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

Human Alliance is doing nothing to help

"Y-yeah. I mean…"

the Dragons?" Rey asked, his tone

"…"

Perhaps because she already knew

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

to the very people

"Re, you—"

they told you something along the lines of how the Alliance abandoned them, or how they were helpless against the might of the Dragons, while the Alliance was better off. They said all those things, presenting themselves

way their perspective would be shoved into a potentially neutral scenario would often present themselves as

there's no reason why the Alliance would abandon those people unless, for some reason, they refused to be a

a few reasons why

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

they had as the ruler of a small land than to merely be

rule in hell than

they lied to me? I don't think so, Rey. I can see their Alignments, rememeber? I also know when someone

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

leaders were

place that 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 years since the Alliance formed, after

fell silent

frown was yet to disappear, but she was also not as

as she thought. And even if some

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 those other Nations from us as Otherworlders—which means they didn't

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

on the group that was actively fighting against the

in my mouth…' His eye

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

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

it. But, Rey, the solution

these people for over a decade

a week in each settlement, so

Alliance and enjoy its benefits, I don't

instsntly placed both hands on Esme's shoulders and

don't

eyes met once again—a mix of red and blue, reflecting in

They both smiled.