The city was draped in a heavy, somber veil as Ethan and Sarah walked through the streets, heading towards the public square where the memorial ceremony was being held. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, as if the sky itself mourned the loss of so many lives. Posters and flyers adorned walls and lampposts, each one bearing the faces of those who had fallen in the recent monster attacks. Ethan’s parents were among them, their smiling faces now a painful reminder of what he had lost.

Ethan’s steps were heavy, his heart weighed down by grief and anger. He hadn’t spoken much since the previous night, and the silence between him and Sarah was filled with unspoken emotions. She walked beside him, her presence a quiet comfort in the midst of his turmoil. Every now and then, she would glance at him, concern etched in her features, but she knew better than to press him to talk. She understood that right now, words were not enough.

As they approached the square, the scale of the ceremony became apparent. A large crowd had gathered, and the air was thick with the scent of flowers and burning candles. An altar had been set up at the center, surrounded by photographs of the deceased, including Richard and Julia Mentis. Ethan’s gaze lingered on their faces, his chest tightening as memories of their final moments flooded his mind.

The crowd was a mixture of civilians, government officials, and members of the Sentinels. Their expressions ranged from grief-stricken to resolute, all united by the shared loss and the growing fear of the monsters that had invaded their world. Ethan spotted a few familiar faces, people from his neighborhood, but he felt a deep disconnect from them, as if his grief had isolated him from everyone else.

The ceremony began with a series of eulogies. Local leaders took turns speaking, their voices echoing through the square. They spoke of bravery, of the lives lost, and of the need for unity in the face of such unimaginable horror. Each word seemed to dig deeper into Ethan’s chest, reminding him of the pain he had tried so hard to suppress. He clenched his fists, the memory of his parents’ final moments flashing before his eyes. The monsters, the destruction, and the power he had unleashed—it all felt like a blur, yet it was so vivid in his mind.

Sarah stood close to him, her hand lightly brushing against his arm as if to remind him that she was there. She could see the pain in his eyes, the way he was retreating into himself. She knew she had to do something, anything to pull him back from the edge.

“Hey,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the speakers. “Remember that time we tried to cook dinner for your parents? And we ended up burning everything?”

Ethan blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. He turned to look at her, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly as he recalled the memory. “Yeah… we nearly set the kitchen on fire.”

Sarah smiled, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I still say it was your fault. You were the one who thought adding more oil would help.”

Despite himself, Ethan let out a small chuckle. It was a brief moment of levity in an otherwise bleak day, and he was grateful for it. Sarah’s playful banter was like a lifeline, pulling him out of the suffocating darkness of his grief, even if just for a moment.

The ceremony continued, with more speeches and tributes. Ethan listened in a daze, his mind drifting between the present and the past. The faces of the people who spoke blurred together, their voices merging into a single, droning hum. He felt detached, as if he were merely a spectator at his own parents’ memorial. The loss was too great, too fresh for him to fully process.

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Finally, the official eulogies came to an end, and the crowd was invited to pay their respects. People lined up to place flowers at the altar, offering prayers and condolences. Ethan and Sarah joined the line, the weight of the moment pressing down on them both. When it was their turn, Ethan placed a bouquet of white lilies in front of his parents’ photograph, his hands trembling slightly. He whispered a silent goodbye, his vision blurring as tears welled up in his eyes.

Sarah stood beside him, her hand gently squeezing his shoulder. “They would be proud of you, Ethan,” she said softly. “You did everything you could.”

Ethan nodded, though the words did little to ease the guilt gnawing at his heart. He had saved others, but he hadn’t been able to save his own parents. The power he had unleashed, the energy that had surged through him in that moment of desperation—it hadn’t been enough.

As they stepped away from the altar, a figure approached them. He was tall, with a commanding presence that immediately drew attention. His Sentinel uniform was immaculate, and the insignia on his chest marked him as someone of high rank. Ethan recognized him from news broadcasts—Commander Alaric, a well-known and respected figure within the Sentinel organization.

“Ethan Mentis?” the man asked, his voice deep and authoritative.

Ethan straightened, wiping his eyes quickly before nodding. “Yes, sir.”

Commander Alaric gave him a solemn look. “I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Your parents were brave people, and their deaths are a tragedy.”

“Thank you,” Ethan replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

The commander studied him for a moment, his gaze intense. “I was at the scene last night. I witnessed the power you unleashed. It was… remarkable.”

Ethan felt a shiver run down his spine. The memory of that moment was still fresh in his mind—the surge of energy, the destructive force that had exploded from him, reducing everything in its path to ashes. He had barely been aware of what he was doing, driven purely by grief and rage.

“It was nothing,” Ethan said, trying to downplay it. “I just… I didn’t know what else to do.”

Commander Alaric shook his head. “It was far from nothing, Ethan. That kind of power is rare, even among those who have awakened to Virya. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t sure where this conversation was going, but he didn’t like the direction it seemed to be heading. The last thing he wanted was more attention, especially from someone as high-ranking as Alaric.

“I don’t really understand it myself,” Ethan admitted, his voice tight. “It just… happened.”

The commander’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were weighing his next words carefully. “There are very few people who can harness that kind of energy. It’s a gift, but also a responsibility. The Sentinels could help you learn to control it, to use it effectively in the fight against the monsters.”

Ethan swallowed hard. The idea of joining the Sentinels had crossed his mind before, but after last night, the thought was more daunting than ever. The power he had unleashed terrified him, and the idea of being asked to use it again, to potentially hurt others, made his stomach churn.

“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” he said honestly. “I still don’t really know what I’m doing.”

Commander Alaric nodded, as if he had expected that answer. “It’s understandable. You’ve been through a lot in a very short time. But I urge you to consider it. The world is changing rapidly, and we need people like you, people with the ability to make a difference.”

Ethan didn’t respond right away. His mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The commander’s words echoed in his head—“a gift, but also a responsibility.” Was this really what he wanted? To be thrust into a war he barely understood, to wield a power he feared might consume him?

Sensing his hesitation, Sarah stepped closer, her hand slipping into his. The warmth of her touch anchored him, reminding him that he wasn’t alone in this. She had been with him through everything, and she would stand by him no matter what he decided.

“I’ll think about it,” Ethan finally said, his voice firm but uncertain.

Commander Alaric seemed satisfied with that. “That’s all I ask. Take your time, but know that the Sentinels are here if you need us. And if you ever feel that your power is becoming too much to handle, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

With that, the commander gave him a respectful nod and turned to leave, his presence leaving a lingering sense of unease in its wake. Ethan watched him go, his mind racing with the implications of what had just been said.

As the ceremony began to wind down, Ethan and Sarah made their way out of the square. The crowd was beginning to disperse, the once vibrant energy of the gathering now replaced by a quiet, reflective stillness. Ethan’s thoughts were heavy, weighed down by everything that had happened.

“They’re really interested in you,” Sarah remarked as they walked, her tone light but with an undercurrent of concern.

Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on the ground ahead. “Yeah… I guess they are.”

“What are you going to do?” she asked gently.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Part of me feels like I should join them, like maybe I could make a difference. But another part of me is terrified of what I might become if I do.”

Sarah squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Whatever you decide, I’ll be right there with you. You don’t have to face this alone.”

Ethan looked at her, the warmth of her support easing some of the tension in his chest. “Thanks, Sarah. That means a lot