Now Amukelo stood on the slightly elevated platform, beside the chief, looking out at the crowd that had gathered. The chief raised his arms and called out in a powerful voice, "Attention!" The bustling crowd quieted down immediately, their eyes drawn to Amukelo as they waited in anticipation for what the chief would say next. "This young man here," the chief continued, his tone full of admiration and respect, "is the one who saved our settlement and brought peace back to our lives. He defeated the priest who terrorized us for so long. Let's show him the appreciation he deserves!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd. People who had been been terrified and broken just a few days ago. Amukelo looked around, slightly taken aback by the overwhelming response. These were the same people he had seen hiding in their homes when he first arrived . Now, they smiled, laughed, and celebrated their newfound freedom.
For a brief moment, a small smile crept onto Amukelo's face. Seeing the people so full of life again gave him a strange sense of warmth. But as quickly as it came, the smile faded. He hadn't saved these people for the glory or the praise. In truth, he had been caught up in their struggle by accident. It wasn't his goal to be their savior.
As the cheering continued, some of the villagers began to approach Amukelo, offering him personal thanks. Men, women, and even children came up to him with grateful smiles, thanking him for his bravery and sacrifice. They spoke of how they now felt safe, how he had rid them of a terrible evil. Amukelo, though polite, felt uncomfortable with the attention. He didn't want this praise, and the more people who came forward, the more he felt the need to slip away unnoticed.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, Amukelo found his moment. He quietly slipped off the stage, blending into the crowd as they continued their celebration. The chief, noticing his retreat, gently guided Amukelo to a large table filled with an array of food. There were platters of roasted meats, bowls of steaming vegetables, and loaves of freshly baked bread. The smell of the food hit Amukelo like a wave, and his stomach growled loudly in response.
The chief chuckled warmly, clearly hearing Amukelo's hunger. "Enjoy, young warrior," he said with a smile. "You've earned it. If you need anything at all, just ask. Anyone here will be more than happy to serve you."
Amukelo nodded, not even looking at the chief as he focused on the food in front of him. He tore into the meal with ravenous hunger, eating as though he hadn't seen food in days, which wasn't far from the truth. The flavors were rich and satisfying, and for the first time since he had arrived in the settlement, Amukelo allowed himself to relax, if only for a moment.
As he ate, a small group of soldiers who had fought alongside him approached, clearly eager to talk to the man who had led them to victory. They carried their own plates of food and hesitated for a moment before one of them spoke. "Mind if we join you?" one of them asked.
Amukelo, still chewing, nodded without saying a word, focused entirely on his meal. The soldiers sat down, watching him with a mixture of respect and curiosity. After a few minutes, one of the soldiers, a young man who had been particularly brave during the battle, spoke up. "Wow, you're truly amazing," he said, his voice full of admiration. "How did you get so strong? And you're so young too."
Amukelo paused for a moment, taking the time to swallow the food in his mouth before answering. "I trained hard," he said simply, then continued eating.
The soldier wasn't satisfied with such a brief response and pressed further. "How hard? Did you do anything special? Because we train hard too, but none of us are anywhere close to being as strong as you."
Amukelo took another bite, thinking for a moment. After a brief pause, he set his fork down and looked at the young soldier who had asked the question.
Amukelo swallowed the food in his mouth, then set his plate down and turned to the soldiers who were eagerly awaiting his response. He took a moment to gather his thoughts, then spoke in a calm, thoughtful tone. "You know… it's not magic or anything special. I just spend my time on nothing else. When I travel, and my horse needs rest, I'll train before I sleep. Whenever I don't know what to do, I train to clear my head. It's simple, but it's constant."
The soldiers listened closely, nodding as they absorbed his words. Amukelo thought for a moment, then added, "But the key isn't just about training harder. My friend once told me this: whenever you train, always make sure to get feedback. It's best if you can spot your own mistakes, but if you can't, someone else might. Always try to see where you're going wrong because if you don't, you'll just end up repeating bad habits. And once those wrong habits become routine, correcting them becomes a lot harder."
The soldiers exchanged glances, clearly impressed. One of them said, "Wow, we never thought about it like that. As you say it, it makes a lot of sense. Back when we were in school, we improved a lot because our teachers pointed out our mistakes. But once we left, we just kept repeating the same drills without thinking about it."
Another soldier nodded, adding, "Thank you. That's really good advice. You've got a bright future ahead of you. We'll pray for your success."
With that, they stood up and left, offering him respectful nods before walking away. Amukelo watched them go, then returned to his meal. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now, and even though he'd eaten a lot, his appetite hadn't diminished. He tore into the food with renewed energy, savoring the flavors and the warm feeling it brought him after days of deprivation.
As he ate, Amukelo noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. He paused and looked up to see Holag and Eliss approaching, and with them were the girls they had rescued from the dungeon. They looked much better than they had when he first saw them. Their skin had regained some color, their faces were no longer hollow and drawn, and their expressions were full of life. The blankets they had once clutched for warmth had been replaced by proper clothes, and it was clear that they had been eating and resting well. They were a world away from the broken, hopeless prisoners he had found in the dungeon.
Amukelo set down his plate as he took in the sight of them. A small smile tugged at his lips, but before he could say anything, one of the younger girls ran toward him and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. Amukelo was momentarily stunned, unsure of what to do or say. He blinked down at the girl in surprise, but then as he got a better look, he recognized her. It was the first girl he had met in the dungeon—the one he had promised to save.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up at him. "You did it," she said through her tears. "You truly did it. You saved us."
Amukelo, still unsure of how to respond, looked at the other girls. They were smiling warmly, their faces full of gratitude. He could see the weight that had been lifted from their hearts. Despite everything, they were free, and their hope had been restored.
Awkwardly, Amukelo patted the girl on her head, his movements gentle. "You're safe now," he said softly. "You don't have to worry anymore. It's over."
The girl hugged him even tighter, and Amukelo felt the warmth of her gratitude radiating through him. He glanced at the others again, and they all nodded in agreement. The feeling of being surrounded by such gratitude and relief was overwhelming in a way he hadn't anticipated. Though he wasn't used to this kind of affection, Amukelo allowed himself to enjoy the moment. He had done something good here—something meaningful.