The air in Ruins City Outpost was heavy with despair and unease.
Emery stood at the edge of the outpost, his own anxieties mirrored in the restless winds that had begun to whip through the camp.
Over 500,000 civilians—a mix of battered refugees and stragglers from Citadel City's 8th, 9th, and 10th batches—had gathered there, a fleeting sanctuary amidst the chaos of their collapsing world. Huddled in makeshift tents or leaning against crumbling walls, they wore the scars of their arduous journey. Torn clothing, hastily wrapped bandages, and hollow, sleepless eyes were all telltale signs of their despair.
As the weary masses paused for rest, Emery's anxiety only grew.
First came Lyanna's cryptic message—another threat had emerged, a group seemingly targeting him. She couldn't identify them but speculated they were likely from outside the planet. Her information was vague and speculative, but troubling nonetheless.
