He Who Fights with Monsters 11 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #11)

by Shirtaloon

Yes, it would be more practical, but the thing about good and evil is that no one ever chooses evil. They choose selfishness or prejudice or easy answers over hard truths. They choose the expedient path, even if it means getting their hands a little dirty because they can make up for it later, right? Sometimes getting your hands dirty is what it takes. The ends justify the means.”

“We like to think we’re better than we are,” Jason said. “I’ve had to confront the fact that I’m not, but I’ve also seen that I can be. It takes discipline. Diligence. Determination. Recognising that while sometimes you do have to compromise, other times, you don’t. The temptation doesn’t come with a choice between right and wrong. It comes with a choice between right and easy.”

“I have to remember who I am, Jali. I change, but if I ever let go of who I am without all this power, the power becomes who I am.

“Good. Now just try and look like you know what you’re doing.” “I don’t know what I’m doing.” “Which is when looking like you do is most important.”

The discussion process was extremely long, running into a third, fourth and fifth hour, but proved far more civil than Jason had anticipated. Rick took a mouth-closed, ears-open approach that Jason could never quite master. Or even get close to, if he was honest with himself.

oh Jason

“You didn’t pull out any notes before drawing out the magic diagram,” Emir observed. “No,” Clive confirmed. “It’s a rather niche ritual to have memorised.” “I didn’t have it memorised,” Clive told him. “I just made it up.” “You just invented a complex, wide-area ritual, off the top of your head?” Clive snorted a laugh. “Sure, complex.” “Clive, I’d try and poach you for my treasure-hunting operation again. I’m just not sure I can afford to pay you what you’re worth.”

For all of that, even years later, there was a part of her waiting for the truth to drop. A voice inside, telling her that she didn’t deserve any of it. That deep down, her friends knew that she was still nothing but a jumped-up street thief. She took things she didn’t have to; did things that hurt the team as if subconsciously testing them. Waiting for the day they realised she didn’t belong and sent her packing.

belinda..

“You think that you are at your limit, Mr Asano, but the will has no limit. The only way that your will can be exhausted is if you choose to quit. If you give up on yourself, on your friends, on all the people taking shelter here. You think you cannot fight, but you are fighting. Every moment you don’t surrender, the battle goes on. You think you have exhausted your willpower, but it cannot be exhausted. Will has no limit so long as you have the resolve to keep fighting, keep standing.”

“Resolve, Mr Asano. The resolve to help people for no more reason than they need it. To stand when no one else can or will. To make the insane choice because it has to be made, even if it kills you. Time and again you do this, and now you have to do it again. Stand because you have to. Because people need to. Stand, even if you don’t think you can. I think you can. I know you can.”

It is not the spoon that bends; it is only yourself.”

“Don’t,” Humphrey said. “We both know your mouth moves faster than your judgement. Instead of saying the wrong thing quickly, do the right thing slowly. Let the way you act going forward be your response. We’re not going anywhere, which is the whole point. We’re always with you, Jason. You’re the one who keeps leaving us behind.”