Arcane Era-Chapter 96: Malevolent Thoughts

The team gathered together, with the exception of Kamara.

"She went to see the Head Chancellor. Said we can have a tour around the city, but we have to make it back to the Royal Palace before sundown..." Arlet explained to everyone. He was the only one who stuck close to their team leader during the entire execution, and he made sure to ask her where she was going when she departed from the group.

Liyah and Kaycee nodded, while Theo remained motionless, his mask giving him a gloomy air of nonchalance. All four of them were together, speculating on whether or not to return to their rooms in the Royal Palace or spend some time in the City, when Liyah suddenly brought up a topic that had to be squirming in each of their minds.

"Why is the Royal Family trying to suppress the truth? Blaming everything on the Revolutionary Army like that... they’re basically creating a smokescreen and lying to the public." She gritted her teeth in mild annoyance.

Liyah was by no means a supporter of the Revolutionary Army, but fairness was something she considered a virtue. Honesty was also included in her list of essential values, and the Royal Family had shattered that standard like it was nothing.

"They have an internal problem, with the likely suspects being the first and second princes, yet they’re saying it’s the Revolutionary Army." Liyah naively complained even further, displaying her inexperience to her comrades. "I just think that’s nasty..."

"It is indeed..." Kaycee agreed, also clearly very green in political affairs. Since Kamara wasn’t present, he didn’t feel a lot of pressure, so he found it easier to speak up and support his friend’s words with his verbal contribution.

Unfortunately, whether it was Theo or Arlet, they seemed to be on the opposite side.

"That’s how politics works, genius." Arlet’s words were curt. He rolled his eyes, almost like he couldn’t believe this was even a conversation worth having. "Propaganda is essential in running an organization as large as a Nation, and this is simply how the Sarvos Royal Family has managed to maintain control for so long despite obviously being flawed and foul."

The Royal Family was corrupt and incompetent.

Anyone with eyes could see this much, especially if they got closer to the seat of power.

However, through the instrument of disinformation, there would be a natural shift in the mindset of those who listened. If all the information that people had access to came from the same source, then that source could influence the way they think and how they see the external world.

In essence, a form of systematic brainwashing.

What is so insidious about this method is that those affected have no clue of what is happening, and the skeptics among them will be branded as insane. The strengthening bond of similar information—whether right or wrong—among the populace would make it more concrete and real in their lives.

This herd mentality would create a renewed sense of trust and security in the source of information, and before long... it would turn into dependence. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ultimately, the people would become slaves to what they heard—unable to break out of the shackles that bound them.

"This is the natural state of the world, and is a trite practice in all Nations and religious organizations. It has existed since ancient times and will continue to exist. Just as the ones above have the Divine Court, we also have rulers and leaders that dictate our lives." Arlet continued, his tone monotonous and devoid of passion.

It seemed like he was merely interpreting facts, nothing more.

"I disagree!" Liyah replied vehemently.

"It doesn’t matter if you disagree or not. That is how reality works..." Arlet sighed and shrugged, adjusting his glasses in the process.

"But it can change, right?"

Arlet glanced at the hopeful Kaycee and scoffed. "Then why hasn’t anyone done that already? If something is possible, then in the thousands of years since the Mortals have existed, why haven’t we seen this change?"

"...."

Kaycee was silent and had to concede, but Liyah remained stubborn. She quickly looked at Theo, who was quietly observing the conversation.

"What do you think about this, Theo?"

"...."

Theo remained quiet for a while, watching his friends as well as Arlet with solemn grace. His silence commanded their attention as they eagerly waited for his opinion on the subject.

Unbeknownst to them, even in this voiceless space, his mind echoed with numerous thoughts.

’I see the complexities of both sides... I can understand their perspectives... but, I truly do not care for any of it.’ He frowned slightly. ’Liyah speaks of virtues and ideals, Arlet stands on the logic of reality, but what do I think?’

Theo knew fully well where he stood in the debate.

He was an Outlier.

He didn’t exist in either camp, and he became an outsider—watching both sides conflict while remaining in the shadows.

The shadows of pure malevolence.

’I hate them... all of them...’ He was quiet, but his mind rang with this noise. ’Both the ones at the top and the filth who lay below...’

Both sides were easily culpable to him.

’The Royal Family.... I despise you for making me and my friends suffer as we did. The very fact that they are currently on the battlefield, fighting a war they have no stake in, makes my heart churn with rage.

As for the situation of others... what concerns do I have with them?

I don’t know them. They don’t know me.

Why should I care?’

His thoughts kept flowing, like raging water, they ebbed and sloshed all around his mind—the tempo rising drastically as his fists began to clench.

’The bourgeois are the root of evil in Sarvos? The poor and downtrodden are innocent victims? Please! Most people are hypocrites. They complain all day about how incompetent and evil the ones at the top are, but they would do the exact same if given the same opportunity.

No, in fact, aren’t they already doing that?

Rich people treat poor people like dirt, but don’t poor people also treat poorer people the same? Everyone wants to have some kind of handle on life, since it gives them an illusion of control. Hence, they beat down those lower than them, taking gratification in their suffering... and also because it is easier.

It is easier to be wicked than to be good.

It profits one more to be cruel than it does to be kind.

That is what truly underpins this perverted logic in this world: people being people.’

He looked at Liyah and Kaycee, and his gaze softened mildly.

He remembered his first encounter with them. Their interactions were bumpy, but even then he could tell that these people were different. But that didn’t make him any more optimistic about this world and the people therein.

’You are the exception to the general rule. Most people in the world aren’t as good as you, which is why your position is not compatible with reality.’

Then, he glanced at Arlet.

’Your point of view is too rigid, almost as if you’re saying that this messed up reality is how the world should be.’ He fumed, his eyes nearly turning bloodshot with deep passion. ’I disagree! Mortals make up the world, and these things aren’t strict rules but instead are abstract phenomena invented by us. If we made it, that means we can reject it! And I reject it!’

This was the problem he saw in the world.

Many agreed that reality was flawed, filled with injustice and evil. However, irrespective of their support or disagreement with the current state of the world, the majority of people still accepted it.

’But I do not!’

He had once lived that way, but after being free from the shackles of his past life, watching the sun set on that beach, his eyes had opened to the beauty of the world and the freedom that accompanied living life.

It felt too good!

No longer could he return to the darkness of lies or subject himself to the dominion of those who accepted the current state of the world.

’If it were up to me... I would kill the Royal Family and burn the whole system to the ground.’

Theo’s thoughts were unfiltered.

His resolve was firm.

His will, unchanging.

But—

’I have no power, so how can I dare say those words?’ He sighed, shaking his head mildly. Only those with power could affect their desires and enforce their will onto reality.

Everyone else simply had to bend.

"I don’t know..." Theo smirked and shrugged, finally addressing the question he was asked.

Despite how extensive his thoughts had been, not even a minute had actually passed in reality, so everyone was still expecting his response. Much to their surprise, he had nothing to add and simply acted nonchalant about the topic.

"My sole focus is on the mission we’ve been given, and I don’t particularly care for politics."