"I don't think being fundamentally correct is a thing. Just - being able to do stuff, or valuable to someone who can, or not that."

"Fair enough, I suppose. I am also not sure I think that being fundamentally correct is a thing, morality is not - built into the fabric of reality, at least not here. I...do think there is a fact of the matter about what other people want, though, and whether they are flourishing or suffering, and - a powerful entity can want things that cause more flourishing, or more suffering. And I happen to have what I suppose is a subjective personal preference that the former is what I want. Which is not the same thing as it being fundamentally correct, just - I do think that if you could give every sentient being in Velgarth a poll, 'do you want to be ruled by Asmodeus or by Leareth's god', what result would come out is an empirical question and I think I can predict its answer. And that matters to me."

He's very unsure if any of this is going to make sense to Carissa.

"It's - a weird thing to do. Ask people what they want. Gives you - more ways to hurt them. And I don't - see how they'd know. Your god sounds nice but it's not disadvantaged by actually existing, yet, and wanting anything. But I guess we'll see if it does turn out nicer."

"...Sure, that particular framing on it is an odd one. But...one of the things I care about is whether other people can achieve their goals and have what they care about."

"Yeah. I think - at some point it's just word choice - I'm going to fight for the thing that you're trying to do. I don't need to feel sure about everything to do that. I'm not giving any less - betting any less than I'd be betting if I was sure."

Leareth nods. "I - realize this is an unfair thing to ask for, probably, but - I think it does matter to me, whether you - would keep pursuing that goal even if I were not here. Whether it is your goal, as a powerful person in your own right, as opposed to just...choosing who to submit to."

"If you died somehow and inexplicably didn't have any clones ready to go because you're actually an idiot I'd.....have to reconsider lots of things, honestly. I think that's probably the wrong hypothetical to entertain but it's the one that jumped to mind."

"That makes sense. ...I can assure you I am not actually an idiot and that if I appear to die suddenly, you should expect me to be back within a few months. I still think it might be valuable for your ability to have thoughts that are your own, to spend some time considering it." He steps away from the wall. "Anything else for right now?"

"I think if instead of that happening I'd just landed in the first place on a world where everyone died for good I'd try to fix that. Probably by ascending, I have any idea how one does that and no idea how one makes a god."

"Right."

Leareth stops where he is, near the door, and looks at her thoughtfully for a moment. And then smiles. It's way more smile than she usually sees from him aimed at anything, let alone her.

It's very tempting to give him the right answers, when he'll radiate approval about it that much. She's - trying not to and she's not sure why. "It'd be mostly selfish," she says rather than smile back at him. "I don't want to die forever. And I don't want places to be - poor - like Haven was. Things can be nicer than that."

"Yes, indeed."

Leareth stands in the doorway for a moment longer, still smiling, and then heads out.

She gets back to work.

Things settle a bit more in the new temporary facility, though people are restless to get to move back once the wards have been tweaked.

A governess is found for Pexa. Her name is Alleara and she's a strong Mindspeaker with a background as a mercenary in Jkatha, but she likes children and Leareth says Pexa is a smart child, which makes it sound more interesting.

The next morning Calib comes to find Carissa. "I'm sorry I didn't check in with you sooner, it's been really hectic. Uh, are you - all right?"

"In one piece! Sorry for, uh, making everybody relocate everything. I still haven't done the Fly item as an apology for the last time I inconvenienced them all, either."

"I think everyone understands!" Calib hugs her. "Glad you're all right. What...actually happened? All Leareth reported to us is that the Heralds caught you somehow and, uh..." He blushes bright red. "And that Pexa thinks you and Leareth are her parents. Er, he didn't report that but she's informed multiple people and, well. Gossip." He seems to feel very awkward about bringing this up to her.

"It's really really confusing! I thought it'd make sense at some point but it never did. So everything was going fine in Haven - I'd been exploring and eavesdropping and I'd seduced Vanyel's sister and she invited me to dinner with Vanyel and his aunt, who is also a Herald -"

Calib blinks a half-step back. "You - seduced Vanyel's sister?" he says, sort of blankly.

"Lissa. She's in their Guard, apparently, and her family's nobility though I didn't end up asking very many questions about how that worked. She's much better company than Vanyel, who, uh, mopes constantly."

"I - didn't know you, uh, liked women. That way." Based on Calib's expression, this is a very minor part of whatever's bothering him.

After a moment he sits down, looking at his hands. "I...guess I should've talked to you, uh, about if we - were going to be exclusive."

"Oh. Uh. Yeah. I guess we should have talked about that." 

She sits down too. 

"It's... Maybe it shouldn't bother me. If, I guess, you gotta do what you gotta do on missions." He seems unconvinced by this. "And she's a woman. I'd...be more upset if you'd seduced another man. Maybe that's stupid, I don't know."

Carissa looks kind of puzzled. "That's - definitely easier to get when I'm a prisoner?"

"...Sorry, what is?" Calib just looks puzzled by this claim.

"Someone who won't have sex with other people?"