Many things ran through Raiya's mind as she formulated her response to Nemo's assertion that he was attempting to protect her from becoming like Nemo. Her mind was so foggy and her body exhausted that she stood for a minute or so contemplating what she would say. Eventually she broke the silence, summoning the energy required to speak, Raiya began with a hushed voice. [color=ec008c]"Who are you...? I... I seriously want to know. Who... Who do you think you are...?"[/color] Raiya asked rhetorically. Raiya turned towards Nemo and backed away from him slowly as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. [color=ec008c]"Do... do you think you are some knight clad in armor, rushing into the path of danger to protect the princess?"[/color] Raiya's voice began to raise to a normal speaking level, but there was pain in her voice that kept her from holding a consistent tone. [color=ec008c]"Or do you think yourself a king? A king who favors a servant, giving her all the treasures she could ask for? Or...?"[/color] Raiya's tone suddenly grew much darker, anger growling behind her voice, [color=ec008c]"Do you think yourself a god? A god who has chosen a beloved disciple to bless with safety and success?"[/color] By this time, Raiya's tears had rolled over her bottom eyelids, down her cheeks and began dripping on the floor. [color=ec008c]"Well let me explain something to you, Nemo. When the knight protects the princess, he also in the process takes away her ability to think and act for herself. When the king gives his favored servant all they could desire, he removes that servant's own agency to obtain for themselves the riches of the world on their own merit."[/color] Raiya looked up at Nemo's pale face with her fierce narrowed eyes, [color=ec008c]"And when a god,"[/color] she spat, [color=ec008c]"when a god blesses his chosen one with safety and success, he simultaneously curses them. Taking away their free will and making them puppets for their cause."[/color] 

	Raiya wiped off her cheeks and rubbed her eyes with her hand, dabbing them dry. Then she glared at Nemo's face once more and said, [color=ec008c]"Look me in the eyes and listen well, because I am only going to explain this to you one time."[/color] Raiya demanded. [color=ec008c]"You are not my knight, nor my king, nor my god. You were becoming an acquaintance, maybe even a friend, but you are starting to be nothing more to me but an inconvenience. You do not get to make my decisions for me. You do not have a say in what I can or cannot do. And you certainly do not get to lecture me on morals."[/color] Raiya straightened her posture and pointed at Nemo with her right index finger, [color=ec008c]"If you ever get in my way again to stop me, and if I ever find out that you have even attempted to manipulate my actions from the shadows, you better be prepared. You will receive the full force of my burning hatred, and I will not stop until either you are dead, or I am."[/color] Raiya finished, [color=ec008c]"Do you understand me?"[/color] Raiya asked.