The soft glow of the recovery chamber lingered behind them as they stepped back into the main corridor of the Royal Medical Wing.
The doors closed quietly.
Sealing away the warmth, the gratitude, and the fragile peace of those who had survived.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
The steady pulse of restorative mana filled the silence, drifting through the halls like the slow, rhythmic breathing of the entire facility.
Albedo walked slightly ahead, his hands resting loosely in his coat pockets. His expression had returned to its usual calm neutrality.
But his mind wasn't still. The image of the mermaids bowing their heads replayed briefly in his thoughts.
He exhaled quietly, "…They'll be fine."
Mera, walking beside him, nodded softly, "Yes."
There was a softness in her voice now. Something lighter than before, "They will."
Elektra stretched her arms behind her head as she walked, her usual relaxed demeanor returning now that the tension had fully dissolved.
