He smiled bleakly: “If I were in your position, I wouldn’t save someone who had harmed me and is selfish, crazy, and might repeat their mistakes. It would be a waste of effort.”
Naily knew Kalsas was questioning more than just the momentary decision. He was seeking the reason why she wouldn’t abandon either him or the world. They both knew the reason, but he wanted her to say it out loud. He was that cunning and self-centered.
Her throat was locked, unable to say a word; her facial muscles were tightly stretched, unable to even manage a forced smile. She suspected that if she used just a bit more strength, useless tears would flow.
Kalsas softened his voice, each word seducing her, trying to pry the answer he wanted from her mouth. He repeated gently and tenderly: “Please tell me, why did you save me?”
Naily stiffly squeezed out an answer: “If it were another person in the same situation, I would also choose to save them, not abandon them.”
“In other words,” Kalsas laughed softly, “you don’t want any sacrifices to exist. But the ideal you insist on is twisted and dangerous, only dragging you down to drown together. Is that okay?” He looked up at her, clearly relaxed: “Or perhaps, you’re just afraid of making a choice. You know it’s impossible to save everyone, so you simply refuse to choose.”
He lowered his voice: “But that way, no one will be saved.”
Naily turned her back, clenching her fist, saying in a deep voice: “Call me a naive and foolish idealist if you want. I’ve had enough of such cycles and endings. No one is born to be nailed to a pillar of shame. Destiny… is just a lie to deceive oneself!”
She was rarely this passionate and tough. Kalsas found no words to respond, silent for a moment.
When she thought he would remain quiet, he suddenly spoke again: “But why can’t you tolerate the existence of sacrifices?”
Naily did not answer. He let out a laugh without any humor: “This idea is abnormal. Survival and death, redemption and sacrifice, light and shadow, these are commonplace. Moreover, this is such an incurable world, you should be clear about that.”
