The ominous silence and gloom didn't last for long. You'd expect Talen to be the one to ruin such an atmosphere, but surprisingly, it was actually Isabella.
"Nearly everything pertaining to us Chosens is a mystery. When the question is asked, 'How did you get your powers?' of course you could just simply say, 'Might sound weird, but I got it from a random post I saw on the Net.' But that answer only scratches the surface of the true question. How? How does any of this make sense? Now, that is a question we don't have an answer for. None of this should make any sense, but we are living proof of that irrationality." Isabella spoke softly in the silence, grabbing everyone's attention instantly.
It wasn't much of a surprise that they listened attentively. Nearly everyone in the room could relate to what she was saying.
"But who cares about the question when the world is being burnt down by those meant to be asking these questions? Who cares about a mystery when an entire country is being burnt down? Parents are wailing, lovers are being torn apart from each other either in the literal or figurative sense, children are being orphaned." The room grew colder. "And I still have a question. I have many questions, but one supersedes the rest in significance."
"Why?" That one word resounded through the entire room. The softness of Isabella's tone didn't prevent the weight of her words from being felt. "Why give humans such 'madness'? Long ago, the world belonged to Mother Nature, and we humans were able to forge the greatest 'anti-nature' inventions from nothing. From nothing we began, and eventually, we ruled over Mother Nature, warping and shaping her as we saw fit. From not even being able to break a simple boulder, we now have the power to erase all life from this planet… and this isn't the doing of Chosens I speak of. People in their mundanity were able to craft world-ending weapons and said it was for 'defense.'"
"Something saw all that and decided it was a brilliant idea to give us these powers." Isabella chuckled, her way of expressing how illogical it all was.
"What more can I say? It's always been human nature to be violent and seek chaos. Knowing all this, knowing with thorough clarity that people, despite claiming to be the intelligent species, are unfortunately the living embodiment of 'idiocy' and 'irrationality,' only a few among the masses can really be considered the positive side of humanity; those who truly embody the term 'intelligent species.' Knowing all of this… 'something' still chose to give us these otherworldly powers."
"What did 'it' expect? That people would suddenly know unity and peace after giving them the very thing that breaks the binds of peace? That we'd become heroes? To be fair, in order to become heroes, we need villains—something to fight against. The normal person can't pose a threat; only a fellow Chosen could. No matter how much you look at the intention of whatever gave us our powers, there's nothing good about it."
"Every one of us in here has witnessed, either personally or as an observer, the twisted nature of people." The air continued to grow more frigid with each word she uttered. By now, Ashran and James were shivering. "Not saying that people shouldn't be free to do as they please, but we Chosens are the embodiment of that freedom, and look what we've done."
Everyone remained silent. Isabella had never spoken so many words in such a short time before, and definitely not this deeply. Everything she said somehow resonated with everyone, pulling each person in the room into their own separate world as their minds digested everything they had heard.
"So yes, we are a band of misfits trying to bring back the Old Order. The Old Order, no matter how flawed it was, still managed to give people peace for sixty years – the longest humans have gone without waging war on each other. In simpler terms, we are fools dressed up as heroes… that's easier to understand, right?" Isabella finished.
Jane began tapping her long nails on the table in a rhythmic manner. She seemed to be deep in thought.
"Thank you, Isabella, for helping me explain. Since you now have a faint understanding of our cause," Jane's gaze turned toward where Andrew, Talen, and Warwick sat, "you don't really have much of a choice here. I apologize if I sound impudent, but I'm merely stating things as they are. It's either you're trying to restore order or trying to bring about its end."
"So the choice is either we join you guys or…?" No one knew why Warwick was smiling when he spoke. His usual bright expression, which contrasted with the sharpness of his eyes, was already odd… but this time, it was downright uncanny.
"Really?" was Talen's reply to Jane. He placed a hand on Warwick's shoulder, signaling for him to let him speak. "Is there really no other choice? Only these two? What if we choose to remain neutral though? We aren't harming anyone, and we aren't helping anyone either. I think that's an option too."
"Nope. That's not a separate option. The act of remaining by the sidelines as just an observer is still labeled as trying to bring about the end of order. It's either you're restoring order or you're against it. No other options exist. Just watching while this madness swallows up the world is no different from having a hand in helping to bring about its end. Only by actively fighting against it can you claim another stance." Adam broke down Talen's contradiction immediately, giving no room for him to bring up another point.
"You have to try and understand us, Talen… and you too, Warwick. The world is experiencing all these disasters because of people like us. But I'm not saying that just because people like us are the cause of so much torment, we're obligated to be the saviors of normal people. What I am saying is that anyone who isn't trying to be a savior is a risk factor; a potential threat. Neutrality doesn't exist in this matter." Jane ignored the narrowing of both Talen's and Warwick's eyes. She knew they were getting more offended with each word, yet she continued without hesitation.
"Practically every Chosen has the ability to lay waste to an entire city by themselves. I'm not saying that you'd do such a thing, but I'm also not saying you wouldn't."
"Now, do you finally understand the predicament between us? Trust, or more specifically, the lack of it." Her tapping softened. "Neutrality is an unstable position, and at any moment, it could tilt toward the side we don't want it tilting. As such, there are only two sides in this madness. Join us, or be pacified."
Jane finished. Her eyes remained calm and calculating, a metaphorical veil of mystery hiding the intentions churning within her.
"Is that a threat?" Warwick asked with a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Do you want to remain neutral while knowing that innocent civilians are dying, Mr. Warwick?" Jane replied, her tone sharp yet composed.
"And why should I care? I believe you know what happened to my loved ones, right?" Warwick threw a look at Isabella, who returned it with an expressionless face. "Of course you already know. So, knowing the negative feelings people have sowed in me, you still expect me to… be their savior? Savior from what?! They're already saved. They should be thankful I'm not doing anything after all the shits they've done to me. I owe them nothing. So, I ask once again, are you threatening me, Miss Jane?"
"Does the action of a small group define the nature of the entire world, Mr. Warwick? If so, were your loved ones not a small group whose actions should also define the world for you? I know you are—" Jane was cut off by a violent bang.
"Do not dare make any comparison between my loved ones and those repugnant 'things'." A fist-sized hole appeared on the table.
Stunned by the sudden outburst, Talen, who was the closest to him, nearly activated his ability had it not been for the timely call out of Isabella. "Hold that thought, Talen!"
Talen was able to stop himself. He might have made a greater mistake just now if Isabella hadn't stopped him. He had forgotten Andrew was still in here with them. The use of Nullification would be the worst possible scenario he'd want to see. The things he witnessed at Fragr…
"Do not lose your head, Mr. Warwick. I'm not comparing them to those 'people'. I'm making a simple analogy of how you've generalized the action of a single group for the entire humanity but you've refused to do the same when your loved ones have been brought into the picture." Jane remained calm and collected, as if she was oblivious to everything that was happening. "I know your pain. I can empathize. I know you don't want anything to do with being a savior after what happened to you, and that's exactly what I'm afraid of. Among everyone here, I'd say you have the best reason to be against our cause. Logically, you are the greatest risk factor."
"So, I can't choose neutrality?" Warwick finally calmed down as he slumped back in his seat, staring at Jane.
"Would they have wanted you to choose neutrality, Mr. Warwick? Once again, I'm sorry for your loss. I know how much you must have dreamt about giving them a better life and when you finally have the chance…" Jane fell silent. Tears. Tears were trailing down Warwick's face.
Sometimes I keep forgetting that literally everyone here is under twenty. No matter how much we've begun to act matured, deep inside, we are still kids still new to this thing called "Adulthood". I'm exhausted. Jane sighed.
"And out there, out there in the world, many dreamt like you did. Many only wanted a better life. That's all they've fought, sacrificed, and pushed themselves for. Out there, somewhere, there are people hanging on to a sliver of hope that everything will be alright soon. Do not let the action of a few monstrosities paint the image of the entire world for you, Mr. Warwick."
"Once again, I'm sorry for your loss." Everyone remained silent. Only the quiet sniffles of Warwick could be heard. Talen, Isabella, and Andrew, who had seen this young man in action, never thought they'd see this side of him. A joyful and bright facade to hide the gloomy storm within.
*****
"For a finite crime, there can indeed be an infinite punishment. The finite holds the true essence; infinity is too tethered to meaninglessness. But who am I to make such daring claims? I'm merely a simple judge."
—Guinverre, Apostle Of Judgement