On Elara's way out of the Emerald Oasis, Ciel, who observed the argument between her and the short man from around the corner, came face-to-face with the gem sprite as she headed her way with no way to run. Elara hadn't intended for anyone to overhear their heated exchange, especially not Ciel of all people, who had been standing in the hallway peeking around the corner the entire time. The realization only heightened Elara's already present frustrations, adding another layer of complication to her predicament.

  "Oh... oh no," Ciel muttered under her breath, her cheeks reddening from being caught.

  Elara held up her hands, shaking her head as she said: "Hey, hey, it's all right."

  "I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, I swear!" Ciel hastily clarified, wanting to diffuse the embarrassment the moment presented.

  Elara sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I believe you, it's just...this is quite embarrassing. I didn't mean to let my emotions get the better of me like that. And for you to witness it..." she trailed off, her cheeks still flushed.

  Ciel offered a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry about it. Everyone has their moments, especially when emotions run high."

  Elara chuckled dryly, an attempt to lighten the mood. "I suppose you're right. I let that guy get under my skin, and things escalated quickly. He had a way of pushing all my buttons, it seems.”

  Ciel nodded understandingly as she ran a hand through her loose hair, her expression sympathetic. "Yeah, I can tell. It seemed like a pretty intense argument."

  Elara shrugged, sighing in frustration. "Understandable. Sure you heard that guy I just got done arguing with, he was a total nutjob, wasn't he?”

  Ciel nodded, her expression hardening. "I did hear some of your conversation with him. His views were bigoted, to say the least. Just another ignorant jackass spewing nonsense, thinking his views are justified. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. However... I don't think you should make killing people you disagree with a habit.”

  Elara nodded, her expression turning serious as she considered the taller woman's words. "Yeah, I get where you're coming from. But he's too far gone, thinking women only exist to serve men and be eye candy. I refused to let him breathe the same air I do."

  Ciel let out another exasperated sigh, leaning against the wall. "I can understand your frustration, truly. But please, just as I've got done telling Oswald, violence only leads to more violence from the opposition. I just wish people could understand that and choose diplomacy and understanding instead." She shook her head, her frustration seeping through. "But it seems like some people are just too stubborn or hateful to even try.”

  Elara couldn't help but feel a pang of agreement at Ciel's words, her own frustrations boiling over. "Yeah, you're right. Oswald is…a wild one. But I think most people are beyond redemption, like the guy I killed. How can we advance as a society with people like him spreading their rubbish?"

  Ciel shot her a stern look, clearly disapproving of her stance. "Elara, I hope you don't truly believe that most people are beyond redemption. That's a dangerous line of thinking. If we start considering people as irredeemable, we risk becoming the very thing we're fighting against. The world is already filled with enough hatred; we should work to alleviate it, not add to the problem."

  Elara sighed, feeling the weight of Ciel's reproof. She knew the woman had a point, yet a part of her still seethed at the recent encounter. "Yeah, I know you're right, but the way I see it, it seems like the world needs Black Mensa to happen for them to finally wake up."

  Ciel's heart ran cold at the thought of that dark moment in human history. The maximum security concentration camps exclusively for humans, built high in the air, held up by legs in the style of a table. Each camp armed to the teeth with laser traps for any escapees. The totalitarian government, the kill-on-sight mandate for any humans seen in the open. That was a time in history she never wants to come alive again, one of many. Ciel shook her head vehemently, feeling a cold shiver run down her spine at the thought of Black Mensa.

  "Don't even joke about that,” she chastised, staring daggers into the gem sprite. “Black Mensa was one of the most horrific events in human history. Countless millions of innocent people were imprisoned, tortured, and executed in those camps. Humanity almost went EXTINCT under that regime! It's not something to take lightly. We must strive for a better world, where diversity and unity are embraced, not a return to that dark period of the past.”

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Elara's frown deepened as she realized the weight of her words. "You're right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make light of something so tragic. I'm just... frustrated with how things are, and it got the better of me for a moment."

  Ciel softened her gaze, seeing the remorse in Elara's eyes. "I understand that frustration, believe me. It's easy to get caught up in anger and hopelessness. But we can't let our anger consume us. We have to remain hopeful for a better future.”

  Elara took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Yeah, you're right. I know you're right. It's just...hard, you know? I see so much hate and division every day, and it wears on my soul. I sometimes feel like we're fighting a losing battle."

  Ciel put a hand on Elara's shoulder, offering a comforting gesture. "I know how it feels. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the darkness around us. But we can't give up hope. We have to keep fighting for a better world. We have to keep believing that change is possible.”

  "But don't you see?" Elara persisted, her frustration seeping back into her tone. "The world keeps repeating itself, never learning from its mistakes. People keep falling into old prejudices, and we're back at square one. You're too much of an idealist. Sometimes extreme measures are necessary to make people wake up and see the truth."

  Ciel sighed, her voice firm but tinged with sadness. "You know, Elara, that line of thinking is a slippery slope. When we start condoning extreme measures, we run the risk of becoming the very monsters we're fighting against, and give them further justification for hating progressives like us.”

  Elara couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ciel's unwavering idealism, but deep down, a part of her knew the woman was right. "Ugh, you're like an annoyingly sweet, bleeding heart, you know that? Always seeing the best in people, no matter what. It's admirable, but also damn na?ve.”

  Ciel chuckled softly, her annoyance with Elara's stubbornness melting away into a sort of exasperated affection. "Call it naivety if you like, but I prefer to see it as optimism. I believe in deradicalization and have helped many bigots come to see their wrongs and change for the better. Seeing my efforts work keeps my hope for humanity alive.”

  Elara rolled her eyes yet again, her skepticism palpable. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're the optimist who thinks every racist and sexist guy can be rehabilitated. But let's be real, how many of those 'success stories' do you actually have? You can't change everyone.”

  Ciel smiled wryly, acknowledging Elara's point but still maintaining her hopeful outlook. "I may not have changed every bigot I've encountered, but even if it's a handful of people, it's a victory. Each person who sees the error of their ways is a step forward. It's a lot better than resorting to violence or hatred, don't you think?”

  Elara sighed, torn between her skepticism and her grudging respect for Ciel's optimism. "Fine, you win. Your way might be slower and filled with way more bullshit, but it's the ethical path. I just can't shake off the feeling that extreme measures are needed if we truly want to make a difference. That said, I'm on a mission, you see, and that guy I argued with wasted some of my time, and I must catch my target before they discover my tracking method. She has the blood of my people on her.”

  Ciel listened with a mix of concern and curiosity, sensing the intensity in Elara's voice. "I understand your impatience for results, but let me ask you something, Elara," she began, her tone gentle yet firm. "This mission of yours...what is it exactly, if you don't mind me asking? And why do you believe this target has the blood of your people on her hands? It seems like a serious accusation.”

  Elara took a deep breath, weighing her response. She knew that sharing her mission openly was risky, but there was something about Ciel that made her feel compelled to answer. Her eyes met Ciel's with a hint of hesitation, as if debating whether to continue. "It's a personal mission," she finally admitted, her voice tinged with a mixture of resolve and trepidation. "One that I've dedicated my life to. The person I'm hunting, I saw traces of remains of gem sprite blood when I assessed her aura. She is therefore responsible for the suffering and loss of many members of my tribe, so I'm hunting her down and capturing her to get some answers."

  Ciel remained silent for a moment, processing Elara's words. There was empathy mixed with a hint of concern in her eyes as she spoke, "I must admit, that sounds like quite the mission you're on. I can understand your need for answers, but be careful, Elara. Revenge can become an all-consuming fire."

  Elara chuckled softly, a hint of bitterness lacing her words. "You sound like you speak from personal experience.”

  Ciel sighed, a melancholy smile appearing on her face. "More than you'll ever know," she conceded, her eyes briefly clouded with some unspoken pain. "But that's a story for another time. What I meant to say is, I know the seductive pull of vengeance. Just be careful not to lose yourself in it. It's a slippery slope.”

  Elara's eyes flickered with curiosity, catching the hint of a hidden past in Ciel's words. She knew better than to pry, but her interest was piqued. Still, she pushed the thought aside for now, focusing on the matter at hand. "I appreciate your concern, but don't worry about me," she reassured her. "I've been doing this for a while. I know when to walk the line without crossing it. I just need a way to get to that person's location quickly.”

  Ciel nodded, her concern giving way to a thoughtful expression. She mulled over Elara's predicament, her mind sifting through possibilities. "I see...well, there is one person I know who can help you," she said, her voice tinged with caution.

  Elara's eyebrows shot up in surprise, her skepticism still present but curiosity piqued. "Really? Who…?"