☀️ Arselia and Akonia

The Azure Palace was surrounded by water, and therefore, the only way to reach it was via a very long (impassable) bridge, guarded by elite-looking sentinels. Near two of these heavily armed knights stood a man holding a portrait:

“Fools, fools! Fools!!! As long as you kneel before the false imperial family, there is no salvation for you! In this universe, there is only one empress, only one Goddess!!! Glory to the magnificent Rinze Reim, the most beautiful of all, the wisest of all, the kindest of all! Glory, glory!”
The guards grab the troublemaker by the arms.
“A-A-A-A-A!..” The fanatic resists, trying his best not to drop or damage the painting. “I, Apeiron Logos, swear that in life and in death, I will be eternally devoted to the Goddess and her ever-growing domain, I will defend the interests of the Realm of Reim, and I will not disgrace her name!! Enemies may destroy my body, but they will never conquer my will! Reim is above all, long live Her Divine Majesty Rinze Reim!!!”

- Do you have any seeds? - Beata nudges Gion in the side with her elbow.
- No. We ate all the provisions this morning because someone was too lazy to get out of bed and go to the cafe.
- Oops, that's a bit of a problem. We'll have to watch the show like this.
- I don't think it's a show, it's blasphemy.
- Listen, with all due respect to Anush and her children, she endowed people with brains and free will, knowing full well the consequences, - Beata nodded towards the blissfully ignorant man, - so he can freely blaspheme, the guards can freely beat him up, and I can freely laugh at this idiot.
- According to your logic, free will can justify anything.
- Well, basically, yes.

The couple walks closer.
- The painting is beautiful, - Beata remarks rather loudly, - it would be a shame if they tore it up. I hope they'll put it in a museum or something later.
- Maybe we should go? - Gion pulls her by the arm, - we're going to get in trouble.
- But what about us? We're not blaspheming or praising any Riznov... Rinze... Ugh, that woman from the painting. We're just curious onlookers from the crowd, just passing by. Guards, guards! - she whispers, chanting.