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

United Human Alliance is doing nothing to

"Y-yeah. I mean…"

against the Dragons?" Rey asked, his tone as calm

"…"

to the question. Perhaps because

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

very people she saved—the ones who suffered before her eyes—as the ones

"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,

as Ingroup bias existed, the way their perspective would be shoved into a potentially neutral scenario would often present themselves as being in

people unless, for some reason, they refused to be a part of the

a few reasons why that could

don't have much to offer in terms of resources or military power. It's possible that they wouldn't

rather cling to the ultimate power they had as the ruler of a small

to rule in hell than become a servant in

me? I don't think so, Rey. I can see their Alignments, rememeber? I also know when someone is being dishonest

are aware of the deal with the Alliance, and they refused. The people were perhaps fed another narrative, which passed around until everuone believed

leaders

leaders who were approached with the deal and refused are already dead. It's been over ten

fell silent

was also not as headstrong about her

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

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

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 of

focused on the group that was actively

bad taste in my mouth…' His eye

didn't like the fact that he was

was where his logic clashed

are many unsavory parts

solution I

people for over a decade could not be resolved by

settlement, so

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

placed both hands on Esme's

also don't want

again—a mix of

They both smiled.