☀️ Arselia and Akonia

-- Astelli, what kind of landscapes do you like? -- the redhead reminded the maid. -- By the way, I have to agree with Guion that the Elysian Mountains seen from the back of Eclipse, especially at sunset, when the shadows from the peaks stretch for kilometers, are the best thing I've seen in this world. Kili, Alari, no offense, I haven't seen the Hellesian landscapes, and although Margel is quite beautiful and cultured for my tastes, it lacks that sense of fantasy, that feeling that takes your breath away. "Although the crater has improved, it will soon be buried." -- But in general, the moment that left the biggest impression on me was when... Well, it was a bit of a difficult moment, to put it mildly, I escaped from captivity, and for a few days, or maybe not even days, I was in a daze, it will be difficult to remember where I was and what I was doing. And then, in that state of amnesia, fatigue, and thirst, experiencing the most difficult moment of my life, I sat down somewhere under a rock early in the morning, and suddenly I heard the monotonous sound of dripping water, a tiny stream flowing down the hill. And I remember how the sunlight played in those drops, every pebble, every blade of grass and tree around, and the smell of dew, and the cool breeze on my skin, and the taste of that water, and the buzzing of a bee flying by. That place was perceived by me through all my senses, and together with it came the first realization that the world around exists independently of us and our experiences, it was like that before me, it will be like that after, and the very fact that I managed to witness that moment is an act of incredible generosity from nature and the universe. I understood, even without expressing it in thoughts or words, that despite everything that happened, I want to experience many more such moments in the time that is available to me. -- Ha-ha, sorry if I made you a little sad, that wasn't my intention, -- she said with an optimistic smile.

Meanwhile, Guion gathers his thoughts and asks his question. -- Question for the foreigners! Is there anything in Welfern that you liked and would like to see in your homeland? And vice versa - maybe there is something in your home that you miss here?

-- To the foreigners? I think I understand, it's a good formulation. It could also be extended to people from other cities, perhaps, -- she winked. -- Let me take this question as hypothetical, because you don't go into someone else's Temple with your own rules, and I would prefer not to impose my own rules anywhere. But in general, I miss the fact that there is no noble class here, and although some of the privileges of the nobility may be really inappropriate for the development of the state and the good functioning of social mobility, I think that in general, a more hierarchical system compared to Margel, with proper and flexible organization and without restricting anyone's rights, is quite viable. In theory! -- On the other hand, much more can be borrowed, but it's worth starting with getting rid of intrigue and xenophobia in my homeland. Because the historical roots of my homeland sang of quite different ideals, based on nobility and honor, and this strongly contrasted with the prevailing sentiments and the characteristics of the political elite of my own time. I am sure that you can only denigrate other people or non-humans when you yourself have no pride and suffer from some kind of inferiority complex. I hope I answered.