Awake and alive
The Professor's pause was broken as he mustered the strength to answer Szedra's question. His dull blue eyes wandered from her face, fixating on the white sheet covering her bed. The weight of a disturbing future settled upon his mind, and his voice softened as he spoke.
"Young lady, should all of you meet such a fate, it will mark the end of this generation's legacy," he began, his tone heavy with sorrow. "Yet, from the ashes, another generation will inevitably rise. However, their journey may be cut short before they even have the chance to take their first steps, as the forces that oppose us will seek to destroy us all."
Tess listened intently, every strand of gray hair that cascaded from the Professor's head down to his waist becoming more pronounced in her perception. His words carried a weight that settled heavily upon her heart, instilling a sense of urgency and the realization of the immense challenges they faced.