An Extra’s POV

Esme ended up building strongholds for the people in those settlements and teaching them a few things they could use to develop their lands.

She aided in their agriculture, helped to defeat the Monsters that terrorized them, and solved a lot of their crisis; both internal and external.

The process was long and arduous—hence the reason for her late arrival.

"You should have seen them, Rey. They looked so miserable…"

To say his heart ached upon hearing all about what Esme witnessed would be an understatement.

"I… always thought I was helping all of humanity by siding with the Alliance. But, I guess I was wrong." He mumbled.

"I was only helping some."

"Yeah. From what I heard, the Alliance doesn't even bother with these small regions. I find that to be very distasteful." Esme's face darkened even further as she frowned.

"The people in charge here… I despise them."

"Is that why you barged in and caused such a commotion? You didn't care about them?" Rey chuckled as he sat on the bed, right beside her.

"It's not funny, Rey. The people out there were suffering greatly, yet the Alliance that's meant to be aiding humanity sat by and did nothing!"

"No, Esme. You're being a little too shortsighted." Rey sighed, finally settling in on the bed, crossing his legs as he sat up.

"What?"

"We still have insufficient information to blame the Alliance for the suffering of those people."

"Did you not hear a word that I said? Those people were—!"

"I did. I heard you quite well. And I understand that those people have been through rather unfortunate times."

"Then—!"

"It, in no way, means the United Human Alliance is at fault here." Rey sighed.

The United Human Alliance was—at its core—an amalgamation of different countries and cultures. When the war of the Dragons came, they gathered their strength together to fight.

"So it only follows that the Nations you saw were excluded from the amalgamation—either of their own accord, or due to their inability to reach the standards of an alliance."

you talking

is doing nothing to help them, but is that

"Y-yeah. I mean…"

the war against the Dragons?" Rey

"…"

question. Perhaps because she already knew the obvious

can get. It makes no logical sense that they would ignore potential

the moment she heard Rey refer to the very people she saved—the ones who suffered before her eyes—as the

"Re, you—"

sure they told you something along the lines of how the Alliance abandoned them, or how they were helpless against the might of the Dragons,

that suited their narrative. As long as Ingroup bias existed, the way their perspective would be

the Alliance would abandon those people unless, for some reason, they refused to be a part

could already think of a few reasons why that could

have much to offer in terms of resources or military power. It's possible that they wouldn't have much of governmental control within the Alliance,

ultimate power they had as the ruler of a small land than to merely be little fish

it was better to rule in hell than

Rey. I can see their Alignments, rememeber? I also know when someone is being dishonest

that only the leaders are aware of the deal with the Alliance, and they refused. The people were perhaps fed another

the leaders

has such insecurity and crisis, it's possible that the previous leaders who were approached with the deal and refused are already dead. It's been over ten

silent once

disappear, but she was also not as headstrong about her views as she

she didn't want to believe that the victims she rescued were perhaps not as innocent as she thought. And even if some were, if the narrative they fed her was wrong, then the Alliance was

I'm wrong. After all, the Alliance could have some hidden motives I am unaware of. There's also the fact that they hid the information about

other Nations were uncooperative, and the Alliance itself was in a crisis, it wouldn't make any utilitarian sense to divide the attention

the group that was actively fighting

in my mouth…' His eye narrowed a

the United Human Alliance in front of Esme, he didn't like the fact that he was

his logic

evil that is the Dragon Scourge. I'm not saying the framework is perfect. No, it's far from that. There are many unsavory parts about them. Still… we can't blame

the solution I offered them

The damage that had been done to these people for over

barely spent a week in each settlement, so it wasn't like she could do much

if it's the fault of their leaders that they weren't able to join the Alliance and enjoy its benefits, I

hands on Esme's shoulders

also don't

of red and blue, reflecting in

They both smiled.