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The countries of Steadfast, Wall, and Hammer pose a perpetual threat to the Columbian Union and its allies. Diplomatic efforts have been futile, often crumbling under the weight of an ever-hostile people, so the Castigators are sent in to aid their allies in Guardian and force the opposing countries to cease their violent ways. As such, war and violence will be necessary to put down the bloodthirsty warmongers and instill peace in the four countries for the first time in generations.

Peace Through Force: Chapter 4 – An Uncorrupting Desire for Power

Chapter 4 – An Uncorrupting Desire for Power

I stand on the side of the room with Idelle as Kane and Bolster talk about subduing the last enemy country, Steadfast. We’re in yet another hideout, and the question of victory is not if we’ll win, but how, what we can do to secure peace now, and what we’ll do after. Taking over land by force after executing the leadership and those loyal to them naturally inspired those who were attacked to try to do the same. Fear and overwhelming force can be used to prevent revolution in the present, but future generations will find ways to subtly take back their country, take it back from within, or build up a military to take their own. Guardian is only the strongest because we’ve backed them up, and God only knows if our enemies will ally with others to shift the balance in their favor.

This topic comes up in Kane and Bolster’s discussion as Bolster says, “Who knows how many allies Steadfast has? Their name is ironic since they keep shifting beliefs with every generation. They’re spineless light-footers who believe in God, but don’t. Believe men and women have separate but equal roles, but then say they’re each replaceable. Believe all religions are equal, but then say every religion should get along as one. They’re universalists, a walking contradiction, who ally with everyone and no one, making sure always to have at least one person in an opposing camp, just in case they have to switch sides.”

“And God shall spit them out of His mouth,” I comment.

“Exactly, Zandro. There’s no real way to trust them, so we have to be extra thorough about dealing with them,” Kane says.

The ideology of Steadfast reminds me of my own back in Nexum. They said they believed in equality, but then backstabbed and worked against our interests in the shadows or did so in plain sight, using various excuses to claim our actions were mutually beneficial or justified. Nexum has always conflicted with the four countries of Steadfast, Wall, and Hammer, and it has tried to use its alliance with the Columbian Union to get its way with them, even trying to get our way with Guardian, despite being mutual allies. I know much of the history of the countries, but let Bolster say what he has to since I’ve been out of the loop, and much has changed in this country over the course of a few short years. To me, it feels like it’s been ten years since I last set foot on this side of the world after trying to get superpowers from the Coronamento Corporation and ending up with the Castigators.

I should have control or some power over the four countries because of my knowledge. I know when violence is necessary, and when to use extreme violence for the greater good. There’s no action I am unwilling to take, nor does killing or harming others bother me.

This is a problem. A problem I’ve been dealing with, and that’s lessened over the years, but still a problem. The sinful side of myself has to have its short time in control, and I’m in constant prayer to keep it down. I don’t want control or power of any kind. All I want to do is the will of God. Everything that I have now is everything that I need, and it is all in service to doing what I was created to do. Nothing more.

A member of the Castigators walks into the meeting room and mentions to Kane how the leaders of the Steadfast are willing to negotiate, to which he says, “Given their history, part of me wishes they said that they want to fight to the death. It would make it easier and less complicated, but let’s see what they have to say.”

A nagging feeling pushes me to say, “I think we should be extra careful, given their history. Let’s assess the situation and have backup on standby, just in case.”

“My thoughts exactly. Thank you, Zandro. Let’s make it happen,” Kane says.

We make the calls we need to and then leave to go to the town where we’re meeting the leaders and people of Steadfast. The area of this country reminds me of Nexum, being that it has many deserts, while also having luscious greenery and rivers that run through them. Ahead of us, the town has elements of the other countries, with ugly, futuristic-looking military walls from Hammer, old medieval-style buildings from Guardian, and houses that look like they’re from the colonial era. As Bolster, Kane, Idelle, and I enter the town, we watch the rooftops and corners. The civilians are out here throwing petals and flowers at us as if we were royalty, allowing them the grace of our presence, but part of me feels that it’s all done to obscure our vision from threats lurking in the dark.

We should call it off now. My instincts have improved ever since I got better in control of myself, and they are right most of the time. The safeties should come off, and we should let the slaughter begin.

No, we shouldn’t. Let’s see what happens first before we act, and only do so if we have something other than instinct to tell us that something is wrong. We meet the leaders in the center of town, where a sizable crowd of the media and civilians is kept at a fair distance. Kane and Bolster get out of their vehicles, and Idelle and I slow down to walk normally with them. I look at Kane to see if he sees anything in the leaders, and he looks agitated. The leaders tell them to take a seat with them, but Kane immediately draws his ebony pistols and points them at them.

“Don’t think you can play me for a fool,” Kane says with disgust in his voice. “Don’t you know that I can see if God judges that I should kill you or let you live?”

“Yes, I’ve heard of that, but don’t we all do that with our own God?” one of the leaders asks, trying to remain composed.

“You all have five seconds each to give me a reason why you should live before I blow your head off.”

“We just want to negotiate the terms of peace. We don’t want to fight!”

Kane blows the head off the leader talking to him. The crowds are frightened by this, some of whom start running away, and yet, no one does anything to save the leaders, and the leaders themselves are still sitting in place, but are now shaken.

“You’re lying. You all want peace just so you can stab us in the back, politically and militarily, just like you do with every peace agreement you get.”

Kane goes up to the next leader. She says, “You can’t shoot people who are surrendering and trying to talk! This isn’t lawful!”

Again, Kane blows the head off another leader. He says, “Your surrender isn’t honest. God reveals it through my eyes. I don’t care if this is lawful or not. All I care about is doing the right thing.”

Now the crowds are really starting to flee, and the leaders are holding their hands up and are on their knees. Still, no one is intervening, and I don’t see anyone sneaking up on us.

The next leader that Kane goes up to says, “What do you want? What do you want us to say?”

“I want you to change your hearts, and actually want something beneficial to us, and not solely for yourselves. I want conversion, your salvation, and the peace for the four countries and mine.”

The leader starts and stops several sentences before Kane has enough and shoots him. Kane looks at the rest of the leaders and sighs.

“There’s nothing more to be said. No prayer will save you, and mercy has run dry. Kill them all.”

Idelle and I do as Kane says, as he and Bolster shoot the leaders who try to run. Finally, my instinct proves correct as a force of robots, superhumans, and law enforcers emerges from the crowd and nearby buildings to attack us. I fully transform, with armor covering my body. The left side is completely white, with a halo on its head and a left shield. The right side has spikey fingers reaching out, horns on its head, and a large hand with razor-sharp fingers. I throw myself at the enemy, tearing them to shreds. During the fight, as in every fight, I try to cover Idelle and Kane. I’ve killed my own family, but theirs is still alive, so their lives matter more than my own.

Below, I hear Kane calling for our reinforcements, who shortly come in to aid us. This is especially timely since the civilians and the enemy have their own military coming in to help them. A new surprise happens as missiles come out of the ground, and we hear from the other Castigators that the missiles will detonate and kill everyone in the city. Hurrying to get rid of them, I run to the nearest missile and throw it up into the air. Running to the next one, I tear through my enemies trying to defend it, and throw it away from the town.

“The missiles are going to blow! There are also others coming at you from a distance! All Castigators retreat from the town now!” I hear said on the radio.

Since I’m close to a missile, I throw that away, and then see Idelle running at superhuman speeds next to me.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Trying to save people. What are you doing?” Idelle asks.

I grab Idelle and throw her away from the missile, and say, “Doing the same.”

Running back to the missile, I manage to grab it and throw it into the air, just as it explodes. The missile's force is felt on the ground, and it rains fire down upon the town. One other missile explodes in the town, and a few others come at the town from a distance and head towards it. Running towards the missiles, I leap at one of them, grab it, and use the force of it to spin it around and throw it into the air. I run towards the next one and find Idelle trying to stop it.

“Get to safety!” I tell her.

Idelle punches me, sending me flying into the distance. I quickly get back on my feet, run with every ounce of strength that I have, and get to the missile before Idelle does, only for it to detonate in my face, sending me hurtling into the ground. I’m in a daze and feel seriously hurt for the first time in a while. Still, I try to get up, even as I stand up and fall again. In the distance, I see the other missile exploding before it hits the town, and Idelle running to me and yelling as I lose consciousness.

Was it worth it? Is this the end of my life? Was it all just to get to this moment and die for a town full of my enemies and the Castigators, who roped me into helping them in place of execution or jail time?

Kane and Idelle helped save my life, and more importantly, my soul. It’s only right that I give my life for them in exchange. The strength in my body leaves me, until it suddenly comes back, and I wake up on a bed with needles in me, reminiscent of the ones put in me when I was experimented on. I take them out of me, see that I’m some sort of mansion, and wander its hallways. Where am I? I don’t think I’m dead.

Eventually, I find Idelle and Kane in a room with a bar, fireplace, and a view of the town we were just in. It’s still standing, and yet, it is burning. Bolster is sitting on the side, drinking and watching the news, talking about the Castigators taking over the four countries and forming them into one, under the Dominion.

They knew as well as I did that the only way to instill true peace in the region is to take control of it all ourselves, and since I’m a primary member of the Castigators, I should have my own land and servants. Perhaps, I could take it all for myself in time with the right moves and allies.

Kane turning his head to see me makes my temptations cease. He springs up and says, “Zandro! I’m glad you’re awake and walking around, brother.”

Kane walks over and hugs me, and I pat him on the back in return. I ask him, “What did I miss? What’s this about the Castigators taking over the countries?”

“First of all, I’m glad you did your best to save my wife, but you had to know you’d get sent flying if you tried to prevent her from doing what she wanted, right?”

“I knew that, but I never thought I could survive a missile to the face.”

“You were out for a couple of days. We had to get the Coronamento Corporation to send over fluids that they used on you during their experiments to help speed up your regeneration and make sure you healed properly.”

“Thank you for saving me, again.”

“Don’t thank me yet, because our job here isn’t done. As you heard, I decided that the Castigators should take control of the four countries under the Dominion. The people of the countries respect our strength, and our enemies here will only stay in line if we’re the ones ruling over them, and not some leader or group that the Columbian Union puts into power.”

Bolster comments that, “That is how things have been in this region for hundreds of years, and nothing that any foreign power has done has changed that in the slightest outside of taking direct control of it.”

“I guess the new country’s king,” Idelle says.

“And that makes you its queen,” Kane says.

“What about me?” I ask, half curious and half wanting some kind of power.

“You’ll rule by our side as always, fighting where you want to and giving your opinion to help shape the new country’s future.”

“So, I’m just doing the same thing as always on a bigger scale?’

“Basically.”

“What did the Dominion have to say about your decision?”

“They were strangely quiet about it at first. I had to call Timeo, and Idelle called her brother to make sure they heard the news, and it turns out that they completely trust that we’re making the right decision.”

“If the heads of the Dominion are fine with it, then that’s all that matters.”

“Well, all the other countries are concerned about this. Even the Columbian Union and its allies are uncomfortable with a hero association taking over foreign land and ruling over it as an independent nation.”

“And?”

“My point exactly. I prayed to make the right decision, and if this is what God wants us to do, then we’re going to do it, no matter how illegal or extreme it may seem, which is the entire point of the Castigators. We force the law to serve true justice, and don’t make compromises with it or any evil in any way.” Kane goes over to the balcony and says, “I think this land and its people have grown on me in the short time I’ve been here. I like how they do things, how blunt they are, and how they’re willing to do anything to enact what they know to be right. My children are being moved here, along with many more members of the Castigators, so we can make this our permanent home. What do you think, Zandro?”

“I’m fine with that. Just lead the way, brother. I’ll be right behind you.”

“Maybe we can finally find you a wife in this country. What do you think, Idelle?”

“If God wills him to have one, then we’ll find him one.”

In the distance, a group of cars arrives with superhumans, men with cybernetic enhancements, and robots behind them.

“Looks like we have challengers to the throne,” Kane says.

“It looks like a small army comprised of forces from all four countries,” Bolster says.

“It’s a fair fight then.”

Bolster, Idelle, and I follow behind Kane as we exit the mansion. The crowd yells at us with their weapons in the air. A man from the crowd steps out, covered in armor, scars, and weapons.

The man holds up a hand to make them quiet down, before he says, “Do you think you can simply take our countries from us? That we’ll let you rule over us just because you’ve taken out our leaders?”

“It’s in your best interest that you do,” Kane says.

“Ha! You care only for your own people. You don’t care about the people of any of the four countries.”

“If I didn’t, I’d let the missiles destroy that town behind you. I would’ve had my Castigators slaughter civilians, surrendering soldiers, and those who weren’t involved in the fighting at all. Instead, I’ve only killed those who want to kill me and my allies and plotted against us. Your last words will decide whether or not you will live in the peaceful and secure country I will create.”

“You’re going to create a peaceful country? With all the destruction and killing you’ve done?”

“Sometimes, the only way to calm a rabid dog is to put it down. As such, violence has quelled the conflict between all four countries, and the rebels are the only ones trying to continue the endless war. So, what will you do? Will you join me or die where you stand?”

The group of people talks and then starts arguing with one another. Some say they will stand with us and move over to us, while others call them traitors and say they will fight and die for what they believe in.

These people are savages.

But then again, Kane managed to reason them to his side. It’s no wonder that God inspired him to take control of the four countries for himself, the Castigators, and the Dominion. He’s a true leader, unlike me, who’s a mere follower at his side.

It’s no matter. I’ll have my moment to take power for myself.

What I have now is all I need. A fight begins to break out between the two groups, which have now separated. Our supporters are close to us, while the opposition is farther away, making it easier for us to tell friend from foe. Kane tells us to help our new friends and calls in backup for them. Even though this is how our rule begins, I’m confident that we’ll turn the four countries into one singular, peaceful country, and perhaps help the wider world with our particular brand of establishing peace through force.

 

The End

Peace Through Force: Chapter 3 – A Just Case of War

Chapter 3 – A Just Case of War

In my head, I see the faces of those kids. Their fear, hatred, and desperation lay on each of their faces, especially when they heard the beep in their vests that preceded them exploding. The boiling hot hatred for the leaders of Hammer and the parents who sacrificed and indoctrinated their children still burns through my veins, making me want to kill them over and over again.

“Idelle. Idelle!” I hear Kane’s voice say.

When I wake up, I see that I’m in one of the Guardian hideouts laying down on a couch on top of Kane.

“Huh? Is something going on?” I ask.

“You were shaking and sweating in your sleep. Were you having a nightmare about what happened?”

“I was.

“It’s okay. After this is over, we’ll take a nice, long vacation with the kids and family somewhere peaceful.”

Remembering what happened makes me glad that my parents are taking care of our children and are protected by the Dominion back in the Columbian Union, while we’re here, so their lives aren’t threatened. Kane kisses me on the forehead and lightly strokes the back of my head. It always amazes me how he’s fine with embracing me even after I fight and have blood all over me. It makes me jealous of Zandro, who can simply transform to his normal self, and all the blood and dirt on him is gone in an instant, whereas I need to clean the blood off my armor every time. He’s sitting across from us and seems to be in deep thought.

“I used to be a parent like both of you, so I know how you must feel,” Zandro says.

Nothing more needs to be said. We’re all feeling the same thing and on the same page, though some of us feel worse than others. I’ve gotten over the horrors I’ve done for those I still find it hard to consider my real parents, and all the killing I’ve done since then. I know I’m justified in what I’m doing, but that doesn’t make doing the dark work of the Lord any easier, especially when innocents get caught in the crossfire. Trying to take my attention off it, I look around the hideout to see that it’s gray and barren like the previous hideout, except for a few crosses and images of Mary, St. Michael, and other patron saints called on during battle. The TV is on, reporting the Castigators taking control of Hammer, and hardly ever taking prisoners or sparing anyone. If they only knew how bad it was.

Bolster steps in and watches the news with us. He comments, “These Western news outlets never really know what they’re talking about, do they?”

“Believe me. It isn’t any better back home,” Kane says.

“All they do is report on what sounds most appealing to their audience with little sprinklings of the truth here and there. I could swear their scripts are all written by the same people.”

“That’s probably true,” Zandro comments.

“Anyways, have you heard anything from the Dominion?”

“Nothing other than that we’re doing a good job, and they’re trying to handle the press and relations between our home nation and allies. Some are happy with what we’re doing, and some aren’t, but most agree that it was a good thing that my Castigators destroyed the weapons of mass destruction that Hammer had.”

“Do the opinions of world leaders matter to your organization?”

“It hasn’t before, and never will. Even if it did, the Castigators are used to rebelling against corrupt authority, so we’d just do what we think is right anyway. That’s the goal of the Castigators. To fix the law where it’s most broken and put our neck on the line for those for whom the law failed or was unjustly used against.”

“That’s why we in Guardian love you out of every subsidiary of the Dominion. When will we make our next move?”

“Soon. Why? What target do you have in mind next?”

“The country of Wall.”

“The stubborn heretical traditionalists who larp as true Christians? I wish that ideology were wiped out during the Crusades when it was in this area. Didn’t their religion used to be called Islam or something else?”

“All error is reused. The demons can’t come up with an original false ideal even if it would get them out of Hell.”

“Once my wife has her moment to rest, we’ll get right to them.”

I appreciate Kane’s words and knowing I need a minute to get my mind straight, but at the same time, I’m happy and comfortable where I am. Eventually, Bolster comes back in and asks if I’m okay and ready to go, and I give him a look, which makes him step back.

Bolster looks at Zandro, who says, “Don’t look at me to help. If I try to get her off him, she might beat the Hell out of me, and my superhuman powers don’t help much from a beating from her.”

“Thanks, guys. Really appreciate you having my back,” Kane jokes.

Kane then talks me out of cuddling him for the rest of the day like I want to, and we get moving. Unlike Hammer, Wall is a desert with marshes and jungles spread out here and there. All the towns and cities are spread out, and there are fewer here to worry about, but there are deadly predators in the wild, and if you’re not prepared, you can easily die of thirst or hunger out here. Bolster also tells of the rumors of hidden underground bases in the jungles and sands where the most dangerous predators reside and act as natural defenses against outsiders who don’t know their way around. Thankfully, the few allies we have in this country do know everything we need to know and are leading us through the jungle to one of the hidden bases.

We’re suddenly attacked by said wildlife we were told to watch out for, but we aren’t attacked by animals. Instead, the plants come to life and kill many of our allies from Guardian by chomping their heads off and swallowing them whole, before we’re able to save them. It’s times like these that make me wish I had some kind of ranged attack, but my strength is enough to tear these abominations to shreds, and my snakes are durable enough to push them back and block their attacks.

“Living killer plants? Are these native to this area?” Kane asks.

“Not at all,” one of our guides says. “These must be the experimental weapons that they made in conjunction with Hammer that we heard about. Seeing them now, the rumors of a weapon that can be hidden until it activates itself make sense. They were going to ship these over to the Columbian Union and its allies and let them wreak havoc wherever they ended up.”

“Tch. As if we need any more foreign infiltrators in our country trying to destroy it from the inside,” Kane says.

Our guides lead us to a series of tree one of which is actually a pole with a hidden keypad in it. After using a hacking device on it, a part of the ground separates, revealing a series of stairs down to a single door. Going through it, we find ourselves in a series of tunnels that are air-conditioned and feel much better than being on the surface. We explore the tunnels, finding caches of weapons, multiple kinds of foreign currency, quarters where their soldiers are resting, and places where they’re experimenting on plants, wildlife, and people. Seeing this reminds me of the experiments done on me by my own parents and country, especially since they’re trying to invoke the supernatural in some of their experiments. I look over at Zandro, who is winching at the sight of it all.

Kane gives us the go-ahead to attack. Zandro and I instinctively go after the researchers and their experiments, putting them out of their misery. The alarms in the facility start blaring as automatic turrets come out of the walls and ceiling to fend us off, but they are large and ineffective as my snakes intercept the shots as I charge at them and throw the turrets at other turrets and enemies attacking us. The lights start going out, and the walls start shifting in strange and confusing ways that separate us all from one another. I try breaking them down, but they’re tough, so it’s going to take a while to get through.

“Continue forward, and we’ll meet up, eventually. Be careful,” Kane says through a static connection.

I try talking to him and the others, but I don’t get a response. Our communication devices are jammed, so it looks like I’m on my own. I’ll be fine. I’ve done operations solo in foreign countries for the Columbian Union before, and yet, I feel nervous and rushed. I don’t know what could happen to Kane and the others, so I take the immediate path before me and charge ahead. Out of the darkness, turrets pop out along with robots who try to get me, while I’m off guard, but my snakes protect me, yet again, reacting to their attacks, before I’m able to, allowing me to be defended and quickly counterattack.

Next, superhumans, animals, and plants that were experimented on are sent after me. Changing up my tactics, I let them come to me and roll with the punches. I let my snakes handle the ones to my side, while focusing on the foe in front of me. Our fists collide, resulting in both of them breaking, and allowing me an opening to punch his head off. The next superhuman that I focus on throws a series of punches at me that I block before taking one of his arms, breaking it off, and shoving it through his chest, killing them. Shifting my attention to the animals and living plants, kill them easily since they have no form to their attacks and simply use their instinct and raw power.

Finally, the remaining superhuman tries to sneak up on me with a punch from behind. I dodge her attack and stick my hand into her throat. Since she isn’t dead, I throw her to the ground and unleash a flurry of punches until her face and body are nothing more than bits of gore and blood on the floor. With no other foe in sight, I collect myself for a second, shake the blood off my hands, and continue running. Further down the hallway, what feels like two hands gripping my brain overcomes me, making me slow down.

“Always the brutal killer,” a voice says with the sensation that feels like scratching my inner ears.

“You haven’t changed one bit, have you?”

“You call yourself a wife and a mother? You’re the furthest thing from it.”

“You’re nothing but a vicious animal who belongs in a cage.”

These temptations are nothing new to me, so I pray for help. Hoping that destroying the source of the temptations will make them cease, I continue pushing forward, offering up the pain of the temptation as penance, and even thanking God for it, since it proves that I’m still a good enough person to face temptation. My white snake pulls me in a certain direction and points its head at a wall, while my black snake tries to push me away. Given that my white snake is blessed and my black snake is cursed, I do as the white snake wants and start punching through the wall. I tear through the metal, wires, and concrete of the wall until I reach a room where a ritual is being conducted.

The objects and people here are vain imitations of true Christianity, and so are the prayers to their false Christ. Again, my white snake pulls me forward and hisses at the cultists in the room, who are praying louder for help. They don’t get any as I slaughter them and break apart everything in the room, and I must’ve broken more than I expected, as all the lights come on and the walls come up. With the walls lifted, I see Bolster, Zandro, and Kane, all of whom are finishing off their foes. Unfortunately, our other allies were killed in their fight, so we finish it for them by killing the remaining foes around us.

Now that no one is left to kill, I run to Kane to make sure he’s okay and hug him. I ask him, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Better than okay. This underground area was not only where they developed their weapons and kept their army, but their true leaders were down here as well. They lived in comfort with all this protection around them, and ways to get around the country of Wall, undetected,” Kane explains. “I’ve just killed them, so all that’s left is to clean up their remaining forces in the other parts of the tunnel and on the surface.”

“Let’s get our allies and the other Castigators to do it. It’s too much for the four of us to do,” Bolster says.

“Agreed. Let’s head back up and call for reinforcements.”

The four of us wander the tunnels, following the signs until we find a set of stairs that lead us up. When we arrive on the surface, we find ourselves in the capital of Wall. We’re in a seemingly normal restaurant, in particular, and find ourselves surrounded by Wall’s leaders, their guards, their supporters, and their families. They’re stunned by our sudden presence, and we use it to quickly kill most of them, and leave a few alive as Kane tells us to do. When the fight is finished, and the remaining people left alive are brought to Kane on their knees, he pulls up a chair and stares at them with a judgmental stare on his face.

“I think it’s clear to you what happened in the underground if we came out alive, so you have two choices, and little time to make it,” Kane says with his hands out and none of his guns in his hands. “So? What will it be?”

The people before him argue, cry, and yell at him in such a way that none of their words can be clearly heard. After a few seconds, two ebony pistols appear in Kane’s hands. He immediately stands up and guns them down. A group of law enforcers comes into the room and is stunned by the death around them. They look at us with their guns up, shaking in their boots, and slurring their words.

“Do you want some too? Get the Hell out of here if you know what’s good for you!” Kane says.

The law enforcers run away in fear, along with the crowd that formed around the restaurant. Kane calls in the Castigators for reinforcements and sits at the restaurant’s bar, putting his head in his hands.

“That was great, Kane. This’ll show them all our power and your compassion,” Bolster says as he finishes recording what happened and posts it.

“Do you have to record every execution of leaders that Kane does?” Zandro asks.

“I do, but I don’t do it for show. This is to instill fear into our enemies and to make them back down.”

“Tch. If you say so.”

Zandro goes to sit at the bar with Kane and pats him on the back.

Going over to Kane, I ask him, “There go the heads of another country. We’ve conquered yet another in one day, all thanks to you.”

“They had a choice,” Kane says.

“Huh?”

“My eyes went back and forth in telling me their fate, so I tried to give them mercy, but they screwed it up. They all did. It shouldn’t bother me at this point, but when someone is on the cusp of salvation, and they throw it away. That is nothing more than pure tragedy.”

I wrap my arms around Kane, hold him, kiss his forehead, and say, “It’s okay. You went out of your way to give them a way to save their lives, and, as you said, they made their choice. If anything, the fear you inspired in the fleeing crowd will make them rethink who they ally with and which God they worship. You’re a good and strong man, Kane. Never forget that.”

“Hehe, and you were the one who started the day upset. I can say the same thing about you, too, Idelle, and you, too, Zandro.”

“And me?” Bolster asks.

“Yes, you too, my friend. You too.”

We are all good people, despite the killing we do and the brutality of our work. It is necessary to punish evil, instill true peace, and inspire fear of God and of the virtuous in our enemies, so that even the furthest gone can be saved, a goal that seems closer than ever.