Chapter 67: Finally
At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps approaching from far away became audible.
Dozens of soldiers marched towards the field with the Dwarf Duke Bhagholir in front of them.
Bhagholir’s hopeful and jubilant expression as he came into the field vanished the moment he saw Atlas, as did the rest of the army and Atlas’ troop.
The young man looked more than a little sad and heartbroken.
The young man who had told himself that he would no longer be a hero, or that he had chosen not to be a random hero, was still in the deepest recesses of his soul, the soul filled with the cracks that Chronos had sent back in time.
Atlas was trying to empathise. He had seen what he was seeing now many times, but no matter how many times he saw something so awful, he couldn’t seem to get used to it. Maybe he wasn’t vomiting or dizzy with shock like the first time he’d seen it, but his chest was tight with pity for those who had suffered so much.
"Young man," Bhagholir said suddenly, and soon he had made it to where Atlas and the rest of them were, and addressed Atlas gently.
"We have made it, my lord. There is another camp up ahead, perhaps ten minutes away. If it is possible, you can take the rest of the troop and rescue the slaves there. There are quite a few slaves here. Judging by the spells cast, it is likely that thousands more slaves are still there," Atlas said suddenly. He seemed to wish he hadn’t spoken so bluntly.
As soon as he said these words, he turned to the mage troop and then said in a serious and commanding tone, "Gather round! You will follow Duke Bhagholir!" he shouted.