"Excuse me?"

     Suddenly, a soft and gentle voice breaks through the conversation. The Remaining Podeshire and his companions turn to see the speaker. It is a boy in his mid-teens. He possesses jet-black hair that falls below his collarbones, with the rest neatly tied in a ponytail. His skin glimmers like a porcelain vase, and his eyes are like coal. The boy dons a red robe and a matching sash around his waist, paired with brown sandals and a knee-length skirt.

"Yes?" Oliver responded, turning towards the boy.

"With all due respect, may I... politely ask...?" the boy inquired timidly.

Oliver turned to face the boy and smiled at him. "You may," Oliver nodded.

"...Are you... are you the man whom our Emperor has summoned?" the boy asked politely.

"If you mean the Remaining Podeshire, the Defender of Asbranne, then yes, I am Oliver Podeshire," Oliver responded calmly.

"My name is Ari," the boy, Ari, introduced himself bashfully. "The Emperor has chosen you to come and help the important political figures of Geveria who are trapped in the Government House."

"The Government House..." Oliver glanced at Gregory.

"Men have been trapped there since the earthquake ravaged the entire city a few days ago. We heard their screams echoing from inside the building. And... we... we tried to rescue them, but there was too much debris and hazards blocking our path. It has been days, and they may die from hunger... dehydration... or suffocation. Please, help them," Ari pleaded, his brows furrowed with worry. "Please..."

"That's why I'm here," Oliver reassured him with a smile.

Ari's frown transformed into a smile.

"Shall we go?" Gregory asked.

"Of course," Oliver nodded. Then, he turned to Ari. "Ari? Can you lead us to the Government House?"

"I will guide you," Ari replied.

"Let's go."

     Ari swiftly turns around and begins hurrying forward. Oliver and his companions immediately trail over Ari's footsteps, dashing across the street. They move briskly through the pavement, navigating piles of rocks and stones while passing by weeping women.

     As Oliver trails behind Ari, he notices a group of women on their knees, sobbing for their deceased husbands. A wave of sorrow washes over Oliver, causing his knees to weaken and his heart to weigh heavy. It is not the physical exertion that quickens his heartbeat but the sight of countless mourning women.

     Oliver tightens his lips and takes a deep breath. Focusing on Ari's lead, he braces his knees and straightens his posture, summoning strength into his calves. He lets out a sigh, clenching his teeth as he hastens forward.

     Soon, the Remaining Podeshire and his companions arrive at the Government House. Upon reaching their destination, their jaws drop open, and their eyes widen in shock. They gaze up at the building's remnants, which have crumbled into a heap of stones.

     The ground floor of the Government House has been obliterated, with the upper floors crashing down upon it. Debris and wood fragments are scattered throughout the structure, while cracks resembling lightning bolts mar its foundation. The entire building stands in ruins, surrounded by men shovelling away debris blocking the entrance. Men and women gather around and gawk at the shattered building, the area bustling with crowds.

"We're here," Ari announced breathlessly.

Oliver glanced from left to right and immediately noticed men shovelling away the debris. "...What are they doing?" he asked.

Ari struggled to catch his breath. "They're..." he panted. "They're digging... trying to clear the path."

Gregory's voice trembled as he gasped for breath. "You mean to say that the entire ground floor... has collapsed, crushed by the weight of the floors above?"

Edgar wiped the beads of sweat from his brows, his disbelief evident. "How could anyone possibly survive such a catastrophe?"

Sophia stepped closer, and a distant chorus of desperate screams reached her ears. "...Wait, do you hear that?" she raised a brow and strained to listen. "Those shouts... there are people still alive!"

Oliver's gaze turned to the ground, his ears fixed on the haunting echoes of the cries for help. After a few seconds of intense concentration, he looked at his companions and spoke. "You're right," he said. "There are still people inside there, and they are alive."

"Oh, thank goodness," Sophia sighed heavily.

Gregory's voice quivered with concern. "What do we do now?"

"I must go in," said Oliver.

"What!?" Gregory gasped, his eyes widening.

"Stay here," Oliver said, meeting Gregory's gaze. With a deep breath, Oliver straightened his back and strode forward.

"No!" Gregory's grip tightened around Oliver's hand, his fear driving him to hold on as he pulled his lover back.

"Greg," Edgar intervened, his voice steady yet firm, as he clasped Gregory's shoulder. "You mustn't interfere again. Have trust in him."

Sophia stepped forward, facing Oliver. "Oli, can you handle this on your own?" Sophia asked.

"Yes, of course," Oliver nodded, his eyes meeting Sophia's.

Sophia turned to Gregory, her voice gentle but firm. "See? Oliver is more than capable. Believe in him, trust him."

     Gregory hesitated, fluttering his eyes as he lightly shook his head. But as Oliver smiled and gently rested his palm on Gregory's cheek, a glimmer of trust began to take hold in his heart. Gregory's grip around Oliver's hand loosened, and he lowered his gaze to his shoes. He then nodded and stepped back, tightening his lips.

     Oliver steps forward, closing the distance between himself and the devastated Government House. His gaze shifts from left to right, taking in the sight of numerous men wielding shovels to clear away the rubble. Oliver continues his approach, honing in on a tall, muscular man.

"May I be excused?" Oliver politely addressed the man.

The man nodded, his gaze lowered as he contemplated whether or not to trust the Remaining Podeshire. Slowly, he stepped back and resumed shovelling on the other side of the building.

Ari hurriedly trailed behind Oliver, poking his back. "You're going in?" he asked.

"Yes. But before that, could you please ask the rest of the men to move further away from the Government House?" Oliver requested kindly.

Ari peered into Oliver's amber gaze. "Will do," Ari replied. He then turned around and sprinted forward, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Please move! The Remaining Podeshire advises you to keep your distance from the Government House!"

Unexpectedly, a man grunted in response. "And who are you for us to believe? We're here doing our work!" he retorted, hitting his shovel against the rubble.

Ari pointed at Oliver. "He told me. Please trust him," Ari pleaded, hoping to sway the doubtful man.

"...Why should I trust a foreigner?" the man questioned, resuming his shovelling.

Oliver stepped forward, wearing a respectful smile, and addressed the man. "May I know where the entrance to the Government House is?" Oliver inquired politely.

The man was so astonished by Oliver's kind voice that he became momentarily speechless. After a brief moment, he shook his head and replied. "...I'm in charge of clearing the debris that blocks the entrance," the man pointed at the piles of stones. "The entrance is right here."

"Are there people on the other side?" Oliver asked humbly, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Possibly," the man responded.

     Oliver raised his hand, staring intently at the blockade in front of the entrance. He then snapped his fingers, and the piles of rocks and planks that obstructed the scene began to shimmer and burst into a cascade of golden glitters. As the glitters faded away, the entrance stood open, revealing a dozen men lying on the floor, anxiously waiting to be rescued.

     Men and women trapped within the building flood out through the entrance. They hurry and scurry across the rubble, eager to escape the confinements of their plight. Onlookers around the streets are taken aback, gasping in surprise as they watch the sudden emergence of a crowd from the building. Doctors swiftly react, rushing towards the trapped individuals.

Oliver approached the entrance and offered a helping hand to a frail elderly man, assisting him in standing up. "Are you okay?" Oliver asked calmly.

"I am, but there are more trapped inside," the elderly man replied, clutching Oliver's hands. Then, the doctors arrived and gently took hold of his arms, leading him away from the building.

     As the remaining trapped individuals emerge from the entrance, Oliver narrows his eyes, attempting to discern any details in the pitch-black hallway before him. Taking a step forward, he glances back at his concerned spouse. Oliver smiles and locks eyes with Gregory, then turns his attention back to the hallway.

     Oliver's eyes gradually adjust, allowing him to make out faint outlines along the corridor, though darkness still prevails. Oliver takes a deep breath, gazing into the empty, abyss-like void. Oliver steels himself and ventures further into the building, where uncertainty rests.