It's hard to say what it really was, except for using the word 'the fruit'. I Couldn't see it, but I felt immense energy going through my fingers when they met the surface of whatever it was. I felt numbness slowly claiming my body, and I didn't really know how to react.historical

Instinct was telling me to pull out, leave the damn thing, but what sense did it have? I needed to consume the fruit, not run away from it, so I pushed deeper, and the surge of power overwhelmed me.

A few things happened at the same time. I could feel my muscles spasming, my body changing as the cells mutated. I was growing stronger physically at a very rapid pace.

At the same moment, the surface of the device started shrinking, like somebody was sucking the moisture out of it. The process continued until the only thing left was a dried-up seed in my hands, and I could feel the energy pulsing in me. So many things have changed. I just felt it.

The thing I failed to notice, as everybody else, was the disappearance of the dome above us. The temperature shifted to much colder, but we only registered that when I was already standing with the seed in my hands.

I slowly turned to face them.

- This is it - I said.

My eyes caught on Celestine, watching and crying. She wasn't the only one. Many people cried. The city we built with hard work has fallen.

- I know it looks like a bitter ending, but it's not. It's a beginning. This place served its purpose, and it will crumble when we leave, but that doesn't mean our story ends here. There will be many more opportunities, and many more cities to build - I told them, for a brief moment considering mentioning the Loistavadvaar, and the many more metropolis connected to it.

- Great work everybody! - Tihana turned to face the hunters.

I noticed she had tears in her eyes, but was able to butty them, to come out as somebody unmoved by what just happened.

- We still have a seed to bury, so take a break, and flex on your friends. Go and give interviews on TV, do a quick movie cameo, or whatever you always wanted to do, but I expect you will return. We need you. You are hunters now. Not some weaklings but proud warriors. You know what's ahead, you know what's coming. We can face it, but only together. This means we can't slack off - she told them.

In this emotional moment, her leadership was on point. I saw people wiping the tears off their faces, straightening their backs to stand straight, with pride. They were warriors now.

Maybe not everything went as I hoped it would. There were many disappointments, and failures even, but the whole project succeeded. I could see it at that very moment when my daughter was inspiring those people to keep going despite the feeling of betrayal and loss they just went through.

- Yes. Time for a little break before the real deal - Lucas said. - We will come back and build an even bigger city. But this time I'm doing whatever he did.

He pointed at me. The sheer ridiculousness of his words earned him a few laughs.

- I know you don't really like me now, but please gather around. Have a last look at the Petrograd, and let's go to Arc - I said.

- I have a few things I would like to pick up - Dasha said to my words. - Give us a moment.

- Sure - I agreed.

The whole bunch left, rushing to their homes to gather their belongings. I was left alone, as I had everything already in my vault. I picked the golems as I took the crystals from them, my weapon was already there, and to tell you the truth, there was nothing more I wished to grab.

I put the seed in the vault, then looked around for a few minutes. My heart suddenly twitched, grabbed by the sadness that overwhelmed me. At that moment I thought it was just the grief of losing something I worked so hard on. I had no idea what was the real reason behind it.

I had to wipe my eyes because tears started to gather. I didn't even realize how much emotion was waiting to be released by the decision I'd made. My throat tightened as I clenched my teeth to fight the feelings. Thankfully there was nobody to see it, so I didn't publicly show my moment of weakness.

I was back to normal when the first hunters gathered around. They carried bags and backpacks filled with their belongings. Much more than they brought to the place originally. Some looked like mules belonging to a caravan that was coming from the opposite end of the world. They were practically walking clusters of bags.

With some more time, a whole group assembled around me. There was a little bit of movement necessary to assemble the whole thing, with all the luggage. Not everyone was able to fit in the places of their first choice, so they had to move. Eventually, we grabbed one another so I was able to shadow walk us back to the city center of Arc.

I took a deep breath, having my last glance around. It was terrible, as the emotions came for the second time, but I managed to push them back. Not everybody from the other people who did the same was able to do that, so I heard some sobbing.

The moment lasted unnecessarily long because I was delaying it. It was quite surprising. I never thought I would have a problem with living Petrograd behind, and then it just happened. It was quite ironic. When I realized that, I just pushed myself to do what was right.

So like that we appeared in the same place we originally departed from. Slightly on the side of the city center of Arc.