### Chapter Forty-Seven: A New Dawn
**Awakening to Grief**
The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and the dust had finally settled. The tranquility of the morning stood in stark contrast to the horrors of the past few weeks. Alex awoke in a room at the inn, bolting upright with a start. "Igor!" he yelled, his voice hoarse with desperation and his face wet with tears.
He looked around, disoriented, and saw Yuki sitting in a chair by his side, her eyes red from lack of sleep. She stirred and quickly moved to his side. "Alex, you're up," she said softly, her voice filled with relief.
"Yuki, where is Igor?" Alex asked, his voice trembling with fear.
Yuki's face fell, and she took a deep breath. "He's dead, Alex. Don't you remember? After you passed out, we tried to wake you up. We had to regroup, but Shona was about to kill us. We had no choice but to grab you and run away."
Alex's eyes widened in disbelief. "Run away? What happened next?"
**The Retreat and Loss**
Yuki continued, her voice steady but filled with sorrow. "We ran to the mountains and watched as Shona destroyed Nothra. He then went into the ocean, heading to the new world. We haven't seen him for the past three weeks."
"Three weeks?" Alex echoed, his voice filled with shock. "That's almost a month."
"Yes, three weeks," Yuki confirmed. "It's a long time, especially considering everything you've been through. Your body just couldn't handle it all anymore."
Alex's shoulders slumped, the weight of the past events pressing down on him. He struggled to process the loss of Igor and the destruction of Nothra. Tears welled up in his eyes again as he realized how much he had missed while unconscious.
**Rebuilding and Healing**
Yuki went on to explain how the inn and tavern still stood, albeit barely. "The townspeople have been trying to rebuild, and there are still survivors. But, Alex, you missed Igor's funeral."
"Shit," Alex muttered, guilt and sorrow flooding him. "I should have been there."
"You need to focus on healing," Yuki said gently. "Get dressed and come downstairs when you're ready. We need to prepare and plan for what's next."
Alex nodded, feeling the heavy burden of responsibility settle on his shoulders. He watched as Yuki left the room, her footsteps soft and measured.
**Preparing for the Future**
After a few moments of gathering his thoughts, Alex swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, wincing at the stiffness in his muscles. He dressed slowly, each movement a reminder of the battles he had fought and the losses he had endured.
As he looked in the mirror, he saw a reflection of a man who had been through hell and back. His face was lined with fatigue, and his eye patch was a stark reminder of the sacrifices he had made. But beneath the weariness, there was a spark of determination. He couldn't let Igor's death be in vain.
This concludes Chapter Forty-Seven.