really died.’’

For a moment, the room fell silent.

Then a small smile appeared on Theo’s face.

He lightly brushed aside a strand of hair hanging in front of Iris’s face.

’’Don’t worry too much,’’ he said lightly. ’’Nothing much happened.’’

’’Practically... nothing at all.’’

Iris’s lips trembled as she stared at him.

Then she pounded her fists against his chest.

’’How dare you lie to me!’’ she said, tears streaming down her face again. ’’I’ve heard all about it!’’

’’How you fought several Calamity people... and how you blocked the serpent’s breath all on your own!’’

Hearing that, Theo froze.

His face slowly paled as his heart pounded faster.

’I blocked the breath?’ he thought. ’Don’t make me laugh!’

’Over dozens of people died because I couldn’t fully block it!’

Iris’s fist pounded on his chest again, lighter this time.

’’You’re a hero!’’ she almost shouted. ’’But I just wanted you to be safe!’’

’’Look at you! You laid completely unconscious for three days again, just like last time!’’

She sobbed, her fist slowly dragging down against Theo’s shirt.

’’And I couldn’t even stay by your side this time either!’’

A shiver ran down Theo’s spine.

His eyes shifted past Iris for a moment, only concentrating on the first part of what she’d said.

’A... hero?’

’Me?’

Countless images of all the people he’d left behind flashed through his mind.

’How... could they?’ he thought, his heart aching. ’I couldn’t do anything at all!’

Two images appeared in his mind again.

David and Joop.

They’d sacrificed their lives!

They were the true heroes... not him.

Theo’s mouth opened slightly.

But before he could utter a word—

The door opened.

Both Iris and Theo paused for a moment, their gazes shifting to the entrance.

There, a familiar man and woman stood with weary and exhausted expressions on their faces.

’’Come on, Iris,’’ the man said, his voice empty. ’’Give him some rest.’’

The man’s gaze shifted over to Theo.

’’I’m sure this all was... painfully exhausting for him.’’

Beside him, the woman wearing a bloodstained lab coat nodded.

Iris’s head lowered slightly.

’’Yes... dad.’’

With that, she sniffled once more before wiping her tears.

Then she hopped off the bed and slowly left the room.

As she left, Theo’s full attention fell on the remaining figures.

’Madam Rea and Leoric...’

Both had clearly seen better days.

Leoric in particular looked like he’d been through absolute hell.

Even so, there was only one question on Theo’s mind.

’’How... did everything turn out?’’

For a moment, silence fell in the room.

Leoric turned to Madam Rea for a moment, who nodded slowly.

Then they stepped in together, closing the door behind them.

Leoric approached Theo’s bedside with a heavy expression and sat down on the chair beside him.

’’What do you want to know first?’’ he asked, his voice calm but tense.

Theo didn’t hesitate.

’’My parents and Owen,’’ he said.

Leoric nodded slowly.

’’The good news, huh,’’ he muttered quietly. ’’They are all perfectly fine, though obviously worried.’’

Theo closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief.

’’Now I guess you want to know the general situation?’’ Leoric continued, his voice growing heavier.

Theo’s eyes snapped open and immediately nodded.

’’Yes, please.’’

He clenched his fists in the bed’s covers, preparing himself.

Whatever was coming, Theo clearly knew it wasn’t good news.

’’Mhm,’’ Leoric murmured softly, clearly hesitating.

’’Just do it,’’ Madam Rea said behind him. ’’The boy can handle it.’’

With a quiet sigh, Leoric locked eyes with him.

’’The city has fallen beyond saving,’’ he said. ’’So far, roughly three percent have made it out alive.’’

Theo froze completely.

The words echoed through his mind.

’Three percent?’ he thought. ’That’s... six thousand people from the two hundred thousand.’

’’Rescue efforts have been called off,’’ Leoric continued, his voice heavy. ’’As the entire city has been sunk under the ocean.’’

’’People you know amongst those missing... will likely be numerous.’’

His voice trailed off slightly.

Without another word, he pressed something into Theo’s palm.

Theo snapped out of his daze and glanced down.

There lay a necklace with a single beautiful green gem embedded within it.

As he raised it up, his brows furrowed.

’’What i—’’

’’Alia had barely finished this before—’’ He paused for a moment and shook his head. ’’Anyway, I know... she would’ve wanted you to have this.’’