I desperately tried (Patreon)

to think of what to say. Why did it have to be on a subject that was so heavy?? I should have paid more attention in Temple School! Then again, it had been so long since I had even set foot in a proper Mephitist temple, all of the teachings were blending together with the folklore Dame Chitterleigh had taught me. Was there any spiritual insight to be gleaned from the adventures of the elves of old?

“Well, uh," I stalled, "that’s a complicated question with a complicated answer. Let me see if I have something to help explain it… According to the legendry of the river tribes dwelling along the Athafon, ever since the first elves descended from the stars, our mortal kin have been greedy, fickle, and chaotic. They take what they want without thought to the consequences, they uh, mess up the river, and that's the cause of evil.”

"That's the same blame-shifting tactic our preachers used to use," Rebecca sighed glumly. "We mortals, with our sinning, brought evil into the world. But what brought US into the world? Why were we made with such a propensity to sin? If a wise, all-powerful being created all of this, then why was it apparently designed to fail from the start?"

This wasn't going well. That should have come as no surprise. I was a screw-up and a failure, after all. I managed to turn Rebecca onto the path of Seelieness and then I got her hometown burned down because I was just too STUPID to see what was right in front of my face. Of course Zandar, that unstable lunatic, would have gone on a killing spree! What else could have possibly happened? I had been around Burnside long enough to see the signs! She left angry, and headed straight for Bunkirk. All I had to do was steer her in ANY other direction to avoid bloodshed, but no… subconsciously I must have WANTED it to happen. I was a failure and just a horrible person, barely even deserving to call myself Seelie. Maybe Dr. Cesawonki was right after all. My own life story was the proof! I was tempted right then and there to admit to Rebecca that I didn't know, and furthermore was absolutely unqualified to make a positive impact on anyone’s life.

But then I looked at her and saw the silent pleading in her eyes. Now was not the time to give up! I had taken on the responsibility of teaching this young changeling the Elfin traditions, the ways of magick, the ways of Seelieness, and the ways of Fuma! I tried to recall the Temple-day homilies I sat through and partially listened to, all the little fragments of Holy Writ floating around in my brain ... I took a deep breath and sat down on the edge of the bed. I put my arm comfortingly around Rebecca’s shoulder. I dug deep into my heart to give her the most honest answer I could muster.

“Evil," I began, "is a complicated thing, and the reasons why someone would turn to such a path are many. Why does evil exist and why does Fuma allow there to be evil? Because we are being offered a choice. Fuma doesn't want a bunch of mindless little puppets. She wants us each to decide for ourselves. We've been given a nature that seems inclined toward the worst. To truly be good we must each make the choice to resist evil and stick by it for as long as we can. I know that’s a pat, stereotypical answer, but it still rings true. Fuma’s ways are mysterious. Her perspective is not our perspective. We can look around and see everything that is wrong and evil in the world and wonder why this is allowed to carry on. Put simply, it makes for a more interesting story. Why would Fuma want to rule a world full of goody-goodies where nothing unexpected ever happens, where nobody ever faces challenges, where nobody ever learns or grows? Eternity must be terribly boring, and thus Fuma toys with us to pass the time. To earn The Lady's respect, people like you and I must choose to do her will and strive to change the world for the better. If she had made the world perfect, there would be no chance for us to do this. It may seem that terrible things happen for no reason, but every challenge we face is a learning opportunity, a chance to find out if we are heroes or villains ... or sometimes just cowards. Think of this life as a game, and when it is finished, our reward for playing well is a cozy spot in Fuma's eternal Embrace. What happened to Bunkirk is a travesty, and I may not have all the answers, but I can tell you this: Our game is not yet over. Through Fuma there is final justice in all things. Always."

Rebecca stared at me silently for a few minutes, then finally whispered, "Do you wanna do some venery? I've been surrounded by nothing but femmes for a long time."

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