But I also... I- I mean... [She swallowed. Best to start at the beginning.] I asked if someone could help me learn to defend myself with... that is with a weapon, like you're teaching me with magic. And so many have been saying that if I do that, not only will I make myself a threat, but I have to be willing to kill people!
I-I could never... that is... I would never... a-and yet I'm just so... so terribly tired of being hurt, Miss Rei, of getting attacked. I know Dr. Otome and the Knight of Mars may come, but I can't always be sure that they will.
Does that make me a bad person? Am I- Am I really going to have to kill someone?
[Rei had naturally seen the broadcast. And it had bothered her, intensely, how many people had responded to it negatively. But she hadn't really considered the implications for what that might do to the girl.
And...now her fist squeezes into a tight fist.]
To hold a weapon is to commit to a fight. Alice-chan, you understand that, right? If you draw a weapon, even in defense of yourself, you are declaring that you are willing to fight back. That's all. Fighting does not make you a bad person. Fighting doesn't mean you have to kill anyone. It just means that you have something of value and you are willing to assert yourself to defend it against someone who wants to take it. That something could be money, morals, your life, anything.
[Her eyebrow twitches.]
But you always have a choice. You never have to take a life. and wanting to defend what's important to you doesn't make you a bad person.
[She knew that Rei had been the perfect person to speak with! She felt much better and assured. After all, Rei was a priestess, if anyone knew it would be her.]
I mean... I did understand that! I mean... I do understand that I will have to fight but that's also why I wanted to ask for help. So that I could learn to do it safely and properly. Not... I mean, not waving some sort of dagger or sword about.
I didn't know that so many would be bothered by it. I value my life, I value my friends lives. I should be allowed to protect myself and my friends no differently than anyone else.
I will never... never ever ever take a life so long as I have the choice to do it.
I... yes, I do understand that. But I don't know if I can bring myself to care about hurting things like murdering ghosts and swamp monsters who are looking for a snack. And that's all I really intend, Miss Rei. I don't want to go around starting fights or screaming "off with your head" everywhere when someone upsets me, I just want to be able to keep myself safe in the mad world.
Nnnn.... that's... I yelled some unkind things and he got mad in return. I didn't think he was listening but I didn't... realize his side of it because... er.. [Well, if she just didn't say his actual name and that was a sword it wouldn't be bad right?] Well he's... I mean he's a spirit of a sword so... I suppose he was worried I'd abandon a sword in return.
Those Tsukumonogami are all extremely touchy. You just have to remember that they're not human. And they don't think like we do. But they'll get over it. Don't you worry.
Have you met a good deal of them? They seem, well, strange. But I suppose I must be strange to them.
Should I apologize, Miss Rei? I don't actually... I mean, I feel bad for saying he was just a sword but I don't feel bad about insisting it's wrong to pick up a weapon and that I must kill.
Just one or two. But I'm familiar with beings like them, their nature.
[Considering they're one of the most common spiritual beings in Japan, she learned quite a lot about them through her grandpapa.]
And no, I don't think you should. You were defending what you felt was right. He is a sword, though the just may have been uncalled for. However, he's a century old at least. He should understand how a little girl feels better, and show some empathy.
You're so knowledgeable, Miss Rei! I knew you were the person to come speak to. [She smiled bright, quite pleased with her decision and knowing her father would be quite proud too.]
I don't think he understands little girls at all. I seem to always throw him off of sorts.
[She blushes furiously but smiles wide. She then claps her hand.]
Ah Miss Rei... I was wondering, well, that is, you've been here for quite some time. Someone brought this up and... I don't know what to think of it, but maybe you might know.
That seems like a very thin difference. [Still, if Rei says it, it must be true. She sighed and leaned back.] I hope... I just want things to make sense for once. I've gone from mad people to a mad world.
I have you and others, that's true. But... [She's scared she'll be alone when it's time for things to get dangerous again.] I-I would rather be home. [She whispered.]
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But I also... I- I mean... [She swallowed. Best to start at the beginning.] I asked if someone could help me learn to defend myself with... that is with a weapon, like you're teaching me with magic. And so many have been saying that if I do that, not only will I make myself a threat, but I have to be willing to kill people!
I-I could never... that is... I would never... a-and yet I'm just so... so terribly tired of being hurt, Miss Rei, of getting attacked. I know Dr. Otome and the Knight of Mars may come, but I can't always be sure that they will.
Does that make me a bad person? Am I- Am I really going to have to kill someone?
[Video]
And...now her fist squeezes into a tight fist.]
To hold a weapon is to commit to a fight. Alice-chan, you understand that, right? If you draw a weapon, even in defense of yourself, you are declaring that you are willing to fight back. That's all. Fighting does not make you a bad person. Fighting doesn't mean you have to kill anyone. It just means that you have something of value and you are willing to assert yourself to defend it against someone who wants to take it. That something could be money, morals, your life, anything.
[Her eyebrow twitches.]
But you always have a choice. You never have to take a life. and wanting to defend what's important to you doesn't make you a bad person.
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I mean... I did understand that! I mean... I do understand that I will have to fight but that's also why I wanted to ask for help. So that I could learn to do it safely and properly. Not... I mean, not waving some sort of dagger or sword about.
I didn't know that so many would be bothered by it. I value my life, I value my friends lives. I should be allowed to protect myself and my friends no differently than anyone else.
I will never... never ever ever take a life so long as I have the choice to do it.
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[That's important too.]
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Should I apologize, Miss Rei? I don't actually... I mean, I feel bad for saying he was just a sword but I don't feel bad about insisting it's wrong to pick up a weapon and that I must kill.
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[Considering they're one of the most common spiritual beings in Japan, she learned quite a lot about them through her grandpapa.]
And no, I don't think you should. You were defending what you felt was right. He is a sword, though the just may have been uncalled for. However, he's a century old at least. He should understand how a little girl feels better, and show some empathy.
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I don't think he understands little girls at all. I seem to always throw him off of sorts.
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[She does like you and she's very, very protective of little girl's happiness.]
And he probably doesn't. Men don't understand girls well at all. But you're a bright, clever little thing, and that's all he needs to know.
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Ah Miss Rei... I was wondering, well, that is, you've been here for quite some time. Someone brought this up and... I don't know what to think of it, but maybe you might know.
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And..you know, it's not so bad here. At least we're not alone.
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