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."

are you talking

Human Alliance is doing nothing to help them, but

"Y-yeah. I mean…"

the Dragons?" Rey

"…"

said nothing to the question. Perhaps because she already knew the

all the help they can get. It makes no logical sense that they would ignore potential fighting power, so chandes are that the

face twisted the moment she heard Rey refer to the very people she saved—the ones

"Re, you—"

or how they were helpless against the might of the Dragons, while the Alliance was

would always tell a story that suited their narrative. As long as Ingroup bias existed, the way

the Alliance would abandon those people unless, for some reason, they

a few reasons

or military power. It's possible that they wouldn't have much of governmental control within the Alliance, and even their highest leaders would be nothing

the ruler of a small land than

was better to rule in hell than become

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

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

the leaders were

that has such insecurity and crisis, it's possible that the previous leaders who were approached with the deal and

silent once

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

the victims she rescued were perhaps not as innocent as she thought. And even if some were, if the

hidden motives I am unaware of. There's also the fact that they hid the information about those other Nations from us as Otherworlders—which means they didn't want us to

could understand why that information was kept secret. If the other Nations were uncooperative, and the Alliance itself was in a crisis, it wouldn't make any utilitarian sense to divide the attention

had to be focused on the group that was actively fighting against the

taste in my mouth…' His eye

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

was where his logic clashed with his

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 them for every misfortune that has befallen these people." He concluded as he placed his hand

But, Rey, the solution I

well. The damage that had been done to these people for over a decade could not be

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

the Alliance and enjoy its benefits, I don't want to sit by and let them

placed both hands on Esme's

also don't

mix of red

They both smiled.