A Helping Hand

It had been many years since the demons and the Sky-Sea people were defeated. In those years humanity had prospered. Freed from the burden of war, the nations put their full effort into developing and improving the lives of the people. Technological advancement had continued and many new inventions were created.

Vast amounts of resources were poured into construction. Now that the war was no longer taking up all of those resources, they could be used to build roads, bridges, and buildings. Even at the end of the war, many people in the cities in the north had been living in old houses with no electricity or heating. That had all changed and now all of those cities looked just as modern as Neverwinter or Hermes.

Even the lives of the people in the countryside had improved. Advances in farming technology greatly improved the productivity of farmers, allowing less people to farm more food. The result was that people flocked to the cities. The people who remained didn't get left out of modernization. Since they produced more, they had more money and were able to buy goods that could be shipped over by truck. Their houses became modernized and had access to electricity and running water.

For all these decades, humanity lived at peace. Both Roland and Steven recognized how futile and destructive war is. Furthermore, there was no incentive for war as there was still so much empty territory that was yet unexploited. There was absolutely no reason for the two nations to fight and thus there was only peace and they enjoyed a close relationship.

This state of affairs has lasted for decades, but the hand of time made itself known. Roland was very old now and he was approaching the end of his life. A few years before, his wife Anna had died. Her death was due to cancer and despite Roland's best efforts, no amount of technology or magic had been able to save her.

Anna's death was a huge blow to Roland, who had loved her greatly. Now, it was only him and Nightingale. Of course, Roland had no children so all he had to remember Anna by were his memories. Her death had also awoken Roland to the fact of his own mortality. One day, he too would die. By now his health was already poor and he knew that he had not much time left.

Roland turned away from his contemplation as he went to receive his visitor. Steven had traveled all of the way from Hermes to talk with Roland. Steven entered the room and sat down to talk with Roland. Steven was also quite old at this point and the two of them spent a bit of time reminiscing about the past.

Eventually, Steven got to talking about the purpose of his visit. "Roland, it is time that we should be thinking about the future. About what should be done in the long term."

"The future?" Roland sighed. "It had been something that used to seem so far away, but now the decision is already upon me. I suppose that you are referring to who will rule Graycastle after my death."

"Indeed", answered Steven. "Who will know whether the rulers in the future will be as wise as we have been. Who knows what challenges might lie in the future."

"I had thought about this for a long time", Roland said. "I have seen how well the country had been run by the officials. They are competent and there are many who are far sighted. I think the kingdom can survive without me."

"Perhaps it will", Steven answered. "But what about after the current group of officials die. Will the leadership of the country be chosen by election, or will the officials simply recruit more people themselves to be their successors?"

"Elections I suppose", answered Roland. "If officials kept choosing their own successors, they will simply become an unchecked power. Over time, who knows what the organization will morph into."

"Yet, are elections perfect either?", Steven asked. "The citizens can make poor choices. Corruption can seep into the system. Powerful individuals or organizations can gain a stranglehold over the political system. Weak leaders could lead the nation to ruin. Aggressive leaders could lead the nation to war."

"I trust in the people", Roland answered, though somewhat unsure of himself.

"The people do not always make good choice", Steven answered. "Even back on Earth you can see countless examples of where democracy failed. For example, Hitler enjoyed popular support. The people are easily swayed and terrible decisions have been made. That is not to say that we can't try to craft such a system to avoid such things happening. However, who can say that eventually the system won't fail at some point in the future."

Roland sat in contemplation before answering. "Winston Churchill once said that democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others. There are indeed flaws with democracy, but it is the best we have. Over several millennia, Earth has not found anything better." Roland paused for a moment. "You know, this conversation is quite strange. I, the Chinese person am arguing for democracy while you, the American, are arguing against it."

Steven smiled wryly. "Then perhaps it is because I have experienced it first hand and have seen the problems that have emerged. Partisanship, gridlock, populism. I have become quite disillusioned with it. Still, I do agree that on Earth no better system has been found."

Roland was wondering where Steven was going with this.

"While on Earth, no better form of government can be created, we are no longer on Earth. There are other options that are not possible back on Earth." Steven paused. "I can see that you realize where I am going with this. I propose that the Kingdom of Graycastle absorbed by the church and humanity shall be unified."

Roland was silent as he thought through what Steven was proposing. The implications of this was clear. Leadership of the world would be left to Zero, who would live forever.

"Do you trust her?", Roland asked.

"Of course", replied Steven.

"What I mean is, do you believe that she will govern well after our deaths?", asked Roland.

"Absolutely", Steven answered. "I believe in her ability completely."

"And how do you know that?", Roland inquired. "Can you entrust the fate of the world to Zero?"

"I know her better than anyone else", Steven said. "I have been with her for so long, helped her grow to become who she is today. I have taught her all I know and I believe that she is ready. In addition, humanity must be unified if we are to have a peaceful future."

Roland let out a sigh. "I will need to think about it." Roland was unsure what to do. Steven had presented some very compelling reasons, but Roland held out faith in humanity. Also, Roland was reluctant to see his kingdom cease to exist.

After Steven left the room, Roland had Nightingale emerge. "Was he telling the truth?", Roland asked.

"He was", replied Nightingale. "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know", Roland said. "I don't know."

A month later, Roland finally died. Nightingale was at his side when he was on his deathbed. As Roland was dying, Nightingale asked him one last question. "What should I do?"

"I don't know", Roland said. "Do what you think it best."

Those were Roland's last words to Nightingale.