Chapter 27 - Attribute

"Really? That's great to hear, good to know that someone's taking real initiative," I nodded in approval.

"Yeah, but what if people who are actually good end up being killed?" Argued Prysm with a frown.

"Eh, chalk them up as sacrifices for the greater good," I shrugged indifferently.

"That's kinda awful though."

"Your point is...?"

She'd shown up down here yet again, and she'd just informed me about a string of incidents that had been occurring here in the capital city, Dianus, lately.

Over the past couple of weeks or so, five Nobles had been robbed and killed, with all their slaves and any young children the only ones being spared.

It's got to be Commoners who are doing this, there's almost no doubt about that. And in spite of myself, this news has gotten me really hopeful and excited...if, by chance, they target this place, the mansion of the Duralles family, I'll could finally regain my freedom.

But...I have to admit, the thought of someone else killing these people really rubs me the wrong way. I think it's fair to say that I've more than earned the right to be the one who pulls that trigger on these pieces of shit.

"Oh, I'll be awakening my Magic next week, and father said we'll be going to get me appraised on the same day," She informed me.

Kids really do have short attention spans, don't they? Awakening powers, huh? Just a little under three years ago, that was me, I was so eager and excited...but that only lasted a day, before everything I cherished was torn away from me.

"Yeah, good luck with that. Wonder what'll happen to you if you turn out to possess the Light Attribute, or even both Attributes," I mused curiously.

"That's-...I don't know. I did ask father, but...he just said that won't happen and then went quiet," She replied somberly, looking worried.

Ooh, can't resist this opportunity...

"Want my honest opinion?" I offered with a smirk.

"Uh...I think I do, but I'm also scared that you'll say something scary that'll make me all nervous," She responded warily.

"Yeah, I probably will. Your call," I shrugged tauntingly.

"I don't know...," She trailed off uncertainly, before a look of determination appeared on her face and she met my gaze, "Okay. Tell me what you think."

"With pleasure. If it turns out that you possess the Light Attribute or both Attributes, your best case scenario would be...a quick and painless death. Alternatively, you could end up like me, brutally tortured on the regular. Or you might be enslaved. Another possibility is that you could find yourself banished to the Dead Zone. The only way for your peaceful life in Noble society can continue is if you awaken the Dark Attribute," I concluded, keeping an eye on her expression.

"I don't understand it...why does what Attribute you have matter so much? It doesn't make any sense no matter how much I think about it," She frowned in confusion.

I have to admit, I don't dislike this way of thinking...even though she's under ten years old, she seeks to acquire proper understanding of the way things around her work.

And she isn't satisfied until she gains an understanding that makes sense to her. In other words, simply explaining something to her isn't enough, it has to make perfectly logical sense or she won't be satisfied.

There's absolutely nothing logical about the bad blood between the people of the two continents in this world, it's driven purely by instilled hatred and prejudice passed down by the previous generations.

Kids in this world are taught to despise Heretics and those of the opposite Attribute, and when you're a kid, the word of adults is law, and most kids don't think twice about accepting any explanation they're given.

But she's different...her mind runs purely on logic, which is precisely why she can't wrap her head around how and why Noble society is what it is.

Since she's still a kid, her thoughts and opinions can sometimes be a bit inconsistent and contradictory, but when she's older and has more clarity of thought...she could be someone quite terrifying.

Now that I'm a bit more aware of exactly how her mind works, I wouldn't go so far as to call her a sociopath or anything like that, her emotions are very much in play.

The only difference from regular people though, is that she only adds her emotions into the mix after she's gained understanding at a level that satisfies her.

"Hey, are you ignoring me? I was asking you why Attribute matters so much to everyone," She frowned, shaking my shoulder and snapping me out of it.

"It's simple. Many years ago, there was a conflict, stuff happened and people ended up divided into groups based on their Attribute. And then, the leaders of either side instilled hatred towards the other side into their followers. Those followers passed down that same hatred to their children and further descendants, and the result is the current state of this world," I surmised as clearly as I could.

"Huh? Okay, I guess that does explain it, but...why would those old leaders want that hatred to last so long? And why were all the followers, and their descendants, willing to do that too? Also, why-...?" She began with a confused frown.

"Yeah, I'm gonna stop you right there, because I don't know the specific details. I'm sure you can find some history books on the subject...though I can't guarantee that the content won't be biased. The people who write the history books will always try to make themselves look like they were in the right, while vilifying their enemies. And those around them will only encourage them to do just that," I informed her bluntly.

"That doesn't seem right...we can't avoid repeating mistakes if people from before pretended like their mistakes were actually good things," She grimaced with a displeased look on her face.

She sees the value of knowledge and information, that's why she's so hungry in trying to gain a real understanding of any knowledge she acquires. It's too bad her family will most likely try to crush that trait if they realize how her mind works, as her way of thinking inevitably leads to questioning Noble society on several counts.

And most importantly, and alarmingly for them, is the fact that she sees all people as people, Noble titles are secondary to her. That's a perspective that most, if not all, Commoners would wish was actually a reality.

Well, not that it really matters to me. At this point, the state of this world, this continent, or even this country, are mostly irrelevant to me. All I really care about is making everyone who was involved in massacring my village pay for what they did.

And anyone who gets in my way will die, regardless of whether they're a Noble, a Commoner, or someone from the Light Continent. After all, someone has to provide equality for all in this world...and there's no greater equalizer than death.

People can be born rich or poor, healthy or sick, fortunate or misfortunate...but when they die, the playing field is leveled. How they lived doesn't matter in that moment, death is all the same to everyone, without any bias or favoritism.

Sure, the circumstances surrounding or leading upto one's death is a factor, but once the moment has passed and a person's dead, that's that.

Some people may be mourned when they die, while other deaths may be celebrated...but to those who died, none of that matters. Who cares about what happens after you die?

Your involvement in the situation is over, and what others choose to do afterwards has no bearing on you whatsoever. There's nothing to do but cut your losses and focus on your next life.

Well, I suppose that's only valid if, like me, you qualify for reincarnating with your past memories intact.

"Tell me something...would you be okay with living like the average Commoner? A small house maybe a couple of times bigger than this basement, no servants or slaves to help you with anything, less quality when it comes to food, a smaller and less comfortable bed, and so on. So, if you had to suddenly live a life consisting of things like that and none of the luxury you've grown accustomed to...how do you think you'd fare?" I asked her curiously.

Let's test how well I know how her mind works...if I'm right, she should struggle to come up with a definite answer, at least not with any real confidence...

"Hm? I don't know, I've never thought about any of that...I don't think I can give a certain answer without actually experiencing all of that for myself," She replied uncertainly, after mulling it over for a good while.

Looks like I was right, though I didn't expect her to state it so bluntly. If she managed to hold on to this way of thinking, undeterred by what other Nobles consider to be common sense in this world, she might actually manage to make an impact further down the line and change Noble society for the better.

Well, it's highly unlikely, but it's not impossible. I guess her biggest challenge will be maintaining her ideals without letting emotion overcome her after I kill her family...because I'll never give up on that, sooner or later, they will die by my hand.

And once they're dead, I'll go after all those other Knights who attacked my village, and anyone else who was even remotely involved. Meanwhile, I'll save my father, find my brother, and the villagers who were captured to be sold into slavery instead of being killed.

However...I think I just might spare Prysm, if and when I get the opportunity to give this vile family what they deserve. It's possible that I might kill her anyway when I get that chance, but...it's just as likely that I'll let her live.

I won't know for sure until that opportunity comes my way...I have to admit, I'm intrigued to see which direction I'll go if and when that ever happens...

_____________________________________________

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to vote, and feel free to leave a comment, I appreciate any and all feedback and criticism!

Also, check out my Instagram account @aimdaqs for posts relating to this book.

Join the Discord server, I plan to tease upcoming chapters and future story arcs here, and you can also discuss or ask me any questions about the story and characters. Use the invite link to join:

https://discord.gg/sRbx9VbTVP