"I wish to become the sight of the wind... Lingering around the lake for three thousand days and nights... Brushing past your traces... Staying a little longer..."
Punishing Gray Raven OST - Gaze of Wind
A brief hum drowned out the sobs, drowning out the cries of the animals themselves. The eyes of the people slowly gathered on Rover, who was crouched down, holding a child in his arms.
"Big brother... what song is this?"
Adel stopped her own crying and stared blankly at Rover.
Rover smiled, gently brushing Adel's forehead as he spoke softly:
"This song is from a long time ago. I can't remember where it came from anymore. But in that world, everyone knew how to sing it."
As his words fell, Rover suddenly realized that, at some point, the surrounding crowd had gradually closed in around him.
Beneath their sorrowful gazes lay a hidden longing for hope. Even a single gesture, even a song—they clung to the tiniest things as lifelines, searching for the will to keep living.
The resident holding the microphone squeezed through the crowded mass of people and shakily handed the long-depleted microphone to Rover.
"Sing it again..."
That lone voice became the people's plea. Amidst the silent press of bodies, it carried them forward.
"Rover."
Aether took the microphone, lightning flickering at his fingertips. The now-powered microphone was placed back in front of Rover.
"Sing for us."
Rover took a deep breath. The corners of his eyes trembled slightly as he took the eagerly awaited microphone, standing like a triumphant general before his soldiers, declaring the oath he had long since sworn.
All the emotions bottled up inside him these past days—Rover finally had a chance to let them out.
With an unpolished voice, he sang that nostalgic ballad.
"This lake... is vast and dark..."
Gradually, people in the crowd began to clap along, following the unsteady voice, immersing themselves in this hard-won moment.
The song traveled farther and farther. Echeno gently shook the dazed Velyn awake with her one remaining hand.
Like the wind softly blowing across this land of wreckage, casting its gaze upon every struggling soul.
Beneath the lamenting ballad, the hearts of all were reflected, slowly mending the overlooked wounds in the hearts of the residents present.
Humans were like this sometimes. Trapped in a dangerous jungle, no matter which step they took, they were fated to be hurt.
But even as the beast called human wailed and fell silent in this merciless world, it would always lick its wounds in secret, then limp forward once more.
The song dried the tears on everyone's faces, bringing their thoughts back to the past—to those carefree days.
Rover somewhat clumsily sang the final note of the song. The moment the sound faded, applause erupted around him.
It was the defiance of countless people against their current plight, proof to the suffering that sought to crush their spines—that they had not yet fallen.
Though merely an interlude in their hardship, the atmosphere gradually became less suffocating.
Aether finished taking stock of their supplies and looked up at Navia, who was busy with preparations.
"We'll hold a meeting soon..."
He didn't need to say more. Navia understood everything from his gaze and replied with just one word:
"Okay."
...
Rover stayed alone in a cramped, empty room. Time ticked away, pressing down on him invisibly, urging him to act.
Even if he made people believe that a sliver of hope still existed in the darkness, the boulder called despair continued rolling down unimpeded, crashing onto everyone's heads.
"We need to start considering evacuation. According to Paimon and Abby's observations these past few days, a Tacet Discord tide will pass through here soon. The basement should have been safe, but the rising tide will come with the Tacet Discord wave."
Fate always played cruel jokes on survivors like them. The hope they had painstakingly gathered was shattered once more under the dual assault of the Tacet Discord and the Primordial Seawater.
Aether and Navia remained silent. The accompanying staff who had arrived began to frown slightly.
How could four people capable of fighting Tacet Discords evacuate sixty-two defenseless refugees and seventeen injured patients?
"Let's look at the map first."
Rover marked the high terrain of Bailu District with a red pen, then calmly laid out his evacuation plan to the other three.
"I've scouted these past few days and found a cave. It's safe inside—we can move everyone there. We'll divide the refugees into groups. The first group will be the severely injured and the children. Navia, how many carriages do we have left?"
Navia turned quickly. Behind her, Melus thought for a moment before answering hesitantly:
"The Spina di Rosula only has two left."
Rover's frown had never eased from the start.
"That means we'll have to make two trips..."
The atmosphere sank back into silence. They all knew that in the choice between leaving and staying, there would always be those unlucky enough to remain behind, waiting for an inevitable death.
Even Rover couldn't save everyone. The act of giving up had long since become routine.
"The second group will be refugees who can still walk. They'll follow the carriages. Aether and Navia, you two guard the flanks. You take the rear. I'll clear the path ahead—I won't feel at ease otherwise."
Rover swept his gaze over everyone. His calm, unreadable eyes seemed to ask—Any questions?
"What about those who are too injured to make it onto the carriages and have to stay behind...?"
Navia didn't finish. She knew all too well—this was an unavoidable tragedy. But in Rover's eyes burned a stubborn conviction.
He would fight fate itself for the lives written in the ledger of death.
Rover stared straight at Navia's hesitant expression and spoke word by word:
"If we act fast enough, we can save the lives that shouldn't have been lost. Everyone, time is still on our—"
Before Rover could finish, Abby practically broke down the door, barging in. The loud crash of the door against the wall was like fate mocking Rover's futile struggle.
"N-Not good! The Tacet Discords have gathered into a horde—they're heading this way!"
Amidst the stunned silence, Rover's voice cut through like a blade—sharp and decisive.
"We move. Now."
The unshakable command painted solemnity across every face in the room. Aether looked at the unwavering fire in Rover's eyes, clenched his fists, and strode out the door without hesitation.