He moved on to the next pods. Two girls and three more boys, all in the same condition: pale, frail, wrapped in cables. He worked methodically, freeing them one by one. With every cable he removed, the faint glow of the machine behind them dimmed further.
Within minutes, every child was free. They stood around him, still weak, some leaning on each other to stay upright.
One of the girls looked up at Alaric, eyes glistening with tears.
"Thank you… brother."
That was all.
No crying, no embraces. Just a quiet, heartfelt word and because of that simplicity, it carried more weight than any grand gesture.
The others followed, their voices fragile but trembling with emotion.
"Thank you, brother."
Alaric looked at each of them in turn, then gave a small nod.
"You don't need to thank me," he said quietly. "You only took back what should never have been taken from you."
Alaric stood among the children he had just saved.
