Leevan’s Dialogue

### Leevan tells Idir about his background

Leevan walked calmly to the window on the opposite side of the room. He stood there for a minute gazing at the setting sun. Idir began to wonder if he would speak at all, but without turning Leevan said,

”I remember what it is like to be young. The world looks so strange and foreign yet simple and clear at the same time. It is the place of the young to question the ways of the old. It seems so obvious what needs to change in the world. However, in many various ways, the young grow to see the futility of their dreams to change the world. Some give up, others adapt, and a few even abandon the rest of humanity.

You are still young Idir. You have heart and determination, don’t let anyone take that from you. But it takes more than dreams and perseverance to make the world a better place.

My earliest memories are of the war. While this conflict forever embittered a majority of my people, I saw it all differently. I saw atrocities committed on both sides, and the pointless brutality of war. I saw the people of Coban destroying themselves. As I grew and began my studies, I made the end of wars my singular purpose. I found other likeminded among my peers from all the nations of Coban. It was there that the Citiri began. We fundamentally believed in ending wars by spreading our message by any means. Surely, we thought, everyone simply needed to see the right perspective: no one really wants war. At first our efforts were encouraging even fruitful, but quickly we found a ferocious resistance to our cause. I remember the first death threat we received; many of us were frightened, but I encouraged everyone to continue, the cause was worth the risk.”

Leevan paused, as if collecting himself so that his next words would betray no wavering of emotion.

”Everything was going well. We had organized a small demonstration in front of the main administration building of Trudon. For the first few hours we received no opposition, the armed guard of Trudonites merely stood in front of the building’s wide stairs. But before we could even react, a patriotic mob had formed to our rear, shouting curses and spewing hate. Despite our carefully crafted words and effort, they could only see us as traitors to the Trudonite nation. The mob began hurling whatever they could find our way. I sought to evacuate my followers, but the mob prevented our movements and began beating us. We were peaceful protesters who abhorred war and aggression, but they showed no mercy. We scattered but at the end of the day, only few of us survived the slaughter. The guards did nothing to stop the mob, and some even joined the fray.

The world rejected us. But I never gave up. We tried different tactics, stayed underground, moved to different cities, different nations. But no matter where we went, or how we went about it, the results were always the same. The more we tried, the fiercer the opposition. The governments of Coban themselves saw our unity as a threat to their power. I suppose they were right, yet completely blind to what it would do for Coban, for humanity. They passed legislation specifically against our meetings. We were forced to live in the wilderness, hunted like animals. We did not lose hope even then.

They found our camp eventually, in the cover of darkness. Only this time, only your mentor and I survived the encounter. There was no one left. Our years of labor and work for what was good in the world amounted to nothing. The world was perhaps worse off than when we began.

I will admit to you Idir that after that night, I choose a dark path. I regret to have done what I am about to tell you, but I learned a valuable lesson you must hear. Your mentor tried to talk me out of it, but I ignored him. That was the last time I spoke to him as a Citiri. I walked all the way to Trudon. In my rage, I walked into the palace of the King of the Trudonites, and killed him and everyone of his guards. I through that if the current leadership could be replaced, perhaps that would be the answer. It was drastic to be sure, but certainly a united Coban would be worth the sacrifice of a vile man. He was not the last of my attempts to replace leadership. Yet I soon learned that no matter who rules, the hatred of man remains. I learned, Idir, that humanity does not want to be saved. Humanity may say they want war to cease, but they are incapable of anything but hate to others they perceive as outsiders.

The problem was that none of the leadership understood how a united Coban was the only solution to prevent humanity from constantly destroying itself. Only the Citiri could be trusted to rule the way Coban needed. Wanting to change the world for the better is a noble inclination Idir, but unless what we do actually works. Our efforts our in vain. Your efforts are in vain. I tell you this not to dissuade you, but to spare you the suffering I experience. Learn from my youthful mistakes Idir. A united Coban is worth fighting for.”

### Leevan tell’s Idir about the parents

“Don’t you want to know the truth about your parentage Idir?”

Idir looked up sharply, but then after a moment lowered his head again. “I don’t need to know anything about them.”

”Let me guess, you still believe they abandoned you once they discovered you were an outcast?”

Idir remained silent.

“They were far more noble than you could ever imagine. They were some of the first of your mentor’s disciples. They were in everything but name, *Citiri*.”

“I have no reason to believe you.”

”Perhaps, but I find it hard to believe you have never wondered, perhaps even dreamed, what they were like. They were his best students. Still in university, their love had drawn them to the cause. And in a way, you drew them to the cause.

Your father was a Validian, this much I am sure you have guessed. But your mother was not. She was a Trudonite, of the Electro. Romantic relationships between different nations were then as they are now, completely unthinkable. But the university of Alchemy was a place apart from the world, and one never means to fall in love. They were married, and it was not long before they had you. They knew the world the way it was would never except their family, especially you. With their devotion and skill, they soon brought the movement to heights experience once by the Citiri. But they encountered the same resistance to the ideology of unity as I have. They bravely continued in the face of death threats and curses. I tried to warn them. I met with them on their last evening on earth. I tried to tell them what I experienced, but they rejected my words. They refused to adapt their peaceful means, even if it meant defeat.

That night the university was attacked by a mob of extremist in the name of patriotism. The attack was executed with military precision; all exits were blocked. They pillaged, burned, and murdered everything in their path. Though many tried to escape, none fought back true to their ideals. They dragged your father and mother out into the center, demanding that they renounce their detestable marriage, give up the outcast child, and they would be spared. They refused.

They killed them then and there Idir. And just as their life was extinguished, their cause was as well. No one remembers their names or what they stood for. The world did not change, save the loss of a few precious souls. I agree with you Idir, how we fight does matter. A peaceful resolution to unity has been my aim my whole life. But you must see now that just because an idea has the highest moral ground does not mean it will thrive in this world! Do we truly wish to see Coban unified? Can you say for certain nobility will ever work when it has only failed in the past?”