Generally in a lot of aspects, the difference between languages is rather astonishing. Jax switching from a casual conversation with me about what I could do better next time in sparring switched to something I couldn't even begin to understand. It was rather astounding, but from what I saw, it seemed like Jax got scolded or something by Little Fox.
It was for that reason I was surprised that Little Fox had picked me to be the one she sparred against, and especially why we were going so far away from the others. Jax and I had been only a few dozen paces away, but Little Fox had already led me way across the clearing and was beginning to enter the forest on the other side.
"Hey, where are you taking me?"
I asked, turning back to where the others were a small point on the horizon. Little Fox stopped and turned back to me. She seemed to think before saying in broken common.
"You like others healthy?"
I thought for a moment before I realized what she was asking and nodded.
"Yes, I want to keep the others safe, why did something happen?"
Little Fox turned and in perfect common said.
"Good, because I think that Jax may end up killing everyone and Selene will help him."
I stared at Little Fox for a moment as I tried to wrap my head around what just happened as I asked in clear astonishment.
"When did you learn how to talk so well?"
Little Fox rolled her eyes as she said.
"Not important, take a stance, we're supposed to be sparring, remember?"
Realizing she was serious I nodded, taking a stance as we both began to move, neither swinging with intent, but enough to make it look like a fight as I asked.
"What evidence do you have that Jax and Selene are planning to kill everyone else?"
Little Fox fainted and jumped back at a strike from my spear as she said, hissing slightly through steadily increasing labored breathing.
"He killed a bunch of kids, and Selene helped him cover it up on that quest we went on, I saw him do it. The Malice in his eyes alone was enough to show his intention."
Hearing that my mind flashed back to the events of that night as I was late and made a clumsy block, getting a gash across my face as the price. Little Fox turned, maybe surprised that she actually landed a hit, but I let out a sigh and lowered my spear. I thought for a moment before I turned back to her.
"Do you have siblings?"
Little Fox stopped for a moment, seemingly surprised by my reply as she seemed to tense up as if expecting me to attack her full out.
"Two of them, died years ago from old age."
I nodded as I sat down and patted the dirt beside me. Little Fox took a moment before she hesitantly made her way over and sat down, but she still seemed poised to jump in case I moved.
"What would you have done if say a wolf had killed one of your brothers just to kill them?"
I asked looking to where Jax stood talking with the others, the normal wagging of his tail not there from whatever Little Fox had said earlier.
"I would hunt them down in revenge for his death, what's your point?"
Little Fox asked seemingly impatiently.
"Those kids were from the organization that killed Jax's Brother."
Little Fox stared at me, but instead of her expression softening in any way, she snarled at me.
"You think that makes it any better!? They were children, they had families, lives, goals, dreams! They did nothing to Jax's brother, so how the hell does that give him permission to slaughter them!"
I stared for a moment, trying to formulate a response as to my surprise, a system notification appeared.
Skill fragmented Will (E) has activated and taken control of your mouth
"Then what exactly would you have done in his place? From what I know, a group of terrorists had kidnapped and were torturing someone when you all arrived. You said yourself that if your brother had been killed you would have hunted down his killers."
Little Fox turned, seemingly surprised by my sudden aggression in my attitude. I however was a bit distracted as I thought
Welcome back, how are you doing?
"I just got overstrained from seeing shit we weren't supposed to see and went into a coma for a week, WHAT DO YOU THINK!!"
Will barked, luckily giving me back control of my mouth before I yelled that out loud as I chuckled to myself.
I turned my attention back to Little Fox, knowing the next few words could change everything here as she said.
"Thats… Thats not fair, my brother wouldn't die to kids."
"Then what about the parents of the man being tortured, if he died do they not have a claim for revenge just because they are kids?"
Little Fox seemed to recoil slightly at that before she clawed at the dirt and yelled.
"So you're saying I'm not allowed to feel sorry for them!"
I sighed as I tried to imagine the situation from her perspective before I said.
"I'm saying that it's almost impossible to find something so black and white as absolutely wrong or absolutely right. Such things don't naturally appear. Everyone has reasons for why they do things, from why they pick certain foods to even why they kill. So to claim that death of someone because of something is forbidden no matter the circumstance is hypocritical."
Little Fox paced, and hissed, and clawed at the ground as if trying to come up with a response that would break my argument in an instant before finally she just slumped to the ground with small tears in the corners of her eyes.
"Why can't it be? Why does everything have to be complex and layered, why can't it be as simple as that? Why Why Why Why WHY WHY WHY!!"
Little Fox cried as around her small spectral vines slammed the ground causing chunks to fly as I gave her a sideways glance. In some ways I could agree with her question. Some days I hated the complexity, the nuances of everything, from money, to emotions, and all of it, but at the same time, it was those layers that lead to so many good things.
I patted Little Fox on the back as I stood and looked towards the others, for a moment lost in my own thoughts, when an Idea came to me.
"I can't make everything less complicated in general, but I can help you simplify things for a few days so it's easier to get used to, would that help?"
Little Fox looked up at me with a silent expression, tears falling down her face and matting her fur as she nodded. I began to make my way over to the others as I called out to Liora.
"Hey Liora, are there any teleport gates near Hopestone?"
She turned, seemingly surprised before walking over to the vehicle and grabbing the map before yelling back.
"There is one in Clayland, but it's a 6 day trip across mountains to get there one way, why?"
I smiled as I though about my small cabin on the mountain and yelled.
"What can I say, I want a bit of a taste of home, plus we can go see Misty again."