How terrible it is to think you know someone, know only that they are good and sweet and innocent, and to discover that they are wretched and cruel. How awful, to understand that someone who could have been known always and only as a good person has become a monster.
And the most horrific part of the knowing is that if it weren't for you, they would still be that good person. To know, that your actions alone are at fault for ruining someone's kind nature and destroying their goodness.
My book, my copywrite :)
Lyl is blind to her own actions, seeing only her own motivations. She is causing people to pull away, even as she thinks she is drawing them near, and in her attempts at 'retaining herself' she flails out recklessly, overly defensive while feigning contrite despair about how others are wronging her.
Lyl is victimizing herself.
She is turning even friends against her, treating them as if they purposefully are seeking her harm and degradation, taking no responsibility for herself. She pursues anything that makes her feel she is right in her wrong actions, and over exaggerates that there are a multitude of attackers in her mind. Lyl has been hurt, and she is smothering everyone with that hurt as if she had right to.
My book, my copywrite :)
Lyl has never been around the upper class, and never has understood being responsible for other people's quality of life, so she has little respect for the act of ruler ship. She does have a very deep personal distrust of people who appear to 'care' about her, though.
Her brother and she talk as though every person in her world is a device to get her closer to her own goals, taking advantage of kindness as a means to an end, rather than feeling grateful to have the kindness shown.
Lyl is still protecting herself, subconsciously, from ever letting another person close again.
My book, my copywrite :)
Alga's explanation is not just to show Sharee no hope of ever leaving, but also to explain to the reader why the people in the castle are the way they are- extreme personalities. Anyone would become somewhat demented after more than a decade of almost absolute isolation as a slave to a witch; or even as that witch herself.
You will find out what a grievous thing Sharee accidently did in this chapter later on, but it is obvious the Mistress of Shadows has not been around small children, in at least decades, but perhaps ever. Her unbridled fury physically has harmed a precocious little girl, but not her spirit, so Sharee will recover alright. Which is not to say that striking a child and causing them harm is ever ok, but more, that it would take more than that to conquer Sharee.
My book, my copywrite :)
Dinner can be very awkward with people you don't know, but even more so when the person you have a crush on is there with their lover. ( And yes, his name is Jerk :D)
I wanted to emphasize the playful interactions between Henri and Lyl within her head, to help the reader understand in a less depressing way than before how much a brother he is to Lyl. They may not be remotely related, but they are family; close knit family. Now they can laugh together and offer mental hugs. Now they can finally talk to each other, and say 'I love you'.
It is just as precious to love as it is to be loved.
My book, my copywrite :)
Finally, Lyl's life seems to be getting a little happier!
It breaks my heart, but I know firsthand that not all children get to lead happy playful lives. I have known children who were so accustomed to being abused that kindness was not only foreign, but something they were distrustful of. It took a long time of consistency before they could believe you cared about them.
I used to coach kids in soccer (football if not from the usa). I always assumed every group of kids had at least one who was living a miserable life at home, and tried to love them all and make sure each had fun. No kid ever thought I didn't know their name, or noticed if they were feeling left out, to the utmost of my ability. I hope everyone is mindful of the fact that the kid you see in public is not always the same child at home; that for some, being away from home is the only time they feel safe.
You might not be able to save them, but just by showing them caring, even if you never know about it, they will die with at least a little bit of good memory and have that to cling to in hard times.
Love Children, all of them. Not just because they are future. Not just because they are cute and innocent. Not just your own kids. Love them all. You might end up the only person they remembered ever caring about them in their whole lives.
My book, my copywrite :)
