Chapter 16: Memory 4 / 8
Dune placed his hands on Ned's shoulders, channeling green Neba he had into his brother. The faint glow pulsed weakly between them, offering a flicker of hope.
Ned shifted, pushing him gently away. "You barely have any green Neba. Save it for yourself."
"What's the point, Ned?" Dune muttered, frustration seeping into his voice.
"What do you mean?"
"What's the point of me having Neba at all if I don't have an animal core to use it? I'm useless," Dune said bitterly, shaking his head.
Ned sighed, his exhaustion palpable. "You're not useless. You can still enhance your body with Neba. You know that, right?"
Dune let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah, and what good would that do against monsters like these? I can't even touch them." He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the distant chaos. "I just want to leave. I hope Amanda gets here soon."
"Same," Ned murmured, closing his eyes.
[ On the Other Side of the City ]
Cadogan stood still amidst a battlefield of corpses. His white battle attire was soaked in blood, the crimson stains turning his cape into a tattered banner of war. Around him, everything was silent. Monsters and humans alike lay dead at his feet.
He took a few slow steps, his boots crunching over shattered stone, until he came to Derchis lifeless body sprawled on the ground. Cadogan crouched, his expression softening as he reached down and closed the man's eyes.