Hearing the ultimatum, those who had initially wanted to lie and claim they would fight just to avoid being expelled were confronted with a harsh reality check.
The shelter leader's new policy meant there was no middle ground—either commit to staying and accept that your turn to face dangerous combat would inevitably come, or leave with whatever dignity remained intact.
The choice forced everyone to confront what they were actually willing to risk for the security the shelter provided.
In the end, several people couldn't bear the prospect of mandatory combat training and eventual fighting assignments. Some expressed intentions to search for the mysterious man who had just left, hoping Arthur might accept them if they could find him again. Others planned to seek different shelters, reasoning that this couldn't be the only safe haven in the city.
