Before Tim could react, the figures surged forward. They didn't strike him; they simply grabbed his arms. Their touch was freezing cold. In that instant, Tim realized the truth. He wasn't the first to come here. He wasn't the first "seeker."

"Stop!" the voices roared, a cacophony of a thousand souls.

: Richards highlights that for many captives, "freedom" often meant being reassigned to a different form of bonded labor under a new master.

Kaelen, however, is not a hero. He is one of the In Richards’ universe, the city of Troy has been rebuilt as a free port, a neutral haven for outcasts. The "Slaves" are actually the indentured defenders of this city: criminals, debtors, and war refugees who have been given a choice—fight and earn your freedom, or die in the mines.