The air was still thick with the cold of the previous night's storm. Athen had fallen silent under a blanket of snow, not the fresh white of fairy tales but a dull gray that seemed to mirror the city's mood. It was the kind of silence that whispered truths louder than any voice.
Inside the old inn where Unit 9 had taken shelter, the morning broke with a subdued gloom. Pale light filtered through the frost-covered windows, painting the wooden floor with patterns of faint white.
No one spoke for a while.
Raynar leaned against the wall near the fireplace, arms crossed, watching the fire with a furrowed brow. The usual pride in his eyes had dulled, replaced by something far more distant.
Elira sat near the window, her shield propped against her leg, staring outside. She hadn't touched her tea.
Lin was unusually quiet too, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on the rim of her cup. Kerr sat beside her, but even his usual energy had faded into an uncertain quiet.
Ashen leaned against the edge of the table, his eyes scanning the room, taking in every detail — the silence, the weight, the hesitation.
Only Sera paced, arms folded, her boots thudding gently on the wooden floor.
No one said it aloud, but they all knew. The mission had changed them. Or maybe, it had just opened their eyes.
A knock came at the door.
Lieutenant Grey stepped in. His face was grim, but composed.
"The evacuation has been postponed for the day," he said. "Last night's snow made most roads impassable. But the higher-ups want us to help with the relief distribution. You'll be working with the local forces to hand out food and supplies."
He glanced at them all.
"Try to keep your heads down. And listen."
With that, he turned and left.
The group stayed still a few more seconds.
Then Raynar pushed off the wall with a sigh. "Seems the storm didn't just freeze the streets," he muttered. "Even our purpose feels... suspended."
Lin nodded. "I thought helping people would feel different."
Kerr added, "Yeah... I always imagined smiles. Grateful faces. But yesterday... all I saw was hunger. Fear."
Ashen looked at the floor. "That boy, Col... he looked at us like we were just another hope that wouldn't last."
Elira finally turned from the window. "Maybe that's all we are to them."
Sera stopped pacing. She looked at them — her team — and for once, she seemed unsure. "We'll do what we can today. That's all that matters."
But even she sounded like she was trying to convince herself.
They stepped into the cold once more. The snow had stopped, but the sky remained a heavy gray, and the air bit at their skin with a sharp edge.
The marketplace had become the center of the day's efforts. Soldiers stood behind makeshift tables, handing out sacks of rice, dried fruits, thin blankets, and old winter coats. The people of Athen lined up quietly — too quietly.
Unit 9 split into pairs to help.
Raynar and Sera manned the food station. Ashen and Elira handled blankets and coats. Lin and Kerr helped maintain the line and keep the children calm.
The silence was broken only by murmured thanks, the sound of bags rustling, and the occasional crying child.
Raynar watched as an old man with hollow eyes took a bag of rice with trembling hands. "Is this all?" the man asked.
Raynar hesitated. "For now. More will come soon."
The old man nodded without conviction and shuffled away.
Sera watched him go, her jaw tight.
"Ray..." she said softly. "Do you think... do you think we failed them already?"
Raynar looked at her, then at the line stretching out beyond the square.
"We never even had the chance to try," he said.
On the other side, Ashen handed a small coat to a child no older than five. She clung to her older sister's hand.
"It's warm," he said. "Take care of it."
The sister nodded and led the girl away.
Elira looked at Ashen. "It's strange."
"What is?"
"This city used to be known for its wealth. My father once told me their granaries were never empty."
Ashen nodded slowly. "I heard stories. Fields that stretched for miles. Markets with spices from the East."
"They even hosted winter festivals," Elira added. "People came from all over. Now... look at it."
Ashen didn't reply.
He didn't need to.
A few hours passed.
By noon, the supplies were running low.
The crowd grew restless. Whispers filled the cold air like smoke.
That's when Col appeared again.
He didn't come forward. He stood near the edge of the square, watching.
Ashen noticed him first.
He nudged Elira, who looked over.
"That boy again..."
Ashen stepped away and walked over slowly.
Col met his gaze but didn't smile.
"You came back," Ashen said.
"I figured you would, too."
"You watching us?"
Col shrugged. "Someone has to."
Ashen chuckled softly. "You're not wrong."
The others slowly approached.
Sera looked at Col with a faint nod. "You're the one from yesterday."
Col nodded back. "And you're still here."
"Evacuation's delayed. Snow," Raynar said.
Col looked up at the sky. "Yeah. Snow's the only thing that covers this place anymore."
There was a pause.
Kerr broke it. "Hey, Col. You hungry?"
Col shook his head. "Already ate. One of your people gave me a biscuit."
Lin smiled. "Still, you could stick around. We might find more."
Col was quiet for a moment. Then, he asked, "Do you know what Athen was like?"
Sera stepped closer. "I do."
Col turned to her. "Really?"
She nodded. "I read the reports. My father... he showed me maps. Stories. Trade routes. Athen was called the Jewel of the East."
Col looked down. "My father used to say that too."
Sera's expression softened. "He wasn't wrong."
"He also said the king cared. That help would come when things got bad."
There was a beat of silence.
"I'm sorry," Sera said. Her voice was barely a whisper.
Col looked at her, something unreadable in his eyes.
"You sound like you mean it."
"I do."
"Then why did it take so long?"
No one answered.
Even the wind stopped for a moment.
Col looked at the snow beneath his feet. "People think snow is clean. Pure. But when you live with it long enough... you realize it hides things. It buries what no one wants to see."
Sera clenched her fist.
Ashen glanced at her but said nothing.
Col looked up again. "If you're going to help us... then help us. But don't do it for guilt. Or pride. Or duty."
Raynar raised an eyebrow. "Then for what?"
"For us," Col said simply. "For the people who are still here."
Then he turned and walked away.
No one followed.
The square was silent again.
Later, back at the inn, the team sat around the table.
Sera hadn't spoken since they returned.
Finally, Lin spoke. "He's right, isn't he?"
Elira nodded. "He is."
Kerr added, "That's the first time I've heard someone say it like that."
Ashen stirred the embers of the fire with a stick. "He didn't want to hurt us. He just wanted us to see."
Raynar stood up and walked to the window.
Outside, snow had started falling again. Gentle this time. Slow.
Sera rose to her feet, walked toward the window beside him.
"I'm a princess," she said, voice soft. "I've lived with warm food. Silk sheets. Guards at every door. But that boy… he made me feel smaller than I ever have."
Raynar glanced at her.
Sera continued, "Not because of who he was. But because of what he knew."
She turned to the rest of them.
"I won't ask any of you to forgive what my people have done — or failed to do. But from this moment, I swear... I'll do everything I can to make it right."
Lin stood beside her. "Then we're with you."
Kerr added, "All the way."
Ashen smiled faintly. "One step at a time."
The room grew quiet again.
Snow tapped gently against the window.
For a moment, it felt like Athen was listening.
And for the first time in days... it didn't feel quite so cold.