The Attendants had already descended into fierce infighting, squabbling and blaming one another, with no attention to spare for the "Actors" behind them.
They were utterly certain that these lambs, who had once been so ruthlessly disciplined, could never develop any desire to rebel, even if their supervision had grown lax.
In their eyes, these lambs had long since been trained into perfect obedience and would never dare defy them in the slightest.
Yet how could their shallow understanding grasp the complex emotions and instinctive responses deep within the human heart? When basic survival needs were mercilessly denied, and hunger and hardship became constant companions; when the need for safety was gravely violated, and life was threatened at every turn; when the need for respect was trampled at will, and all dignity was stripped away, an instinctive urge to resist would arise.
That urge had nothing to do with strength. Even the weakest individual could unleash astonishing power when driven into a desperate corner.
Nor did it have anything to do with numbers. Even someone standing alone would bravely rise up and fight once the anger in their heart was ignited.
Just as ants would instinctively raise their tiny mandibles to attack an elephant mercilessly crushing them, even though they knew how insignificant their strength was compared to its enormous body, like an ant trying to shake a tree.
But that was their instinct, their yearning to survive, their determination to preserve their dignity.
And now, someone had appeared like the first light in the darkness, bringing a glimmer of hope to those trapped in this prison.
Lyney's miraculous trick was like a spark, instantly reigniting the nearly extinguished flame in Edward's heart.
It allowed the once-despairing Edward to see the possibility of breaking his shackles and pursuing freedom again.