After settling the business with the slave market, Ellena brought Thalia to the carriage shop.
When the staff that assisted her earlier saw her bring a slave, he was reluctant and became overwrought, as he might have remembered how Ellena acted earlier.
The staff left for a moment, then when he came back, he led them to the open area of the shop where the carriage that Ellena bought was waiting for them.
The carriage wasn't a special-looking one. No suspension... As if there was one in the current era. Nevertheless, it looks decent.
It was wide enough to fit 6 people, but the carriage was more of a style of a coach where the seats were horizontally aligned rather than vertical, which the doors were at the side.
Finally, two horses were attached to the carriage and it was ready to leave.
"Are we ready to leave, B-Big Sister?" Thalia reluctantly asked.
"Yes. Let's go."
After giving a green light, Thalia started driving the carriage out of the city.
When I saw the way she whipped the horse, it was beautiful. It was as if she could understand the horse that even with a slight slap, it moved according to her will.
Talking about a girl who came from a family that practices horseback riding, the skills she showcased were too flawless.
However, some bother me. It's not personal, but it's directed at Ellena. Isn't she pitying slaves anymore?
Thus, this made me ask her. It won't hurt anyway. I just wanted to know what's going on in her mind.
"Ellena, aren't you bothered or pitying her? You know, she's still a kid, but you're letting her drive the carriage."
'What are you talking about? Of course, I pity her since she experienced a rough life and that resulted in her being a slave. I can't let her feel that I pity her over her past experience. Right now, what's important is me getting to Azmar. It still doesn't remove the fact.'
I was shocked. Stunned, baffled, or whatever you call that feeling!
Ellena... is maturing? I mean, it's not a bad thing, but still... I'm surprised that she's being too thoughtful. I was expecting her to be selfish and decide to free her from pity. But that... was just outstanding.
"W-Well... it's good that you already thought of it." I just said.
'Aaron, I have a question. What do you think would happen if she hadn't experienced that life? Will she still be living in a happy family?' she suddenly asked.
"That's out of nowhere. But okay. I'll answer it. What I think is still no. Her parents were already rotten even before she discovered that she couldn't activate her rune."
'What do you mean?'
That answer of mine was a bit hard for her to understand?
"Well, you see, if they're not rotten, they won't think of it at any cost."
That's what I think... But somehow, I feel like my opinion is somewhat problematic in its context. If you say that a thief was rotten, does that mean before he was a thief he was already rotten? Well, humans suck. They had a hidden evil self inside.
But one thing that people should understand is that I coated that opinion of mine with the idea I was thinking of.
Human nature.
Whatever the difference between human personalities, there are still things that people think that a majority of the human race thinks of as well. Thus, that's why humans have 7 major sins that they innately have within themselves.
But that's something that can't be easily described with words. I think. That's just some bullshit that makes the idea understandable in human words.
In reality, it's still a mystery since emotions aren't driven by the brain or the heart. It's something in between.
'Got it. But does that make me rotten too?'
Now that makes things hard to explain.
"You are rotten. So do I. However, remember this: you are only surviving to live, not living to survive. That's two separate things, and it means you have a purpose. Only that... your personality doesn't really fit with society."
'What do you mean?'
Sighs... Why are we even talking about this?
How can I say that because of her hero-be-like personality, she challenged the gods?!
"Don't mind it. Just remember that you're just cleansing the evil with your ways. Human actions are naturally evil despite their purpose. And you're one of them. Be a hypocrite." I just said.
This is giving me some headaches. It is like I'm talking with a clueless child. Even though she's similar to it.
It's just her personality isn't matured enough to comprehend it on her own. So, having her understand it on her own is the best way rather than making it an obligatory matter to understand.
Without noticing, the sun was about to sit on its peak. It's scorching in my eyes. I can see it as Thalia was sweating earlier.
The heat of the sun was also disrupting my senses. I don't know, but it must be scientific that I can't explain with this kind of brain.
If only I could take everything from my old brain...
Despite it, hope is just ahead of us. Since they needed to take a rest for lunch, they had to rest in the forest ahead.
After some minutes, Thalia finally passed through the plains and stopped in the forest at Ellena's command.
"Take a halt. We're having lunch, Thalia." Ellena said.
Thalia nodded and softly pulled the carriage under the shade of a tree.
With this, my senses are finally stable. My eyes were just the problem, not my other senses after all. As the heat was too hot for my small eyes to endure, my vision was starting to get blurry, as if gasoline had just spilled before me.
Imagine the effect of it being the same as what I experienced. It's too bothering.
Ellena took the food out of her bag and put some of it still under the shade.
Ellena started picking some and eating, but some moments later, she stopped chewing and looked at Thalia, who was just sitting before her.
"What are you doing? Eat." Ellena said.
However, Thalia was just reluctant and nodded but didn't do anything afterward.
"Hey. What's wrong?" Ellena finally asked and put her food.
"I'm a slave. I must wait for my master to finish her food before I eat."
"Huh? Didn't I just say to eat?"
"Yes, but after you."
"That's.. never mind. Just eat with me, and that's an order.." Ellena said, her head shaking simultaneously.