Coming out of the alleyway, Zoey glanced around, gazing at a group of dwarven men and women gathered nearby, their faces stricken with fear as they stared toward the alleyway.
As their eyes turned to her, they each bowed deeply.
"T-thank you!"
Zoey sighed softly, nodding her head. She turned to the side, looking at the dwarven boy they had just saved.
He was crying in his parents' arms, soaking their clothes with tears. But the parents weren't faring any better, loud wails escaped their mouths as they clung to their boy, unable to keep their composure while still trying to comfort him.
Zoey didn't say anything. It would be wrong to say she felt compassion. In truth, the advent of the apocalypse had taught Zoey something about herself, something that changed how she saw the world. The people.
From the outset, she had wanted to be Eldoralth's savior. She had always believed she was doing this for its people, to be the hero they needed. But only now did Zoey see the truth.
