I woke up at six in the morning like usual and perford my duties of Pope of the Church of Allayo. I ca up with the na just as I opened my eyes.
Allayo... Alyssa, Lapia, Yolin. A clever na if I say so myself.
My Church is flexible in its teachings, but strict with its mbers.
Although I say mbers, it's only , the founder. And despite being called a Church, it's a silly thing I don't take that seriously.
I don't actually worship my girlfriends as Goddesses, nor treat them as such.
Waiting for them to wake up every morning has led into finding odd ways to spend ti.
That morning, I was thinking about respect.
The kind that could be considered the bare minimum between people. Small things like a handshake when greeting soone, looking them in the eye while talking, speaking clearly and to the point to not waste their ti, and actively avoiding doing stuff that makes them uncomfortable while still being oneself.
I respect those around . At least I think I do. As a living person, and despite what people would tend to believe due to my species, I am not perfect.
Biologically speaking, perhaps I am. In an evolutionary sense, I may be considered perfect when it cos to the purpose of my species. As I understand it, however, we Halves did not go through the sa process as the people of this world. We didn't start as an animal that gained sentience and then ford society.
From the point of view of people that live and breathe magic, we could be considered perfect.
If Gods perpetuate and distribute knowledge, then Halves perpetuate and distribute power.
Knowledge and power are respected in civilized society.
Naturally, there will be those who don't think like the rest. That sentint of 'going against the tide' has, to my knowledge, made for both good and bad takes throughout history.
One such example is the very popular dislike towards people in power. It has manifested in various ways. 'Eat the rich', would be a familiar one.
Most people would play the social analyst and claim the dislike for the rich is a warped envy the masses have towards success. Others would claim political views taint the lens too much, and engage in good old ad hominem.
That is possible through the internet. Sothing that doesn't exist in this world.
Soone was not respectful in their actions nor beliefs and ended up dying for it.
In a world of quantifiable might, how does one go about life when it cos to respect?
I am not equal to my girlfriends, for example. Individual might separates us.
The King and Queen are objectively weaker than , as is everyone else in Lumin Kingdom to my knowledge.
Even with that, respect still holds.
I respect other people enough that if I make a mistake, I have the capacity and obligation to apologize.
Alyssa doesn't particularly like it when I get angry. She respects and acknowledges that I have anger issues, however.
Lapia doesn't like the fact I'm willing to use violence to get information. She respects and acknowledges that my life's purpose includes situations like those, however.
Yolin has had her monts. She grabbed and jumped off a cliff, for example. She apologized, though.
One of the many ways to show respect is communication. To clearly tell other people what you think, want, or need, if the situation calls for it.
Respect in this world is different. I'm sure so people fear and choose to act respectful to avoid dying if their words or actions offend .
I'm not a psychopath that will kill everyone who slights , though. I respect the fact people, just like , can make mistakes.
There are people who are harder to respect, however. Nerissa was one of them. Yugulari, Thavas, and Pneumix, too.
Those who actively try to kill will receive the sa respect they give . I'm not a saint, nor am I in a position to forgive them, either.
Killing will result in endangering the world. One less Protector could have devastating consequences for everyone.
Maybe the Changelings knew I'd eventually find and kill Nerissa, and tried to prevent that by killing . That would have resulted in Gordon's death and whatever that ant for the Kingdom.
Anyway. Back to respect.
Hanna.
So people take respect too far.
She doesn't look in the eye when we chat. She barely speaks unless I ask her sothing. She apologizes for things I have no huge problems with.
I kind of like that, in all honesty. I'm getting used to this 'Your Excellency' business.
She's not as overt as Elena when it cos to respect, which is nice.
Her kneeling in front of when we first t was pretty cringe, though.
She managed to find Ines and kill one of the Changelings that tried to kill . All in a single day. That's a capable woman.
I respect that.
There is a... necessary mindset or willingness when it cos to killing people.
It's not an easy thing to do, after all.
Physically speaking, it's easy. All I'd need to do to kill an average person is swing an arm and off they go to the afterlife.
ntally speaking, it's difficult. When I killed people for the first ti it didn't feel good. I threw up and my body reacted to it in a way I didn't expect it to. I had to kill again shortly after to get used to the feeling. That was definitely a weird experience.
Dreaming of killing every ti I go to sleep has made reconsider things, but that's a rabbit hole I won't go into. Not yet, at least.
That brings back to respect. Respect is even more of a necessity in a world where individual might makes such a big difference. Not many can afford being disrespectful to others.
I wonder, though. Which ca first? Respect or might? Perhaps the existence of my species has made people respectful from the beginning. Both because my predecessors protected the people of the world and because we are powerful.
I suppose the Gods influenced this as well. Danuva granted sentience, whatever that ans. Photem revealed the secrets of E'er. Shorvanna trained the first Warriors. It goes on, but the point is made.
Honestly, I don't know where I'm going with this.
“Hnnng!” I grunted while sitting at the throne. “Haa... haaa...”
And now we get to the source of my deep thoughts.
All throughout history, the deepest thoughts co to us while we're in the bathroom.
At that mont, I was having difficulty pooping.
Well, I use the word 'difficulty' wrong. If one thinks of difficulty when trying to take a shit, the possibility of constipation cos to mind. That wasn't the case at all.
So far I have had no issue when performing my basic biological processes, but ever since we returned from the dungeon I haven't been able to poop.
Has my body changed in the two months and a half I've been alive? Has it gotten used to what I eat? Does it... 'absorb' everything more efficiently to the point it doesn't produce waste anymore?
Or... was eating raw gold a mistake?
I don't know.
“I have to ask Alyssa,” I concluded with a heavy sigh. “My legs will go numb if I stay here any longer.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)