☀️ Arselia and Akonia

- I have no illusions that you will believe a single word I say. But since you asked, I will indulge you. The story isn't very interesting and is the result of a series of choices made on both sides. I was investigating a certain matter related to the activities of someone close to me, in order to get to know him better, and simply out of curiosity. In the process, I ended up in the lair of what you call a "bandit." It wasn't an important enough matter to risk sacrificing everything for, including my own life, and it would have been wiser to leave immediately. That thought crossed my mind, but I couldn't help but try. I had a feeling that if I untangled this web of mysteries, I could help my acquaintance shed some of the burden weighing on his soul. The "bandit" possessed the information I needed and offered an easy way to obtain it. For the vast majority of people, there would be nothing special about him, but according to my principles, it would be unacceptable. The very culture that you mock, saying it doesn't exist – it turns out that I risked everything for a phantom in my head. Let it be so. To his credit, he turned out to be more principled than he seems at first glance. I managed to see in his bleak soul the smoldering embers of decency, and perhaps that's what surprised him. After learning about his life story, and after talking to you and some other people, I can clearly see why he turned away from the world. Once, I myself would have thought in the same reprehensible terms, but I don't think I have the right to do that in Anush. ...in the end, after a heartfelt conversation that seemed to last an eternity, he was kind enough to exchange this information for something of equal value and let me go. I finished my business, and that could have been the end of it, but an unforeseen complication arose. I will omit the details because they don't concern you, but the question was whether I would finally leave this difficult story behind and the people close to me... bear the consequences, or I would bear them. It should be obvious to you how any normal person would act. And here I am. Everything else is just time spent together, during which I, behind the guise of a "bandit," saw a person and changed my attitude. Try doing the same sometime, and you will see that people respond to kindness with kindness. And no alien magic will be required," she shrugs. "I warned you that the story would be boring. You can truly look into someone else's heart only with their permission, but not from the words of others.

- Now, my direct question, since I have answered yours. Would you kill a mermaid in order to "cleanse" the world of someone who is different from you?