Chapter 72: Leaving the Felsis
"Looks like we found them," Marcus said.
"No, they could be others. This is just one building. We should check the city hall for
Marcus gave a small nod.
"Yeah. Central buildings are usually where people regroup," he said.
They stepped away from the burned structure and moved deeper into the district.
One building.
Then another.
Then another.
Each time, Marcus would slow down, glance inside, and check.
And each time, the result was the same. Burned interiors. Collapsed beams. Charred remains. Some near doors. Some further inside. None moving.
Seraphine’s expression hardened with each stop, though she didn’t say anything.
Marcus kept going.
Checking every structure along the main road.
"...This one too," he said quietly as he stepped out of another building.
Seraphine followed, her grip tightening slightly on her bow.
"...There should have been more who made it out," she said.
Marcus looked down the street.
"...There probably were," he replied. "We’re just seeing the ones who didn’t."
They reached a larger structure ahead.
Stone-built.
Wider than the others.
Less damaged on the outside.
"...City hall?" Marcus asked.
Seraphine nodded.
"...Most likely."
They approached carefully.
The doors were partially broken, hanging slightly off their hinges.
Marcus pushed them open.
The inside was darker.
Smoke-stained walls.
Furniture overturned.
More bodies.
Not as many.
But still there.
Some near what looked like a stairway.
Others near the center.
"They tried to gather here," Seraphine said quietly.
Marcus stepped in further, scanning.
"Didn’t matter."
He walked across the room, checking corners, listening.
"...No survivors here."
Seraphine lowered her gaze for a moment.
Then nodded.
"...Then the rest must have evacuated before it reached this point."
Marcus turned and looked back toward the open doorway, where the ruined city stretched beyond.
"...Yeah," he said. "Because there’s no way one dragon wipes out an entire country."
Seraphine glanced at him.
"...You’re sure?"
Marcus nodded once.
"If it could, you wouldn’t just send one party after it," he said. "This thing hit one city hard. Maybe a few more. But not everything."
Seraphine seemed to consider that.
"...That makes sense."
A short silence followed.
Then Marcus turned.
"We’ve checked enough," he said. "We go back. The others shouldn’t be left waiting too long."
Seraphine gave a small nod.
"Agreed."
They stepped out of the city hall and back into the open.
"We are still getting paid by the Felsis right?"
"Look, the Kingdom of Renshade has diplomatic and close ties with Felsis, if they couldn’t make the payment, the Renshade will cover it," Seraphine said.
Marcus glanced at her.
"...So either way, I get paid."
Seraphine nodded.
"Yes," she said. "You fulfilled the contract. That doesn’t change."
Marcus let out a small breath.
"Good," he muttered. "Because that wasn’t cheap."
Seraphine gave him a brief look.
"Those weapons of yours," she said, "they cost that much?"
Marcus smirked faintly.
"You have no idea. Let’s go back."
They made their way back through the ruined streets, the same path they had taken earlier now feeling heavier.
The silence stayed with them.
Only the sound of their footsteps broke it.
Ahead, the helicopter came into view.
The crew had remained where Marcus left them, positioned near the landing zone, alert but relaxed now that the immediate threat was gone.
Selene noticed them first.
"They’re back," she said.
Liora looked up, relief visible on her face.
"...Finally."
Kael shifted slightly where he was sitting, still recovering.
"...Took your time," he muttered.
Marcus walked up without slowing.
"No survivors in the central district," he said. "Most of them evacuated before the dragon hit this area. What we saw were the ones who didn’t make it."
A brief silence followed.
Seraphine stepped in beside him.
"We confirmed it," she said. "This city was struck hard, but it’s not entirely lost."
Selene exhaled slowly.
"...That’s something."
Liora nodded, her grip on her staff easing just a bit.
Kael leaned back slightly, letting out a breath.
"...Then we’re done here."
Marcus glanced at him.
"Yeah," he said. "Mission’s complete."
He turned toward the helicopter and gestured.
"Let’s move."
The crew reacted immediately.
The side door slid open.
One of the gunners stepped forward.
"Watch your step," he said as he helped guide them in.
Selene climbed in first this time, more confident than before, though her eyes still scanned everything.
Liora helped Kael up carefully, supporting him as they moved toward the aircraft.
"...Easy," she said.
"I’m fine," Kael muttered, even if he clearly wasn’t.
Seraphine stepped in last, her gaze lingering for a moment on the ruined city behind them.
Then she turned and entered.
Marcus followed, taking his seat as the crew secured the door.
"Everyone strapped?" he asked.
"Good to go," one of the crew replied.
Marcus nodded.
"Pilot, lift us up."
"Copy."
The rotors began to spin again.
Slow at first.
Then faster.
The wind kicked up around them, ash and dust scattering across the ground as the helicopter rose.
Through the window, the ruined city of Felsis grew smaller.
Seraphine kept her eyes on it for a moment longer.
Then she looked forward.
"...We report this," she said. "And collect the reward."
Marcus leaned back slightly in his seat.
"Yeah," he replied. "We get paid. The question is where should we land? To the capital?"
Seraphine shook her head. "No, we’ll go to your base first and then take it from there."
"I see, it would cause a ruckus if we show up in this helicopter," Marcus said.
Seraphine nodded.
"...More than a ruckus," she replied. "People in the capital are not used to... this."
She gestured lightly around the interior of the aircraft.
Selene let out a quiet laugh.
"...Yeah, I can already imagine it," she said. "We land, and half the city thinks it’s an attack."
Marcus smirked faintly.
"Not the kind of attention I want right now," he said.
The helicopter continued to climb, leveling out as it gained altitude.
The ruined city of Felsis disappeared behind them, replaced by open land stretching toward the horizon.