As they raised their hands in unison, flames began to rise, engulfing the corpses and reducing them to ash.
At that moment, the dead were not just burned—they were released, their tragic end marked by the fire that consumed them, closing a painful chapter for the survivors.
As if the heavens themselves shared in their grief, a strong gust of wind swept through the square just after the cremation, lifting the ashes of the fallen into the air.
The fine particles danced and swirled, carried freely upwards into the sky.
All the survivors within the base watched in silence, their eyes following the trail of ashes as it rose, a collective moment of reverence as they looked up, acknowledging the souls now carried away by the wind.
"May the souls of all these people rest in peace," Kisha's voice rang out, steady and solemn, drawing the eyes of every survivor to her.
