"Mizuki…surely you wouldn't have just executed Alara and risked inciting hostilities with our nation?" (Elira)
I shrug, then stare evenly into Elira's incredulous gaze.
"I could have tracked Alara anywhere in the world, instantly teleported to her location while invisible, then silently dropped her out of a window to her death. If it had been last night, you would have suspected Bayron since he disappeared. If it were another night, you'd have assumed suicide. I was a polite, magicless human of no consequence, and I'm certain that no hostility would have been invoked by my actions." (Mizuki)
Elira goes pale again, and I see traces of a cold sweat on her neck. Dargo speaks up.
"So, is that what you wanted to do?" (Dargo)
His face looks solemn, but he doesn't seem afraid. It's almost like he knows the answer to his question but wants it shared. I shake my head.
"No, please don't confuse what I think is fair with what I desire. I think that her dying would have been due justice, but I didn't personally want to kill her. However, I do plenty of things that I don't want to when it's called for, like killing all those humans guarding the elven slaves. What I personally wanted was for my friend Ilina to be happy and still trust me." (Mizuki)
Dargo nods sadly in my direction, and he looks almost empathetic.
"As I suspected, you were being guided by what you felt was an ethical responsibility. Alara's crimes were at least as deserving of execution as those humans guarding the slaves. If you unilaterally chose not to execute her, it'd be like betraying your belief that everyone should be treated equally. You'd be playing favorites with people's lives if you didn't consistently apply that belief. Are those your sentiments?" (Dargo)
"Yes, more or less. I am personally satisfied with how things transpired, versus just killing Alara. Still, it was an unfair mercy stemming from my friendship with Ilina." (Mizuki)
Dargo nods to himself, seeming content that he understands me better.
"Well, I'm quite happy that my daughter has a friend that values her so much. Though, I'm struggling not to be bothered by a young man showing up in her bedroom unannounced at night." (Dargo)
Ilina's eyes go wide, and her face flushes deep red. Honestly, I just find Dargo's protective papa act a little too funny to be flustered.
"Father, would you please not make suggestive comments like that! Mizuki only came that one time, and he came through the front door with Klaus's permission. Nothing like what you're implying happened!" (Ilina)
Elira rejoins the conversation at this point, and her eyes have narrowed at Ilina.
"Ilina, sweetheart, I can't help but notice how you reacted to the implication. You say that you and Mizuki are friends, and it's obvious that's true, but is there anything more?" (Elira)
Ooooh…not here, please. This is, like, the worst time for this conversation. Apparently, Dargo and I are of the same mind, because he spearheads a subject change right after Elira speaks.
"Ehem…well, that's another discussion. Mizuki, between your unconventional personality, your power, and your uncanny grasp on magic, I'm wondering…are you actually human? You look mostly human, other than your green eyes, but the same could be said of Lady Nedonera." (Dargo)
I clamor at the opportunity to avoid Elira's questioning.
"The direct answer is…yes. I promise you, I'm human. There is an explanation for the anomalies you pointed out, but it's one of the specific topics that I'll be restricting discussion around. Not even Zara here is privy to that information. It'd be of no use to you." (Mizuki)
Zara seems only mildly curious about this missing information. Elira seems, thankfully, distracted by my shady answer. She gazes at Ilina intently, trying to gauge her response.
"Ilina, is what he says true? That it's not something that would allow other people to acquire similar power or magic skill, but is just a personal detail?" (Elira)
"Well, I think calling his background a personal detail is a little bit of an understatement. However, it's true that you wouldn't be able to replicate his power even if he told you more about himself." (Ilina)
As Elira mulls that over, Dargo asks another question.
"Mizuki, may I go ahead and ask what the specific topics you'll be refusing to discuss are?" (Dargo)
"Sure. Currently, the only other one I can think of is magic theory. I've told you that some of your theories are flawed, and I showed you some examples of how, but I will go no further. I will not, for example, be instructing elven scholars in the same way as Alto. The knowledge is too dangerous, in my opinion." (Mizuki)
Dargo's and Elira's eyes go wide in shock at this statement, but Alto is the one to speak first.
"Mizuki, are you serious!? Please explain that to me, it seems so unlike you! You love freely sharing knowledge, experimenting, and learning. Why would you deprive others of it?" (Alto)
She's looking at me like I've deceived her, and from her, that stings more than most. I nod at Alto sadly.
"You're right, Alto, and I'm sorry that I didn't think to mention that to you sooner. If you wish to depart from our party, you are welcome to do so and remain my dear friend. You may even teach others what you have learned already. However, unless we are on the same page about this, I can't teach you more than I already have. Of course, I'm open to hearing your opinion on the reasons for my decision, and maybe changing my mind, if you'd like to discuss it?" (Mizuki)
Alto looks less hurt, but still concerned. She nods for me to continue.
"Well, if this were truly about the scholarly principle to share all information freely, then I'd agree. However, I doubt that's truly the case for any of you. After the abilities that I've displayed today, what would your reaction be to me teaching everything I know equally, to all races and countries? Even demons and humans." (Mizuki)
Everyone is silent, even Alto, and it speaks volumes.