The traveler looked at his old mentor. He could see why his friend would think it was a contradiction. After all, he never elaborated on that line before. Maybe it was time.

  'Both,' he answered. 'Both of them are true at the same time. There was a time when I tried to be a hero. A defender of life, savior of the people. All it got me was that I forgot about myself and sacrificed my own goals for others, getting nothing in return. It hurt me in ways I can hardly describe; some of those scars are with me to this day. What I found is that no matter how good you are to others, no matter how much good you put out there, you will not get the same in return. You only get what you earn in this dark world. So, why would I waste my energy, time, and resources trying to help everyone when I get nothing but pain and suffering in return?'

  'And yet,' replied the swift fighter. 'You rushed to the aid of those two poor people today. Like I said, your words and actions are in contradiction with each other.'

  'Because I did not finish yet.' He looked to both of his mentors. 'Tell me, what do you think would have happened, should those cries have come from further away, or from the opposite way, of where we wanted to go?'

  His two companions shared a look between themselves. Before they could answer, the man replied.

  'I would have stayed on our course and would not have gotten involved. For it would not have been my problem.'

  Scyhian looked shocked at those words.

  'So you only helped those people because it was convenient for you?!' he asked with temper in his voice.

  'Well, essentially yes. Although it does sound cruel, I admit that.'

  The old mentor could not believe what he was hearing. His student would have abandoned two people in need? Even after knowing what fate would have awaited them, should they not have been there?

  'Sounds cruel? That's because it is! How could you turn your back on people, pleading for help? With your abilities and strength, you should help those in need, not reject them! You have the power and hence the responsibility to make this world better!'

  'Says who?' Replied the swordsman. 'I have the strength because I earned it; I have the power because I learned it. I am just a man with goals I wish to achieve. Why should I sacrifice them for others? And who is the one who decides what my responsibilities are? Me! I'm the only one who can decide what to do with my life, and no one else has that power over me!' He took a deep breath. He wanted to keep the argument civil.

  'Besides,' he continued. ' It's not like I am not helping anyone. You said it yourself; I did run into danger to help others today and other days. Because I do want to help people.'

  'Yes, but you could be doing more!' Argued his old mentor, with a restrained voice. 'You could be that hero you imagined long ago. Yes, I am aware how hard it is, and I know that this world is not perfect, but still, you could make it better. In the long run, what you put out in the world around you is what you get back. So if you put out enough good, you're eventually going to get it back, multiple times.'

  The man let out a chuckle, such an optimistic sentiment. He wanted to believe in it; he truly did. However...

  'Scythian, you have a great deal of knowledge, which you got over the years, right?' His talking partner nodded. 'That must include history. So tell me, how many tyrants do you know who never faced any retributions for their crimes? How many corrupt town leaders, shopkeepers, or petty bandit chiefs are out there who ruin dozens or hundreds of lives day by day and never get caught? Sure, they might go down in the history books as the bad guy, but I doubt that will stop them from committing these heinous acts. Event that is just a possibility, for so many of them will have tales written about them, telling how great they were, justifying their actions. I do not believe in your sentiment. I believe it is incredibly prideful to think that we have such a big impact on the world that it will react to our actions just because we act a certain way. I believe that the world is a big, convoluted mess of a web, weaved by our choices and their consequences. Which affects others outside us, but it's not because of the universe or fate. It's just because people live in relation to one another.'

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Wolf, who had remained silent so far, listened to the conversation now interrupted.

  'Hah! You deny fate or karma, yet out of the three of us, you are the only one who—allegedly—talked to a goddess of all things! I don't think you have a leg to stand on now!'

  'I did speak with Athena, yes,' replied the man to his veteran mentor. 'But accepting that these deities exist does not mean that fate does. Besides, was it not you, Wolf, who said that in the grand scheme of things we are insignificant?' The traveler thought for a moment before continuing. 'Look, this whole thing about destiny is a whole other conversation. The point, in my opinion, is this: just because I have something that most others don't, I am not obliged to sacrifice it for the greater good. I am no hero, not a server of a community, nor a king. I'm just a man with a goal in my mind. You can like it or not, but that's just how I see it. The world is cruel, for the most part, and if you can't handle it, or if you ignore it, it will crush you. So, many times you have to close your heart to get through it. That is what I learned in my past, and that is how I can survive.'

  'Survive,' repeated the old scholar. 'Not live. I see your point, lad. I do. Still, I can't help but wonder what your world could be if you held all others with a bit more empathy. I can't help but feel like you lead yourself astray. Have you ever wondered if there's a world where you don't have to live this way?'

  The man looked away. Of course I have, he thought. Ever since he was little, he wanted to be the hero. A savior, someone who others could look up to. To be special. But he was not little anymore; he had learned that he could never be that person and that the only one who he would ever be special to is himself and a handful of other people around him. He knew now that this path was the one to follow. Even if it is hard and jarring sometimes.

  'If that world exists,' he started to reply. 'It's far away from here. It's one I'll never see, for it is far beyond my reach. Scythian, I do not live forever, so I cannot make it come true. But I know that I have to see this through*. I am not saying that I will hurt those who do not deserve it just because I can. I am not saying that I will be a jerk to others, or that if I can and I do have the resources, time, and energy, I will ignore those in need. Because I do want to help, there is still that little voice inside me that says that I could be the savior. However, I choose to ignore it. For it would not take me to the place I want to go. So, in short, I will not show mercy to the ones that do not deserve it, and I will not sacrifice myself to help everyone. But I will help out, every now and then, when I can.'

  The old spearman now understood his pupils reasons. He understood why he felt the way he did. He knew that he could not change his mind, nor should he. For the swordsman was right; this path was one he had to see through in order to have a better understanding of himself and the world. Still, he saw the struggle in the travelers eyes.

  'Very well,' the dancer-like fighter admitted. ' I see that your mind is set; there is no reason to try to force a change on it. If you allow me, I would like to give you two pieces of advice, however.'

  The wanderer smiled.

  'And what would those be, old friend?'

  'One: do not forget that empathy is not a weakness. I understand why you see the world as dark as you do now, but never forget all the good things that are in it too. Being kind and showing care for others is not a sign of being soft or being gullible. It is in fact the greatest strength one can show in this world. So I would encourage it any time you feel comfortable with it.'

  'Tch, of course you would, you teddy bear,' muttered Wolf beside him. The spearman ignored him.

  'Second, and more importantly, remember that you are a better man than you think you are, lad. Even when you feel like you are not.'

  The man was surprised by the latter advice. He did sometimes wonder if he was too cruel in his ways or not. If he was better than those he so despised, or he was the same as those brigands. No, that could not be true. He used violence as a last resort and to protect himself and others, not to hurt them and rob them. He was ruthless not for the sake of it, but as a means to an end. It was not the same. He knew that now. With a stuttering voice, he spoke.

  'I.... I will try to remember them. Thank you, Scythian.'

  The advisor smiled.

  'Do not worry, I will be here to remind you, even if it takes my fist to do so,' he said jokingly. 'Now then, what do you all say we continue our meal? After all, the night is still young.'

  This conversation is taken inspiration from the beatifull song of I can't help but wonder from the Ithaca saga. I highly recommend everyone to listen to it! You can find the song in all major music platforms!

  https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=FBfT0E6oF6I&si=xyRz8Okq929PGgpc