The aftermath of Elaine's downfall was a surreal silence, as though the fractured dimension itself mourned the weight of what had transpired. Ethan knelt amidst the remnants of the battle, surrounded by the echoes of chaos and sacrifice. His head hung low, his usually impassive demeanor broken as tears fell silently down his face.
The memories of Elaine that had flooded his mind felt like a phantom tide, washing over him with an intensity he hadn't known was possible. Her final smile lingered in his thoughts—a smile not of malice or defiance, but of something far gentler. It was a farewell. To him. As her child.
For the first time since he'd learned to steel himself against pain, Ethan let the tears flow, glistening as they mingled with the dirt and blood on his skin. He clenched his fists, silently acknowledging the complexity of Elaine's choices—choices that shaped him, broke him, and, in some strange way, defined him. Yet there was no time to dwell. The dimensions around him trembled, and footsteps echoed in the distance.
Rushing into the fracture were squads of Federation Agents, their mana-enhanced weapons held at the ready as they scanned the area. Leading them was Musa, his expression resolute but heavy with unspoken emotion. As the agents fanned out to secure the location, Musa strode straight toward Ethan.
"Ethan," Musa said, his voice both a reprimand and a strange attempt at comfort. "You've done well. It's… regrettable, how she went out."
Ethan didn't look up, his voice low and even. "It had to end this way."
Musa hesitated. Though he had prepared himself for this moment, seeing Ethan like this stirred something he wasn't quite ready to face. "She was my mother, Ethan. I wanted her stopped… One way or another."
Silence lingered between them until Musa placed a firm hand on Ethan's shoulder. "Come on. Let's clean this up."
Ethan finally stood, his tears long dried, leaving only a glint of determination in his eyes. Around them, the fracture buzzed with activity. Victor had been apprehended, his protests falling on deaf ears as Federation agents restrained him. The children—Elaine's experiments—were gathered and treated as victims. They were subdued and exhausted, but alive.
Musa approached Ethan again after delivering his report. "The kids will be set free," he said. "Under heavy surveillance, of course. You've mostly agreed to that already, right?"
Ethan nodded. "Yeah. It's what we expected."
Musa fell silent for a long moment, his gaze distant. Then he gave Ethan a nod and stepped aside, leaving him to process the weight of the moment.
Through the haze of activity, Dianna appeared at the edge of the crowd, her figure battered and worn but her resolve unwavering. Her eyes searched the chaos until they landed on Ethan, and her exhaustion melted into relief. She moved toward him, but several agents intercepted her path, raising a hand to stop her.
"Let her through," Musa said, his voice firm but calm.
The agents hesitated, then stepped aside, allowing Dianna to rush forward. She stopped just in front of Ethan, her voice trembling as she asked, "What happens now? What happens to us?"
Ethan looked at her, his face softer than it had been in a long time. "It's over," he said, the words carrying both a weight and a release. "Finally, it's over."
Dianna's walls broke. Tears streamed down her face as she collapsed into him, her arms wrapping tightly around his frame. "I was so scared," she whispered. "I didn't know if I'd lose you too."
Musa took a step back, giving them space. His voice was distant, almost kind. "I'll leave you two alone. We've got some time before we move out."
Ethan and Dianna sank to the ground, sitting shoulder to shoulder as exhaustion overtook them. The chaos around them blurred, leaving only the comfort of each other's presence. For the first time in what felt like years, Ethan allowed himself to rest, leaning into Dianna as they clung to each other in shared solace.
Eventually, the remaining children—the Top Ten—were escorted out of the fracture, each pausing to say goodbye to Ethan. Their eyes spoke volumes: gratitude, camaraderie, and a bittersweet sadness that the bonds forged in hardship were now being set aside. Casper, always the sharp-tongued one, gave Ethan a lopsided grin. "Try not to make all the boring decisions without us, yeah?"
Marika elbowed him lightly, though her own smile was tinged with emotion. "Thank you, Ethan," she said simply, her voice softer than usual. "For everything."
One by one, they left, disappearing into the custody of Federation agents. Ethan watched them go, knowing that their paths might never cross again. But for the first time, he felt a flicker of hope that their futures might hold something better.
Musa returned, his tone clipped but not unkind. "It's time, Ethan."
Dianna tensed beside him, her grip on his arm tightening. "What's going on?"
Ethan exhaled slowly, turning to face her. "As Elaine's closest aid, and her… successor, I inherited all her knowledge. That includes government secrets. My only option is to either join the Federation or go to prison."
Her eyes widened in shock. "No," she said firmly. "That's not fair. You didn't ask for any of this."
"It doesn't matter," Ethan replied quietly. "It's the only way."
Dianna's voice rose, her exhaustion giving way to anger. "Then I'm joining too."
Ethan's eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. "No. I don't want that for you. You deserve a life outside of this mess."
"Too bad," Dianna shot back, her eyes blazing. "I've made my decision, and I'm not letting you go through this alone. Besides, I already know most of what you know. What's the difference?"
Ethan sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "Dianna, please. This isn't the life I want for you."
"Too bad," she repeated, crossing her arms. "I'll do whatever I want. And what I want is to be with you."
Musa cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "If that's her decision, Ethan, there's not much I can do to stop her."
Ethan glanced at Musa, then back at Dianna. "Fine," he relented. "But no combat. She's good with alchemy and research—keep her there."
Musa raised an eyebrow. "I don't have the authority to make that call."
As if on cue, Musa's comm device buzzed. He stepped away to answer it, leaving Ethan and Dianna in an uneasy silence. When he returned, his expression was neutral but resolved. "Deal," he said simply. "Let's go."
Ethan stood, helping Dianna to her feet. She looked at him, her eyes searching for any lingering doubt, but he offered a small, reassuring smile. Together, they followed Musa out of the fracture, leaving behind the chaos and stepping into the unknown future that awaited them.
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