For a long, unbearable moment, no one spoke. The only sound was the faint tremor of water vibrating around them, fading slowly from the wake of the Vesper Sea Drake. Even after it was gone, its presence clung to the group like a phantom weight pressing against their ribs.
Some students didn't even dare breathe yet, afraid movement alone might draw another one of those things back toward them.
Lilian hugged her knees, trying to pretend she wasn't still shaking, "Holy shit…" she whispered under her breath. "That thing… that thing was bigger than a fortress. Bigger than a damn mountain."
One of the students farther down the rock cluster let out a faint, hysterical laugh that died halfway out of his throat. "I-I thought Titan-class meant… like… big… but that—" He couldn't finish the sentence. His voice cracked too badly.
Another student muttered, "I didn't even see all of it. It just kept going. And going. And, fuck, I think I'm going to be sick."
