☀️ Arselia and Akonia

Guyon put his arm around Beata, his hand resting on her shoulder. "I know what you're thinking. You're not to blame for Mysterius's death. Or for the death of the Kre'deans." "But I could have..." "You couldn't have. There are things beyond your control. No matter how hard you try, you can't change them. You just have to live with it and hope that someday, things will get better. Trust my experience – I know what I'm talking about." Beata looked into Guyon's eyes and nodded silently. Yes... He knows. While she had always fought for herself and done everything she could, there was a period in his life when he was completely helpless and unable to do anything about it. And he somehow survived it, and he finds the strength to keep living. "Okay, Guyon... I believe you. I'll try," she said with a smile. Listening to the conversation of her companions, she snorted. "Good for them... But we really embarrassed ourselves in front of Zephyr. We came to her empty-handed, and when she asked us about the gifts... um... If it weren't for Kilika, we would have left empty-handed," she said with an awkward smile. "Guyon tried to smooth things over, but..." "But I froze and messed up," he added to the story. "However... I hope I still managed to improve our standing in her eyes. At least, she didn't seem too hostile." "You did well," Beata patted him on the shoulder. "You should have been our leader." "What kind of leader am I?" "At least better than me..." "Beata, that's enough. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you're much better than you think you are. You have enormous potential for good." "Even after everything..." "Yes, even after everything. What's more valuable: to be a good person from the start and not know that things could be different, or to fight old habits, break familiar patterns, and consciously reshape yourself into a better person, leaving your dark past behind?" "You're right... You're right again. Remind me, why aren't you the chairman of the philosophy club?" "I don't know myself."