There are those who say that Evil is merely the absence of Good. In the way that Shadow is merely the absence of Light. I find this ideal incredibly presumptuous. To claim that moral evil arises from the misuse of free will is to absolve yourself of accountability. After all, isn't it truly Evil to decline to exercise your will when the moment of choice arrives?-Memoirs of Silas Norgard, volume I"Aren't you giddy," Lord Domas said. His wife sat at his side in the open-topped carriage, practically vibrating in her seat like a school girl. Their retinue marched around them, raising a thin cloud of dust as they made their way back home."Sorry," Sakra blushed. "I'm just excited.""I didn't think you liked desk work that much, but I suppose it grew on you in my absence.""Hardly," Sakra snorted, her expression laughing. "If I have to spend another minute behind that desk, I might just pull my tail out. No, I'm excited to show you the children. Silas in particular.""Well, I look forward to meeting him.""You'll love him," Sakra promised."Ehh," Domas shrugged, smiling internally as Sakra shot him a hurt look. "He doesn't sound like much of a conversationalist. You know how much I enjoy my riveting debates.""Domas, he's less than a year old.""Am I wrong?" Domas finally let his smirk spill through, earning a huff from Sakra."You'll see," she declared haughtily. "I'm sure in a few years he will be more than capable of entertaining you and your little boy's club."The conversation lulled into a comfortable companionship as their caravan train entered Chikarun. The small city shadowed by the imposing curtain walls of Castle Norgard was a quaint, bright place. Spring had enticed the inhabitants to fill their windowsills with flowers that filled the streets with the scent of rebirth. It was a fitting rebellion against winter given that the frozen peak of Mount Raith was (...)