☀️ Arselia and Akonia

- ...Just recently, actually. Many tried to dissuade me from this journey, saying that, by our society's standards, I am still very young, and they all said that the world beyond our homeland is terrible and full of horrors. Starting today, I seem to owe the casino seventy-seven thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven rem. And if we calculate based on Carneol's salary... How much was it, Mistress Erefir? Four hundred and twenty, I think? So, assuming I don't spend money on food or other needs, basic or not, I will be paying it off for one hundred and eighty-five months, or fifteen years. Considering the average human lifespan, I can quite believe that the world is indeed terrible and horrifying. Fortunately, I am not human, and these years will not pass so painfully for me.

The Fury smiled and tilted her head back.

-- Being able to find something positive in such a situation is a very useful skill for a knight, Arivel... And thank you for mentioning it; the sooner you report unpleasant surprises, the better.
-- ...
-- You also seem to be doing well. We'll discuss salaries with Klin, but everyone will have at least 480, so you can look at it a little more optimistically. Plus, you can take on some side jobs... But you know, all of this isn't so important; spending so much time in financial servitude is nonsense. I don't understand how such "promotions" are not prohibited in the Empire. Is it fair that a person can lose more than they have? I can still understand losing all your property; it's a pity, but you can accumulate new possessions over time, but this? Once again, civilization demonstrates the level of its depravity, nothing more.

She sighed.

-- I hope you have learned an important life lesson, Arivel, but my initial advice does not become irrelevant because of it. We will think about your problem later; theoretically, it might be possible to win it back. I'm not sure if that's wise, and it would simply mean that the burden would fall on another unfortunate person, because the rich either don't play in this game of deception or don't lose... However, we can still think about it, but if you miss other opportunities in the city, green or red stars, then you definitely won't be doing yourself any good.

-- To take your mind off things, you can start with the instrumental competition in Ikigai. There are not only drums there; I would be happy to hear what inspiring things you can do. Shall we? -- she says, leaning in casually. -- People's souls should not be silent; show yourself in all your glory.