In another street, Bruce, with Rebi and little Lina had separated from the other slaves from the mines to peruse the rest of the territory.
They knew for sure that the Bright Territory folks were around here somewhere, and they hoped to encounter them. Not to mention, they might find people they knew among the locals!
They encountered a few people on the ground and they would help them get to where the Alterans set up some minor treatment hubs.
These places were located in various houses spread around the territory, near where the battles occurred. Here, Alterans would give some diluted potions to those who needed them, but only once and they would vary the dosage depending on how harsh the person's injuries were.
For now, this was all for free, and it really added prestige to the territory that took over their own.
It took Bruce and the others a while to find Bright Citizens who joined in the attack but, when they did, they encountered the former lord himself!
Micheal was helping out with the injured slaves at this time and, as Bruce and the others approached him, they immediately became respectful. "Milord…"
"I'm not the lord anymore," Micheal said, patting his shoulder as he looked at him. He was thin and bloodied but somehow all his appendages were working well and his drive to survive was strong.
"I heard you guys were rescued from the mines?"
"Yes, sir," Bruce said, looking at the Alterans—except for the seriously injured—every one of which was busy helping someone or a group. "The Alterans, they… they're really so good."
Micheal smiled. "We are lucky to have them on our side," he said, looking at him. "You did well, too."
Bruce nodded and looked at him. "I heard my daughter…"
"She's safe, Tom and the others are raising her well," he said. "She's living very well right now. She even made friends."
Although the Alterans had told him about her, it still felt different coming from a fellow Bright Villager who had traveled the whole time with his daughter.
A part of him thought that the Alterans could just be comforting him. Besides, they didn't know him that well. What if they mistook him for someone else? What if the girl they were talking about was another Lily?
Of course he hoped the best for his daughter, but he couldn't help but worry endlessly for her.
As such, when Micheal himself confirmed their words, Bruce couldn't help sobbing as if it was the first time he heard of it.
"Oh… god, thank you…" he sobbed, sitting down on the floor as he released all the tension he had in him.
Behind him, Rebi's eyes glazed with tears, happy for his friend and also feeling melancholic for his own situation.
On the other hand, little Lina watched both of her uncles look with glazed eyes. From most angles, one could see a little girl looking a bit worried for her guardians but, if one looked closer, one would be able to see an incomprehensible expression on her face…
And it was one that resembled annoyance.
At this time, the other 'slaves' from the mines were also looking around for family and acquaintances.
Among them were Penny and Aditi, who was also observing the Alterans roaming around, knowing they were technically their new 'masters'.
They were still slaves (Aditi had officially become one after Fargo lost), but they felt these people would not break their promise of treating them as free people despite it.
Although there was a lot of work to do, they at least had hope of freeing themselves.
The two were walking around in hopes of finding more acquaintances. Some were familiar faces from Bright, but they didn't really know them well, and continued on.
It was not easy to traverse these streets as there were still so many people, and they had to be careful not to step on anyone. They tried to help others sit up, but their energies were still limited, especially since they had been weakened for so long, and they only helped a few at a time.
At some point, however, Penny froze in place, seeing a familiar person doing the same as they were.
"I see someone I know," Penny said with bright eyes, looking apologetically at her companion. Aditi smiled in understanding and nodded, separating from her.
"Good luck," she said, wishing for the same to happen to her.
Penny smiled back. "You too," she said, and went on separate ways.
Penny looked at the dashing man who was helping a few slaves out. Her eyes brimmed in tears as she finally found someone she knew—and it was someone she depended on a lot since she was a child!
Gian blinked and looked at her, a little startled but not too surprised. "Penny."
"I… I'm glad to see you here," she said, her rounded eyes looking at him as if she were his hope.
Gian lips formed a thin line, staring at her with a complicated expression. If she knew that he knew that she was here—with Fargo's men—but didn't save her, how would she feel?
He did ask for them to keep her life like his sister's in exchange for his service, but he didn't have the power to truly save them in the end. He couldn't imagine what she had been through, and the fact that he didn't do anything made him unable to face her with a clear heart.
"Well, it's good you are well," he just told her, not meeting her eyes.
"The Alterans are very good. They helped me out a lot," she said, unaware of the awkwardness that surrounded Gian's body. "You really have a good team."
Gian smiled bitterly. If she knew he was lurking around because he was waiting for his punishment, what would she say? She didn't know he had betrayed his faith, did she?
The imagery of the girl's wide eyes that had always looked at him in admiration turning to disgust was painful, but he had no one to blame but himself.
"I'm a little busy," he said, not really wanting to talk much at this time. Penny blinked, a little hurt, but she also knew he was helping a lot of people so she didn't push for anything.
But she felt a complicated tinge in her chest as she looked at his back, not looking back at her.
She bit her lips. Did he know? Did he know what had been done to her?
Did he find her… disgusting?
"Move to Altera. Samantha is there," was all he said, before walking away, and leaving the poor girl standing standing amidst her own thoughts.