Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 51: Rational

But, Fedrey didn’t answer. He just stared at Leui while Leui stared back at him. He won’t back down.

“Cousin…” Fedrich called. Now, his voice has softened after he has calmed down. He didn’t know that Fedrey would treat Leui this way. Not only did he lose face in front of Leui, but he also has wronged the other after his cousin acted like this. “I vouch for his innocence in these recent events as the captain of the Eight Unit.” He spoke as he placed a fist over his left chest.

Finally, Fedrey retracted his gaze and then turned to Fedrich. “Can you stake your life on it?” he asked.

Melton’s eyes widened and he looked at Fedrich. But, Fedrich’s gaze remained firm. “Yes.” He answered.

He met Leui in a dire circumstance where they were spit out of the domain of a Dream Weaver. Fortunately, he can guess where they have been thrown to. If Leui is a bad person, he would forsake Fedrich or that he would be shameless to rely on him for survival.

But, not only did Leui not forsake Fedrich nor did he rely on him, but he was very calm and obediently cooperated with Fedrich. It just shows how rational he is as well as flexible. Fedrich believes that rational people would become bad, unless they have lost their sanity for them to become not rational anymore.

Although Leui is mysterious, that mysteriousness makes people secure instead, which might seem strange, but at the same time also feels logical. Fedrich is suspicious of Leui, but he trusts his instinct.

And Fedrey knows what kind of person Fedrich is, as they grew up with each other. Thus, he heaved a sigh before he placed his cup down and then turned to Leui. “I’m sorry.” He apologized. “I only want to know where your loyalty lies.” He said.

Leui was taken aback. He made a pause. “Where my loyalty lies?” he muttered, bewildered.

“Yes.” Fedrey nodded as he rose from his seat. He placed both his hands on his back as he walked towards the window and gazed outside. His back was upright. “I already heard from Fedrich that you’ve lived on the Other Shore for five years.” He spoke.

“That’s right.” Leui nodded.

“And you have amnesia.” Fedrey added.

“Yes.” Leui honestly answered.

Fedrey slowly turned and looked straight in Leui’s eyes. “The other races have accepted you, a human, despite their hostility towards our race.” He said. “Then, haven’t you ever thought of living on the Other Shore forever?” he asked.

Leui froze as his eyes widened in shock.

Fedrey took his reaction. “So, you’re really gotten used to living with them.” He said.

Fedrich finally recovered from his shock. “Cousin, that’s…” he said.

Fedrey cut him off. “Shut up. I won’t test him again.” He told him. “I’m just having a talk with him as a fellow human.” He said.

Fedrich fell silent. Melton pulled Fedrich down to sit.

“Yes.” Leui spoke. “I was content in living with them.” He said.

Fedrey smiled.

“But – “ Leui looked at Fedrey. “ – I was never hostile to humans. Not because I am also a human, not to save my life, but because – “ he took a deep breath. “ – the human race has never done anything to harm me, or wrong me in any other way.” He explained.

Fedrey didn’t speak.

Leui continued. “Yes. I finally got along with the other races. But, their hostility towards the human race didn’t rub off on me.” He said. “It’s not because I am saving my life, but because I don’t see anything wrong with the human race. The other races I interacted with also knows that the human race never harmed me, so they understood my stance.” He explained. “It’s not because that I was also a human.” He told them.

A long silence fell. After a while, Fedrey spoke. “Fedrich was right. You’re really a rational person.” he said.

Leui looked at him. He doesn’t know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Fedrey smiled as he turned to Leui. “Your stance…” he said. “You’re a neutral party.” He said.

“No.” Leui answered.

Fedrich stared at him.

“This hostility towards the human race has been going on for five hundred years already.” Leui spoke. “But, it shouldn’t have.” He said.

“Oh? What makes you say that?” Fedrey asked. His interest was piqued.

“Because the Great War… no. All the wars that have happened…” Leui spoke. “Wasn’t it the product of the survival of the fittest?” he asked. “Whoever is strong is the victor. And, they all participated in the war. So, they must already have prepared themselves to bear the consequences of their decision.” He explained.

Fedrey, Fedrich and Melton looked at each other. Really a rational person. They thought.

Fedrey smiled, looking very appreciative of Leui. “Good. I like this way of thinking of yours.” He smiled brightly. “Everyone should be responsible of their decisions, and bear the consequences of their actions.” He said.

Fedrich looked like he was thinking of something while Melton nodded in agreement to what Fedrey said.

Leui nodded and secretly relieved. “About my loyalty to the human race that you are speaking of…” he said.

Fedrey waved his hand. “You have amnesia, so you have forgotten everything about the human race. Instead, you lived on the Other Shore. It’s understandable that you have no loyalty or whatsoever to the human race.” He said.

“That’s not what I mean…” Leui frowned.

“Then, what do you want me to say?” Fedrey asked as he raised his brows as he looked at Leui, waiting for his answer.

“It’s not that I don’t have a loyalty towards the human race, as I am also a human. That will make me a hypocrite.” Leui said. “But, it also doesn’t necessarily mean that I don’t have any loyalty towards the other races, as I have made friends with them during when I was living in the Other Shore.” He looked at Fedrey. “At first, they were prejudiced towards me because of their hostility towards our race which stemmed from the Great War five hundred years ago. But – “ he took a deep breath. “ – that doesn’t mean that they are all bad people.” He spoke.

Fedrey didn’t speak, and neither Fedrich nor Melton.

“Not all humans are good people, right?” Leui asked. “It can be seen from those thieves. But, it doesn’t mean that all humans are bad, as what the other races think. Of course – “ he smiled. “ – the same can be said to the other races. Not all of them are good, but that doesn’t mean that everyone in the other races is bad.” He said. “Wasn’t this the reason why you opened the human kingdom towards the other races?” he looked at Fedrey.

Fedrey didn’t speak. He knows that Leui has a point.

Leui didn’t mind Fedrey not answering. He turned to Fedrich and Melton. “Sir Fedrich. Sir Melton. Haven’t you met Nem?” he asked, referring to the Dream Weaver.

Leui and Mhir have already told Fedrich and Melton about Nem, the Dream Weaver. “Yes.” They answered.

“She was the product of the maliciousness of both the humans and the other races.” Leui spoke. “Anger is inevitable for her. So, she did such things. But – “ he took a deep breath. “ – didn’t she hear my plea? She released those humans, and neither of them were harmed much. That shows that she is innately kind. It’s just that the circumstances forced her to do such things.” He explained. “This is like the Great War. War is inevitable, as everyone wanted to survive. And so, the resentment and anger are inevitable, and that’s what happening right now.” He looked at them.

“What you are trying to say is?” Fedrey asked.

Leui turned to him. “It’s not that I’m saying for everyone to discard the previous grudges.” He said. “What I am saying is that for everyone to consider the future, so they should do something to the present status quo.” He explained.

“And, your solution to that is?” Fedrich asked.

Leui’s expression is serious. “I am just an ordinary person. How can I have the solution?” he asked them.

Fedrey, Fedrich and Melton were rendered speechless. “… you are right.” they said and forced a smile. All that talk yet there’s nothing in the end? They thought and helplessly sighed.

Leui smiled. “I just want for the peace to last forever, for the sake of everyone – the human race, as well as the other races.” He said.

Fedrey, Fedrich and Melton nodded in agreement to what he said. “Yes. Everyone wants the peace to last.” They said. 

“But, recently, there is a disorder.” Melton spoke. “If this continues, panic will break out and the fear that the humans have, towards the other races, that they have almost forgotten will return.” His expression turned grave. “Peace, I’m afraid, would instead be broken at this rate.” He told them.