Taking it from here

"It is the emperor's flag. No question mark. Haha!"

When Sam's voice caressed my ears, I almost didn't believe it. How would someone who was supposed to be in the capital be in here? Even at the sight of knights marching and the raised flag of the imperial knights, I doubted my eyes. Was I hallucinating just because I felt helpless? 

My eyes landed on Stefan and, to my surprise, his eyes gradually widened as he looked behind me. Why, Stefan? Why would you look so shocked? Were you having the same nightmares? Out of instinct, my gaze veered towards Zero and he had his eyes narrowed sharply. 

'Sam... is he really here? Are we... saved?' I asked myself, trying to suppress the sliver of hope that peeked through the clouds in my heart. 'Did he really...'

TAK!