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

Alliance is doing nothing to help them, but is

"Y-yeah. I mean…"

the Dragons?" Rey asked, his tone

"…"

said nothing to the question. Perhaps because she already

get. It makes no logical sense that they would ignore

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

"Re, you—"

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 to be

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

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

a few reasons why that could be the

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

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

rule in hell than become a servant in

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

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

leaders

were approached with the deal

fell silent once

also not as headstrong about her views as

want to believe that the victims she rescued were perhaps not as innocent as she thought. And even if some

all, the Alliance could have some hidden motives I am unaware of. There's also the

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

be focused on the group

leaves a bad taste in my

he didn't like the fact

logic clashed with

the great 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 them for every misfortune that has befallen these people." He concluded as

But, Rey, the solution I offered them was

The damage that had been done to these people for over a decade could

week in each settlement, so

join the Alliance and enjoy its

both hands on Esme's shoulders and

also don't

again—a mix of red and blue, reflecting in

They both smiled.