The forest had grown quiet after the battle. The air still carried the faint smell of ash, and the ground remained warm from the flames that had scorched the area. The unconscious bodies of the attackers lay scattered across the path, completely defeated.
Roy and his assistant walked toward the transport carriage. As they got closer, the condition of it became clearer. The wooden structure looked worn and damaged, and the door creaked as Alena stepped forward and opened it.
The moment she looked inside, she stopped.
Her expression changed instantly.
"…Sir."
Roy noticed her reaction and stepped forward without saying anything. When he looked inside, his face hardened.
Inside the carriage were people—tied up tightly with ropes, packed together with barely any space to move. Some looked exhausted, others frightened, and a few could barely even lift their heads. There were around five to ten people, ranging from young to old.
Roy let out a slow breath. "They were really doing something this terrible…" he said quietly. His eyes scanned the group, his expression growing more serious. "I can't imagine what would have happened if we were even a little late."
Alena didn't waste time. She stepped inside and began untying the ropes one by one. As each knot loosened, the captives slowly regained movement, though many of them were still weak.
"It's okay," she said gently while helping them. "You're safe now."
One by one, she helped them out of the carriage. Some needed support to stand, while others carefully climbed down on their own. Once everyone was outside, Alena turned to face them.
"Listen," she said calmly, making sure everyone could hear her. "You're free now. You can go back to your homes or wherever you feel safe. But before that, we'll need your names for official records."
The group hesitated at first, but slowly they began to respond. One by one, they gave their names as Alena noted them down.
Among them stood a young man, around eighteen years old. Compared to the others, he looked calmer, though still clearly affected by what had happened.
Roy noticed him and stepped closer.
"Hey, kid," he said. "What's your name?"
The young man looked at him for a moment before answering.
"My name is Aryan."
Roy nodded slightly. "I'm Officer Roy," he said. "I'm here to help, so you don't need to worry anymore."
Aryan didn't say much, but he seemed to relax slightly.
"Where do you live?" Roy asked.
"In Velmora," Aryan replied.
Roy paused for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Me too," he said. "Then let's go together."
Behind them, Alena finished writing down the last name and walked over.
Roy turned to her. "Alena, are you done?"
"Yes, sir," she replied.
She then glanced at the unconscious men lying on the ground. "But what about them? Are we just going to leave them here?"
Roy shook his head. "No, don't worry. I've already informed backup," he said calmly. "They'll be here soon to pick up the trash."
He looked back toward the fallen attackers. "They won't wake up for at least two or three hours, so it's fine."
Alena nodded, satisfied with the answer.
The light in the forest was beginning to fade, and the shadows were growing longer.
"We should move," Roy said. "This place gets dangerous at night."
Alena agreed, and without wasting any more time, they began to leave.
Aryan followed them quietly.
The three of them—Roy, Alena, and Aryan—walked away from the scene, heading toward Velmora, leaving behind the broken carriage and the defeated men.
....
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