It was already nighttime when Knox finally decided that it was time to look for his friends. He knew where Sara lived since they were childhood friends, but Jade was a problem for later.

Knox stepped out into the chilly night air. He hesitated, his breath forming misty clouds in front of him. The weight of uncertainty hung heavy on his shoulders as he set off towards Sara's house, the memory of their childhood friendship offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of his despair.

The journey felt interminable, each step a struggle against the doubts that threatened to overwhelm him. Finally, he reached Sara's street, the houses looming like silent sentinels in the moonlit night. With a deep breath, Knox approached her doorstep, his heart pounding.

He raised his hand to knock, but he hesitated before his knuckles could meet the wood. What if Sara wasn't there? What if she was gone too, lost to him forever? Pushing aside his fears, Knox rapped the door with a trembling hand, echoing through the quiet street.

There was no response for a moment, and Knox's heart sank. But then, he heard movement from within, the faint sound of footsteps approaching. The door creaked open slowly, revealing the dimly lit interior of Sara's home.

Knox stepped inside cautiously, his senses on high alert as he scanned the room for any sign of Sara. The air was heavy with silence, broken only by the soft ticking of a nearby clock.

As he moved further into the house, Knox's heart pounded in his ears, each moment stretching out into eternity. He checked each room methodically, his pulse quickening with each space he encountered.

Finally, as he reached the last room, he saw her—Sara huddled in a corner with tears streaming down her face. Relief washed over Knox as he rushed to her side, gathering her into his arms.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Knox said, tears welling up in his eyes. Sara didn't answer as she was just as happy to see him.

For a long moment, they simply held onto each other, the weight of their shared grief pressing down on them like a heavy burden. But in that moment, as Knox felt Sara's warmth against him, he knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as they had each other, they would find a way to endure.

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After holding her for an eternity, Knox realized he needed to know more about what had happened. He gently released his grip and stepped back, looking into her eyes with concern etched on his face. "Can you tell me what happened?" Knox asked softly, hoping she could shed some light on the situation. He knew he couldn't hold onto her for much longer without knowing the whole story. His heart raced as he waited for her response, unsure what he would hear.

Sara took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she tried to speak. "Y-yes… a la-large army." She paused, her words choking in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she struggled to regain her composure. "I'm sorry… I just need a moment." She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her voice breaking as she continued, "I'll try to explain."

Knox patiently waited for her to regain her composure. It didn’t take long before she continued. “A massive army of monsters attacked our city about a month ago. Our army was wiped out almost immediately. People like your father and other higher-level soldiers tried holding them off. Still, a large mana explosion suddenly teleported them away, which destroyed the whole city. Some people got away, but not many. My parents were killed in the initial a-assault.” She started tearing up again but composed herself a few seconds later. “Before going, they told me to hide in a bunker made for this specific moment. That led me to be still alive. I don't know what happened to everyone else… I’m sorry.”

Knox wrapped their arms around her, pulling her in for a tight embrace. With a comforting tone, Knox spoke, "I can't imagine how tough it must have been for you, but please know that you did everything you could. I'm just grateful that you made it out alive." The warmth of the embrace and the kind words offered a sense of solace to Sara, who was relieved to have someone to lean on at that moment.

With a reassuring squeeze, Knox released the embrace. “We should head out. There isn’t any point in staying here.” Sara nodded and followed Knox out. Timmy anxiously waited for their return. Timmy's eyes widened with relief and curiosity as Knox approached, his expression blending concern and eagerness.

"Timmy," Knox began, his voice calm yet filled with an underlying urgency, "we have someone I want you to meet."

Timmy's brow furrowed slightly, his curiosity piqued. "Who is it, Knox?"

Knox gestured towards Sara, who had been waiting patiently behind him, her presence barely noticed until now. "This is Sara," he introduced, his tone carrying a sense of respect for the woman standing before them.

Sara stepped forward, offering a tentative smile as she extended her hand towards Timmy. "Hi there, Timmy. It's nice to meet you."

Timmy hesitated momentarily before tentatively reaching out to shake Sara's hand. His gaze flickered between Knox and Sara, a mix of uncertainty and curiosity dancing in his eyes.

Knox placed a reassuring hand on Timmy's shoulder. "Sara's going to be joining us, Timmy. She will help us, and she’s powerful, so you don't need to worry about that."

Timmy's expression softened as he looked up at Knox, a hint of understanding dawning in his eyes. "Okay, Knox. If you trust her, then I might as well trust her, too."

With a nod of approval, Knox smiled gratefully at Timmy before returning to Sara. "Welcome aboard, Sara. We've got a lot of work to do, but with your help, I know we can get through it together."