The Aftermath

Aeon had been resting for a while now, but he was still mentally exhausted. Too many things just happened in one day.

After the military set out for the sweeping, he actually didn't accompany them, nor did he head home. Instead, he went towards the subdivision where the Samo residence stood. Although he was extremely anxious, he had to go.

Surprisingly, after taking a few steps inside the subdivision, Aeon spotted a familiar figure. The person was standing straight with his back facing Aeon. Even without the black armor, Aeon knew it was General Samo because he had been looking at someone with a similar build for a few months now.

Aeon stepped forward and stood at attention and saluted. "Sir!"

The tall, buff man with the military haircut turned around and faced Aeon, giving him his first clear view of the General. Just like Suri, his face looked stiff and firm that made it seem like he was always serious. He also had the same eyes and nose. The resemblance was really stark.

General Samo saluted back then Aeon dropped his hand.

"Excellent work today, Morgan," General Samo said, emphasizing his last name.

Aeon tried his best to act formal, but he couldn't help scratching his head. The compliment, albeit really simple, really flattered him. "Thank you, General! Though it was all luck."

"Right… luck," the General propped his chin up with a hand, appearing to be dazed, "without this luck you speak of, one, two, or even three of us might've died there, including me."

Aeon stared at the man who looked both sad and happy at the same time. He didn't seem like someone who was arrogant and he openly admitted his weakness. "Sir, if you don't mind me asking, why are you here instead of heading straight home?"

The question suddenly woke General Samo up from his stupor. He showed a look of realization and slowly turned around to look at the surroundings. "I came across this bunker with a bloody cross marked on its door..."

Even when the General had yet to finish his sentence, Aeon had already understood what he was trying to say. His vision subconsciously hovered towards the lot just beside the General and... there it was. The bloody door. And there were more around them.

"I knocked," the General continued, "but nobody opened the door. Probably, no one ever will."

General Samo stopped speaking and moved forward, leaving Aeon behind.

Aeon could hear the fading footsteps of the General. He stared blankly at the ground. He thought only a few families fell victim to the monkey, but after looking at the surroundings, he realized that he was wrong.

He also moved forward, keeping a distance from the General, but ultimately heading in the same direction. The latter had noticed but didn't stop him.

….

After walking a few blocks, General Samo slowed down. He looked around to see that there were also many bunker doors marked with a red cross. However, there were a lot without them as well. A lot more compared to the previous streets he had passed by.

Aeon watched the General from afar as the man rushed through the broken gate of his home. He could even hear the rapid banging sounds that the person made as he knocked frantically on the door.

Now that he was finally able to focus on the Samo family's bunker, he found out that there was no blood smeared anywhere. It looked really clean, despite all the dust and dirt that covered it.

After a few seconds, the bunker door opened and a woman peeked outside with caution. Without a second thought, General Samo lifted her up, placed her in front of him, and hugged her tightly. The woman was visibly shocked, but then she broke down in tears.

Aeon smiled.

His mind was finally at ease.

The Samo family had survived. They were alive and well.

He turned around and left.

….

Western part of the Central district.

Aeon entered the familiar subdivision he had been living in for the past few years. The place looked really gloomy because the clouds above were still dark and thick. Though it didn't seem like it rained in the area.

The two guards in white armor who were usually standing by the side of the gateless entrance were naturally not there. He took the time to follow the usual route he had been using instead of walking through the rubbles of the old, large, and extravagant houses as a shortcut.

According to Montis, they had been fighting near the center of the Central district for quite some time because the Lesser Demonic Beast had appeared there so he should not be surprised that his neighborhood would be devastated by the large stream of beasts.

Indeed, the homes were utterly destroyed. But their bunkers stood firm.

He guessed that most, if not all of the people in their subdivision were alive given the luxury they were provided. However, he didn't feel much joy. After all, he was not attached to his neighbors in any way since most of them had been guests from afar. The person living next door might disappear one day and would be replaced by another.

After Aeon took a few turns, he finally arrived.

Surrounded by the broken remains of his current home, a man with a head full of white hair sat comfortably on his wheelchair. Beside him was a pile of rocks and stones, presumably from the torn down walls. He was carrying one in his left hand, his long sleeves swaying with the breeze.

Aeon felt a surge of emotions. He could see his dad marvel at the beauty of the outside world, although everything was in ruins.

It was the first time in a few years that he saw his dad outside because it was forbidden by the Emperor. Though technically, he wasn't outside. He was inside, but since the walls of the house were destroy, he was not confined, nor was his vision obstructed.

As Aeon was still sorting out the reality of the matter, he suddenly saw his father's hand flick. His eyes widened in surprise and he immediately drew Verdure and slashed downward.

Shing!

The rock that was shooting rapidly through the air was sliced in two and the pieces went past Aeon.

"Hey!" Aeon yelled at his father, Devon Morgan.

"PUHAHAHA! Your fault for having your old man wait for too long," Devon Morgan said defensively. It appeared that he had already noticed Aeon's presence since earlier.

Aeon continuously shook his head in disappointment as he moved to approach his father. As he got closer, he noticed that it wasn't just their house that had been destroyed. The subdivision walls that served as its foundation was also broken. Beyond where the walls previously stood were...

Were hundreds of large magical beasts, dead.

Weirdly enough, their bodies were still intact.

He had only figured out how they died when he was already standing right next to his father. The dead beasts appeared to have a meter wide gaping hole at the center of their heads. Aeon subconsciously looked at the pile of debris by his feet.

The beasts were sniped using rocks.

Aeon smiled crookedly.

"Why are you here? It's only been a month! You didn't cut class, did you?" Devon Morgan accused, breaking the silence. He behaved as if the broken houses and the dead bodies of the beasts were invisible.

Aeon peeled his eyes away from the corpses and looked straight at his dad. He scratched his head with an innocent look. "The trip was cut short because the magical beasts had been behaving peculiarly."

"I can see that."

"Yeah. How come you have a wheelchair now?"

"It was a gift from the academy. Let's go to the bunker. I'll have you meet a few people."

"W-What? The academy assigned lots of maids to take care of you?"

"You moron!"

Pak!

"Ow!"

"They're just people who happened to pass by while I was taking a breath of fresh air."

"Uhh… so about the wheelchair. You're legally able to use one now?"

"Maybe."

Aeon knocked on the bunker's door and after a moment, someone came out. The person hurriedly assisted Aeon to carry his father down the ladder.

Devon Morgan's arm was wrapped around his son's neck. Upon closer inspection, one could see that underneath his long sleeves was a bracelet. The jewel of his bracelet slightly touched the young man's exposed skin.

Then, it gave off a momentary shimmer. Though it was concealed by the Marshall's long sleeve.

The sleeves swayed with the breeze.

….

By 9:00 PM that day, about 11 hours after the Gray Lion fell, the sweeping was finally finished.

The Earth Mages closed each hole torn open by the mole beasts.

The next day, at 6:00 AM, the men of the City Hall emerged from the bunker made specifically for them after General Solare Samo slipped inside the formal notice of stabilization.

When they saw the situation of Sera City, they were struck dumb. They were so devastated that the soldiers had to orient them about the situation slowly lest the old ones among them might die of a heart attack.

The group then dispersed along with the military to search for any survivor. The City Hall staff members saw that a portion of the central district's topography had been greatly transformed. Where houses previously stood was now only a flat and empty surface, ready for them to put up tents for the survivors.

After a full 12 hours, they had finished their objective.

While many emerged from their closed bunkers, even more had disappeared without a trace.

Out of the 517,213 residents of Sera City, 302,102 remained.

In a short span of an hour, more than 200,000 people died.

….

"Inhabitants of Tent Number 562, please report!" a voice from outside a tent said.

Aeon gingerly avoided the food supplies scattered all over their small tent and scrambled towards the flaps. His head popped out, and after seeing a military officer, he immediately went outside and saluted. "Sir!"

Just behind the officer, Aeon could see the figure of General Solare Samo, making him cock an eyebrow.

The officer saluted back and immediately flipped through his notes. "Your presence had been overlooked due to the situation. We respectfully inform you about your relocation."

With just two simple sentences, realization immediately dawned on Aeon. They weren't normal citizens of Sera City after all. They were still prisoners. That was what the soldier truly meant though he sugarcoated it with respectful words.

Aeon inwardly sighed and went back inside to pack their stuff.

After clearing their tent, with Aeon pushing his father's wheelchair, they followed the soldier. General Samo followed them from behind all the way. He didn't really hide his presence since he knew that the Marshall could sense him. In fact, the Marshall should've already known even before they knocked on the tent.

The group moved silently.

They entered the City Hall and was led into an empty room.

Just before the two could enter, the soldier took the wheelchair from the confused Aeon and pushed Devon Morgan silently inside. The moment Aeon was about to follow, he was stopped by the General who now right beside him.

"As a student of the Academy, Fria, you are humbly summoned by the Principal," General Solare Samo calmly informed.

Aeon's eyebrows furrowed after hearing the General's statement. The word choice was too formal to address someone like himself. It... It almost seemed like a classmate sucking up to you so that he or she could ask for a favor.

Despite what Aeon was thinking about, he still nodded. He glanced inside the room through the open door and saw his father waving at him with a smile, the soldier standing emotionlessly behind him.

Aeon returned the wave awkwardly then left with General Samo.

….