Asher turned back to the children.
"Listen to ," he said clearly. "We’re leaving this place now. Stay close. Don’t run. If you feel weak, say so."
A few of the kids nodded. One of the younger ones raised a shaking hand. "I... I feel cold."
Asher took off his outer coat and wrapped it around the child’s shoulders. "You’ll warm up soon."
The Knight moved down the row of pods, helping each child stand or sit safely. So could walk on their own. Others leaned on him for support.
"Take it slow," the Knight said. "You’re safe."
Asher opened a storage locker near the wall and pulled out thermal blankets. He handed them out one by one.
"Cover up," he told them. "It’ll help."
Once everyone was steady, Asher walked to the door and checked the hallway outside. No alarms. No movent.
"It’s clear," he said.
The Knight nodded. "I’ll stay at the back."
Asher led the group out of the cryo room. The hallway lights flickered, but the path was open. The children stayed close together, following Asher’s steps.
They reached the service tunnel entrance a few minutes later. Cold air rushed out when Asher forced the door open.
"Almost there," he said.
The tunnel was narrow, but safe. Asher went first. The Knight stayed behind the group, watching every corner.
So of the children were shaking now—not from fear, but from exhaustion.
"Just keep walking," Asher said calmly. "You’re doing fine."
After a short walk, they saw daylight ahead.
Asher pushed open the exit grate. Fresh air rushed in. Sunlight filled the tunnel.
One by one, the children stepped outside.
So shielded their eyes. One of them laughed softly, like they didn’t believe it was real.
The Knight helped the last child out and then stepped into the light himself.
Asher looked back once at the dark tunnel.
"It’s over," he said.
The children gathered near him, unsure where to stand, but no longer trapped.
Asher turned to the Knight. "Call for transport. dical support too."
The Knight nodded. "On it."
Asher looked at the kids again. "You’re free now," he said. "We’ll take care of the rest."
The Knight stepped a short distance away and activated his communicator. He spoke quietly, giving clear instructions. After a mont, he nodded and lowered his hand.
"Transport is on the way," he said. "d team too. Ten minutes."
Asher nodded. "Good."
The children stood together in a loose group. So sat on the ground. So held onto each other. A few kept looking back at the tunnel, as if afraid it might pull them in again.
Asher crouched down so he was at their level. "No one is taking you back," he said. "That place is finished."
A small boy asked in a weak voice, "Are we... in trouble?"
"No," Asher answered imdiately. "You didn’t do anything wrong."
Another child spoke up. "What happens now?"
"You rest," Asher said. "Doctors will check you. Then you’ll go sowhere safe."
The older boy from before hesitated, then asked, "And him? The man who did this?"
Asher’s voice stayed calm. "He won’t hurt anyone ever again."
That seed to be enough. The boy nodded and said nothing more.
A light wind passed over the area. Asher noticed so of the children shivering and moved closer, standing in a way that blocked the wind.
In the distance, faint engine noise could be heard.
The Knight looked up. "That’s them."
A transport vehicle ca into view and slowed as it approached. dical personnel jumped out quickly, carrying equipnt and warm supplies.
They moved straight to the children, checking pulses, wrapping them in heavier blankets, speaking gently.
Asher stayed back, watching.
One of the dics walked over. "They’re malnourished and exhausted, but stable. You did good getting them out when you did."
Asher nodded. "Take care of them."
The children were guided toward the transport. So looked back at Asher and the Knight.
A little girl waved.
Asher lifted his hand in return.
When the doors finally closed and the transport lifted off, the area grew quiet again.
The Knight exhaled slowly. "It’s really done."
Asher looked at the empty space where the children had been standing.
"Yes," he said. "Now it is."
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The wind moved through the open area, carrying dust and the sll of burned tal from the facility behind them. The building was silent now. No lights. No machines. No voices.
The Knight finally broke the silence. "This place needs to be sealed. If anyone else finds it—"
"I already sent the signal," Asher said. "It’ll be locked down and dismantled. Nothing left to use."
The Knight nodded. "Good."
They both looked back at the facility one last ti. From the outside, it looked like an empty structure. No sign of what had happened inside.
"Those kids will need ti," the Knight said. "So of them might never fully recover."
"I know," Asher replied. "But they have a chance now. That matters."
The Knight glanced at him. "You didn’t hesitate back there."
"No," Asher said. "So things don’t deserve hesitation."
Another transport flew overhead, heading toward the facility—cleanup crews this ti.
The Knight rested his sword against his shoulder.
"Where to next?"
Asher took a slow breath.
"Anywhere they’re doing this again."
The Knight nodded and returned into Asher’s shadow.
"Well, now it’s over," Asher said.
He stretched his arms and began to fly back ho, calmly looking over the land below as the world passed under him.
Asher didn’t rush.
He flew at a steady pace, watching the terrain change beneath him—cities giving way to open land, forests, and quiet roads. For the first ti in a while, there was no battle waiting for him. No alarms. No enemies.
Eventually, the familiar shape of Magnus Mansion appeared in the distance.
Asher landed in the courtyard and walked inside.
That’s when he saw his grandfather.
Arnold was sitting near the garden, carefully placing food into bowls while several strange animals gathered around him. So were creatures Asher had seen before. Others were clearly from this new world—odd shapes, unusual colors, but calm.
"They’ve gotten comfortable," Asher said.
Arnold looked up and smiled faintly. "They’re good company."
Asher stepped closer, arms crossed. "I heard everyone else is out exploring this new world."
Arnold nodded. "They are."
Asher frowned slightly. "Then why aren’t you?"
Arnold shrugged, still focused on the animals. "I thought it was ti for to retire."
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