Allan and Shade fell silent after a while of hearing the culprits. These people weren't even actual criminals, they were commoners that ended losing everything after the war and were forced to work in shady business with underground organizations to earn enough money to eat each day. The war left many people affected, perhaps more in the human side that Allan and Shade could had realized. After all, things were never truly one-sided, both sides killed one another, they slaughtered innocents mercilessly.
There wasn't a good or bad faction at the end of the day, as both had committed atrocities… But that wasn't really the point, the point was now that the war had ended, and some people were trying to let the survivors of the demons live in peace, the work of Darius was going to be in vain if these resented people were to kill the offspring of the surviving demons, who had nothing to do with what their parents had done.
"But you know that this is an orphanage, right? Most if not all the children inside of that place are innocent, they don't have any idea about the war, they weren't even there to begin with! They were all born after it ended… You can't simply blame them for the sins their ancestors committed…" Sighed Allan, although he seemed to feel empathy for the people, even though they were wrong in their way of thinking.
The people fell silent for a bit, being confronted with the fact that they were going to murder innocents. However, their biases were stronger, as they were fueled with lies from many others, especially their boss.
"B-But who knows when they'll turn crazy?!"
"Y-Yeah! They still got the bloodline of those monsters… What tells you that they won't one day go insane and attack our people, and kill innocents themselves?!"
"If we give them a swift end, this circle of slaughter can end… with them!"
"So you're saying that you're willing to kill children just so you can satisfy your desire for revenge?!" Roared Shade, hitting the table nearby, his sharp eyes suddenly turned from blue to bright red.
The people trembled in fear before Shade, but their minds were already decided to do what they had tried to attempt, after all, they were filled with such an undying grudge that manipulating them into doing such a thing wasn't so hard for the culprit behind their actions.
"I-I lost my daughter… in the war… She was burned alive by a red-skinned demon… I am sure he was the same race as that disgusting scarred nun!" Said one of them, suddenly bursting into tears. "I-I can't live knowing there is a member of that despicable race of barbarians in here, living as if nothing! It fills me with so much rage and frustration…!"
"You mean Mary?" Wondered Allan.
"That she's part of their race doesn't mean she would do the same, each individual is different…" Sighed Shade.
"She participated in the war though, she's not a child, isn't she? Hah… She's actually warrior from the demons that somehow survived, she was tortured and enslaved, but she's still alive here… Living as if nothing happened! You think that's somehow good? To live in her own enemy's country leisurely?! That damn Darius was an insane old man! He should had never abolished the legal enslavement of these damned and filthy demons… Living with our own enemies! Do you think that's a good thing, mister hero?!"
The only woman from the group suddenly ranted out her thoughts, impacting Allan and Shade's minds. Although she didn't knew they were the actual heroes of humans, she called them "heroes" for acting disgustingly righteously about demons being innocent, making her sick.
"I was okay if they were slaves, paying for their crimes with such punishment… But now most of them were freed from their owners! Of course, illegal slaves are still sold, and mixed with the legal ones. After all, the abolition of slaves was broken down some years ago… If you're so hell bent in letting them live, then give them as slaves so they pay for their ancestor's sins! They will learn the mistakes their kin committed and receive their well-deserved punishment!" Roared the man who had lost his daughter.
"Enough!" Shade roared, as he extended his hand towards the man in front of him, almost about to strangle him to death, but Allan stopped him, as he looked at the man's eyes. His own gaze was filled with emotions and empathy.
"I understand how you feel… there's other ways of doing things, you can't simply… do the same thing those did to you. Do you truly want to become the same murderers of children and innocents that those you hate so much were?" Asked Allan. "What would your daughter think about this if she were alive? Would she be happy her father is killing children that… could had one day become her friends instead?"
The man heard Allan's words, as he felt strange, he slowly realized a bit the reality of his actions, and what he had truly tried to do, but still, the bias inside of his mind and the resentment were stronger than his common sense.
"Tch! M-My daughter would be proud of her father… doing what's right!" He said. Allan felt frustrated he couldn't change the mind of these people.
"They're a lost cause, Allan, cut it out. You can't really change their minds." Said Shade, patting Allan's shoulder.
"But Shade… If I don't try to make a difference now, when will I be able to do one?!" Asked Allan, feeling the guilt of his actions eat his mind away. Shade noticed his friend's desperation, as he was being affected by the circumstances and the aftermath of a war they'll never forget.
"You can't change an entire society by merely convincing some street thugs that they're wrong." Said Shade. "Even if you convince them, so what? You won't be able to change nothing in the big picture… You're merely seeking to change their minds for your own self-satisfaction, because you can't keep living with your guilt… I understand your pain, but you have to bear with it… You got a daughter, remember this."
"…Right." Allan was suddenly brought to reality, as he sighed. "I have a daughter…"