Elthene Road (Hard)

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*The hostility that the pure-blood feel toward other races is even greater than you expected. Such an extreme change in mindset is still disturbing to witness. Being able to influence people’s minds so drastically is extremely dangerous.*

## Summary

Charlotte and Mikhail discuss his time as a ranger in Lumisade. Rouin and Charles III discuss his actions.

## Character List

### Major

* Rouin
* Charles III
* Mikhail Blake (Dark)

### Minor

* Charlotte Grace (Earth)
* Taneli
* Lord of Avillon

## Content

Charlotte: Mikhail! Tell us about when you were living in Lumisade.

Mikhail: What do you want to know?

Charlotte: Did you have a lot of friends when you were stationed here as a ranger?

Mikhail: I had a few. Conditions were rough, which brought us together. There was one guy named Rowle, he was a great cook. He used to make food for us all the time.

Charlotte: Ooh! Do you think you’ll run into any of your friends here?

Mikhail: I don’t know. They might have been stationed somewhere else. It’s been hard to keep in touch since I came to Avillon. I hope we don’t meet as enemies…

Charlotte: Oh, that’s true… With the whole pure-bloods thing and all… But, I mean, if they were friends with you, there’s no way they would be part of something like the pure-bloods!

Mikhail: I hope so.

Taneli: If your friend had stayed on as a ranger out here in the mountains, then they definitely did not join the pure-bloods. Most of that movement came from units around the arcane towers.

"Lord": It was likely only the people who heard the First Archmage’s speech as it was broadcast directly from the arcane tower.

Taneli: Oh… That would make sense. All of us who were unaffected were out working at the time of the speech, far away from the tower. Thank you for the sharp observation. You’ve given me something to consider.

Mikhail: Most of rangers’ duties take them out away from the capital, so my friends should be safe.

Charlotte: Once we’re done with things here in Lumisade, you should try looking for your friends! I’m curious to see them, too.

Mikhail: Heh, why’re you so curious?

Charlotte: I wanna know if they say something poetic when they do cool attacks, too!

Mikhail: I… Erm…!

Charlotte: What’re you embarrassed about? It’s so cool when you do it! “Darkness that tears through… the moonlight!”

"Lord": All right, Charlotte, that’s enough… Mikhail’s going to defect at this rate.

...

Elven Guard: Tch, hat are humans doing in Lumisade?! May a curse fall upon you!

Taneli: None of our elven gods would curse someone for such petty reasons. Have you forgotten about harmony and unity?

Elven Guard: You traitor! What’re you doing, leading humans around our land?!

Taneli: We are here to stop this pointless hate. When did elves start to reject those who are different?!

Elven Guard: Don’t be a fool! Elven land is for elves, and elves alone!

Taneli: They’re not listening to reason… What’s made them so blind?

Lord: Maybe there’s something that amplified traces of feelings that were always there…

...

[The Citadel of Avillon]

Charles III: …

Rouin: Here are the tax reports for the region of Trouge. I’ve marked which parts seem suspicious. Please take a look.

Charles III: … Are you all out of your minds…?

Rouin: I’ve finished three espressos today, but I think I’m still sane.

Charles III: How can you force me to handle the postwar administrative work for Rhodon?

Rouin: Well, our administrative officers are all busy devising a new political system for the country. And you know Rhodon’s records better than anyone. This way is most effective, is it not?

Charles III: Tch… Who do you think I am?! Why do I have to help the ones who destroyed my country?! You think I’m just sort of effective tool?!

Rouin: Rhodon was not destroyed. Its leader simply changed.

Charles III: That’s what I said! My country was destroyed! I was the rightful ruler and king of Rhodon!

Rouin: You may have inherited the throne, it is true, but your governance was not just to the majority of your people. [Their] Highness respects the history and culture of Rhodon. However there were a few corrupt practices that needed abolishing. That is all.

Charles III: To you they might have been corrupt practices, but to us they were traditions.

Rouin: Indeed, and now you are experiencing one of those traditions firsthand, are you not?

Charles III: Tch…

Rouin: Traditions are not all created equally. There is absolutely no reason to protect or respect a corrupt practice that forces others to lose their humanity, even if you try to package it as a “tradition”. How would you have felt if there was a tradition that demanded members of the Rhodon royal family only ever sleep in horse stables, eat watery soup as their only meal each day, and risk their lives in a coliseum twice a month for the entertainment of strangers? Or what if there was a tradition in which anyone could commit any amount of verbal or physical abuse towards the royal family and not be punished? How would you have felt if you had to endure such hardships for the simple reason that you were born into the royal family?

Charles II: Stop spouting nonsense…

Rouin: That’s right. It’s nonsense. Do you genuinely believe that having to endure such nonsense simply because of the family into which one was born is really a good “tradition”?

Charles III: Stop trying to change my mind. Don’t talk to me like I’m a child!

Rouin: Mistakes should be reflected upon and fixed. Don’t you agree? One of the corrupt practices you held onto so dearly was illogically judging a person’s entire value according to the class in which they were born, regardless of their lives, their thoughts, or their dreams.

Charles III: This is not how I want my life to continue. As someone who used to sit on the throne, I deserve a noble death.

Rouin: The slaves of Rhodon were given no say in how they lived or died. You may not be a slave, but you are a prisoner. You should think objectively about your current state.

Charles III: Grr… You’re really arrogant, aren’t you? If someone in Rhodon had spoken to me like you have, I would’ve had them immediately beheaded!

Rouin: If any of your servants had been brave enough to speak like this to a king dreaming of becoming a tyrant, perhaps things would never have come to this. Or maybe the previous knight captain, Krom Ledios, did speak like this… Speaking of whom, he was actually quite a rare type of individual within Rhodon. He judged others on their ability, and didn’t care about social status. Of course, that doesn’t mean he ever completely rejected the caste system… His value system was not based in morality or virtue. It was closer to an extreme sort of efficiency-ism. Still, it promoted no social prejudice, which is why I believe he’ll be able to undergo more positive changes.

Charles III: Krom… Where’s Krom?

Rouin: He is also a prisoner, although you should really worry more about yourself. Your pride, your authoritarianism, your privilege… You will need to let all of them go.

Charles III: Tch… Why..? Why? You’ve taken everything from me…

Rouin: Oh my, I’m afraid we have chatted for too long. Please, let us get ack to our duties.

Charles III: Ngh…

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