Aegon could actually understand why Xiu skipped over the coincidence part. Their family hated demons to the core, especially the current generation, so the enemies used that hatred to distract her.

They knew she would destroy the demon camp at any cost because she hated them too much. And their assumption proved right, as even when Xiu realized it was just a distraction, she was still hell-bent on destroying that camp.

"Just be careful and use your brain, Xiu."

[Are you lecturing me?]

"Yes!"

[Since it's my baby who's lecturing me, I'll bow my head and listen.]

Aegon rolled his eyes and said, "Anyway, I called you for something else. Someone is going through some mental gymnastics, so can you help her out?"

[Are you sure you're asking the right person? Because my solution to mental gymnastics is fists. Heck, Dad usually has to solve my problems for me.]

"But this is something only you can handle."

[If you say so, I'll try my best. Who needs help?]

Aegon turned toward Cali, who just glared at him in return, so he decided to ask himself, "Xiu, did you face rejection when you chose to be a Knight?"

[If you mean people giving me their dirty looks, then yes. I flipped a middle finger at them, though, so I got punishment.]

"Punishment?"

[I was in the barracks, Little Sun. You think those nosy superiors could handle that?]

"I'm having a hard time believing you actually took their punishment silently."

[Of course not! Why would I? I burnt their pants so the next day their asses were on full display for the whole army. Bro had to do a lot to save me from that one.]

Aegon couldn't help but chuckle. Even Cali forgot her embarrassment and shared muffled laughs with him.

[Seriously though, people were always against me choosing the Body Pathway, as if I was committing some grave mistake. Many of them even believed it was just a child's delusion and that I'd eventually come around and become a Mage.]

Aegon nodded, even though she couldn't see it. Arnold had told him how nobody ever liked Xiu because they thought she was too wild.

[I got kicked out of the army, which I certainly don't mind, but even after that, I got the same looks everywhere. Now things are a bit better, but back then, a woman choosing to become a Knight was seen as her going rogue. So yeah, I get what you mean by being rejected by everyone.]

Cali was listening attentively by now, her breathing slightly uneven as she absorbed every word. She hesitated for a while before asking, "Then, how did you solve it?"

[Oh? It's you who's in this problem, my dear niece? Aiyo! Silly child, I didn't solve it at all. Why should I? Who are they to decide my life?]

Cali lowered her head.

[Cali, remember one thing. Very few people get to do whatever they want in this world and I was among that few. Sure, I got rejected by everyone, but what did it matter? They were strangers; they held no value in my life. In fact, the more they hated me, the more it motivated me to slap their faces harder. Guess what? Now those same people beg for my help.]

She took a deep breath, then lowered her voice, still carrying that commanding, fearsome aura.

[People are weak, mundane, ordinary, so they bundle together in a group of weaklings. They cling tightly to one another, and whenever someone tries to escape their group, they get scared. They fear their own truth, so they do everything they can to drag others back into their group. They'll grab your legs, your arms, even your thoughts—everything—to chain you down to their little, weak, stagnant circle, because they don't want to face their own fears.]

Cali shivered hearing that, her hand trembling slightly. She bit her lip and asked in a shaky voice, "Then... how did you get out of their group?"

[I forced my way out. They still tried to chain me down, but ahead of me, outside of their pathetic little group, were a few people who smiled warmly at me. Their eyes showed support and understanding, so I reached out to them, and they helped me get out of that shithole. Those people still tried to pull me back, but I trusted the ones who trusted me. I didn't look back, because the only way forward was in front of me, where those people waited for me.]

Cali clenched her fists, though Aegon could see they were still trembling, as if she was afraid of something. Soon, he got the answer as she asked quietly, her voice cracking.

"B-But... what if your selfish desires to get out made the people supporting you suffer? What if that weak group attacked those people, trying to drag them down too?"

A tear slid down her cheek as she choked out her words.

"They are so bright while we are the odd ones out. What if we rub our filth on them? They support you, but all you do is dirty them."

[Silly child, have you even asked their opinion? Do they care about your filth?]

Cali's body stiffened as she buried her head in her knees, making herself small and fragile. But Xiu's voice softened, filled with warmth and strength as she continued to speak.

[They already know about our oddness and still choose to support us. Why? Ask them if they care about being dirty in the first place. I did ask and all I got in return was a warm smile that told me that even if I'm the dirtiest person in this world, their arms would still welcome me. That's when I knew I just had to reach those arms, no matter what anyone else said.]

Cali had stopped talking by then. Her body seemed so small, frail, and weak, even though she was a Rank 5 Knight.

[Don't assume things, child. Life is so short, so why waste your time overthinking? Just ask those people if they can handle your oddness, if they're willing to get dirty for you. If they are, then what are you so worried about?]

Then, Xiu's attention shifted toward Aegon.

[What happened?]

"I don't know, but I have a guess," Aegon said, glancing at the curled-up Cali. "Don't worry. You helped enough. I can handle things from here."

[Oh, alright. Also, just tell that silly child that the world isn't ending just because some random people don't care about her. I'm here, aren't I? Didn't she idolize me? If her idol is standing alongside her, then what's the problem? Fuck everyone else and no, I don't care about language right now.]

Aegon smiled faintly, hearing her voice fade out with that familiar fiery tone. It was loud, brash, and unapologetically hers, exactly what Cali needed to hear.

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