Chapter 10

Hera could no longer hold back her emotions and burst into tears. "Sebastian, you bastard! How could you leave me like that?"

She had been terrified. She feared none of the bodies belonged to Sebastian. Yet she feared even more what she would see when lifting the sheets and facing his face.

Calmness or stoicism was impossible. She sat on pins and needles. Was he dead? Really dead?

Years of practicing Awakenism had convinced Hera she had strong mental fortitude. This moment shattered that belief completely. She buried her head in the steering wheel and wept.

Suddenly, her phone rang.

Hera jolted upright and grabbed it. Could it be Sebastian?

Her mind raced, making excuses for his silence. He was busy with his mission. He had no time or energy to update her. Of course. Maybe his phone was off because he couldn't charge it on the mountain.

'Either way,' she reassured herself mentally, 'Sebastian still loves you. He still holds you dear.'

That had to be why he was calling the moment he could. Hera felt a flicker of hope. Then she glanced at the screen and saw it was just "Ed."

"What?!" she cried in disbelief.

Until now, nothing repulsed her more than seeing Sebastian's name flash on her screen. Edmund's name had always made her smile.

Now the opposite was true. She wished it was Sebastian.

Her phone rang again. Hera scanned the forest around her and closed her eyes wearily.

She opened them, wiped away her tears, and composed herself. She started the car and answered, "Hi, Ed."

"Ira! Why haven't you replied to my messages today? Are you okay?"

Hera hesitated before replying, "I… I was busy at work. What's going on?"

"Oh, I'm fine. Bobby kept pestering me to see you. I was at my wit's end! Haha. That's why I'm calling." He paused and asked gently, "I hope I'm not bothering you?"

Before Hera could respond, Bobby snatched the phone. "Mommy! Where are you? Are you coming home? We miss you! Daddy planned to eat something good, but you're not here, so he's sad…"

"But he brought the good stuff home! Will you eat with us?"

Hera's eyebrows relaxed. She took a deep breath and smiled.

"Oh, is that all?" she said, her voice brightening with effort. "Please tell Daddy I'm sorry, okay? Wait for me. I'll be home soon and we can have dinner together!"

Bobby cheered.

Edmund took back the phone. "Alright. Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Got it. Drive safely. I'll be waiting at home with Bobby."

"I know," Hera replied softly.

The call ended. So did her pretense. Her smile faded and her eyes darkened. Quickly, she called her assistant again.

"Good evening, ma'am."

"I need you to check the list of firefighters who died on duty during this event. See if… If Sebastian is among them," she said carefully.

Morgan froze. "What?! Is it that serious? Give me a moment! I'll get the data as soon as I can."

"It's not that urgent," Hera said softly and glanced out at the campsite through the window. "You can tell me tomorrow at work. I don't want to be disturbed tonight."

"Understood, ma'am."

Hera set the phone down. Without hesitation, she pressed the pedal and drove off.

For an Awakenist, life came full of trials. The emotions that rose with them were just as much a part of the test as the hardship itself.

Hera couldn't stop herself from feeling, but that didn't mean she had no control over how long those feelings ruled her. Staying there wouldn't help. Sebastian might still be out there, battling the fire. He might be avoiding her out of resentment. Or he might be lying among the bodies she hadn't been able to identify.

She would have her answer by tomorrow. For tonight, she needed to focus on the time she still had with Bobby.

…

Albert narrowed his eyes at the car disappearing in the distance. He turned to me with a thoughtful look. "That car looks familiar, Grimwald. Seems like the one you have at home. Was that your wife?"

My heart skipped a beat, but I forced a calm smile.

"No, Captain Holst. That's not our car," I lied, shaking my head.

"Huh. Maybe someone took a wrong turn," he muttered. "Did you tell her how you've been these past few days?"

"I did. She knows I'm safe, Captain Holst."

"Good. Our work here is almost done. I've heard the last part of the fire has been put out." He sighed with relief. "Thank God. Looks like we survived this battle. We'll regroup tomorrow and head home. I want to send every one of you straight back."

My teammates cheered. They could finally go home. Everyone was overjoyed.

Except me. I had no home to return to.

I remembered Hera's departure and fell silent. How was I supposed to believe her? She had seemed panicked when looking for me, only to start smiling happily during her call.

It had to be Edmund on the other end. I just knew it.

I saw her pick up the call. It made me feel glum. The familiar pain I had come to know surged back in full force.

I figured she came just to look around, like a tourist.

This time, I buried the pain deep inside my chest and let nothing show on my face.