Shoulders slammed into shoulders as the eastern royal guard station descended into pandemonium. Papers fluttered through the air like startled birds.
"What should we do?" an officer shouted over the din.
"I don't know! If only Captain Rosewalt were here—he'd know what to do!"
"Dammit," Officer Mercurly yelled, burying his face in his hands, shoulders trembling with frustration. "The whole town's confused, and we don't even know where to start. I've never felt so useless in my life."
"Everyone!" another voice cut through the chaos. "The Captain's at the judicial plaza! Let's move—assist him now!"
In seconds the station emptied. Boots thundered down corridors and out into the streets, leaving only scattered paperwork drifting across the floor like fallen leaves.
Godfall itself had slipped from confusion into outright chaos. Crowds surged through the avenues, voices rising in panic, faces pale with questions no one could answer.
Then a single voice rose above it all—clear, commanding, impossible to ignore.
"Everyone, listen. I have something to say."
Heads turned. Fingers pointed toward the ruined judicial plaza, where a lone figure stood atop a mound of rubble, a large microphone in hand.
"Hey, everyone—it's Captain Rosewalt!"
A ripple of relief swept through the crowd. Shoulders lowered; held breaths were slowly released.
"I know a lot of you have questions," Rosewalt began, his voice steady and affirmative, carrying effortlessly to every corner of the town. "But sadly, I'm not here to give answers. I'm here to provide solutions."
He paused, letting the words settle.
"There was an imminent threat to our glorious town. With Sango's help, we fended it off. It was a brutal fight—you can see the crater it left behind."
Murmurs spread as eyes turned toward the vast scar in the earth.
"But I'm not here to recount the battle. I'm here for what comes next. My team—the eastern royal guard—" he gestured toward the officers now threading through the crowd, "—stands ready."
He drew a breath.
"Many homes were destroyed tonight. Don't worry. They will be repaired swiftly and efficiently. Anyone without shelter, come to the station. We'll make arrangements. Starting today, we're launching a voluntary service to distribute food, water, and supplies until Godfall is whole again. If you wish to volunteer, report to the station. Thank you."
He lowered the microphone.
The silence lasted only a heartbeat before the crowd erupted—not in panic, but in motion.
"Hey, didn't you hear him?" Officer Mercurly shouted, already rolling up his sleeves. "Come on—let's get to work!"
In a nearby alley, a small boy tugged at his mother's sleeve.
"Mom, who was that man?"
She wiped tears from her eyes, smiling down at him. "That man is the best thing that ever happened to our town."
By midday the station buzzed like a hive. Lines of citizens streamed in—some seeking aid, others bringing donations. Tables groaned under crates of bread, blankets, clothing. Voices overlapped in a frantic but hopeful rhythm.
Inside his office, Captain Rosewalt sat with his boots crossed on the desk, staring out the window at the stars beginning to prick the evening sky.
Knock knock.
"Who's there?" he called, voice low and solemn.
"You know you can just come in, Sango."
The door opened. Sango stepped inside, hands in his pockets, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Don't mind me. Just trying to show a little etiquette."
"Hey, Rosewalt," Sango said, settling into the chair opposite the desk. "You've got your job back. The whole town's singing your praises. So why don't you look happy?"
Rosewalt exhaled slowly. "I won't lie—I was looking forward to that vacation. But my town needs me more."
Sango chuckled softly. "I see."
Rosewalt's gaze sharpened. "You never told me how you saved everyone. We both know petrification like that drains life force. They should all be dead."
Sango's smile turned quieter. "It's not complicated. I traded their life force for mine."
"You what?!" Rosewalt shot upright, boots hitting the floor.
"Yeah. Breaking the curse manually would've caused more problems. So I released my own life force instead."
Rosewalt leaned back, processing. "So everything Rusty gathered… was actually yours."
"Sharp as ever, Rosewalt."
"You're truly one of a kind, Sango."
Sango's expression grew serious. "So. What about the masquerade?"
Rosewalt blinked. "Oh, damn—where did I put that thing?"
He yanked open drawer after drawer, papers spilling onto the floor, until he reached the bottom one.
"Found it." He lifted out a small, ornate mask, its surface shimmering faintly with residual power.
Sango pressed a palm to his forehead. "I can't believe you kept something that dangerous in a desk drawer."
Rosewalt shrugged. "What do you want to do with it?"
"I don't need it. I just wanted to be sure it was secure. And that drawer," Sango said with a wry grin, "is probably the safest place in town right now. Keep it."
He rose to leave.
"What about Shek?" Rosewalt asked quietly. "You didn't find him here."
Sango paused at the door. "I never really searched, to be honest. But I found something better. I found Tayo. And right now, that's enough."
"I see."
"Yeah." Sango glanced back, eyes soft. "Let's meet again soon, Rosewalt."
Rosewalt's voice was almost a whisper. "You remind me of him, you know."
Sango let out a gentle laugh. "So that's why you never call me by my real name."
The door closed softly behind him, leaving Rosewalt alone with the mask, the stars, and the distant sounds of a town beginning to heal.