“But… you will always have a power I do not. You are much… stronger than I.”

“I…” Joe stopped to ponder this, his mind frozen with the understanding that stats now had a much greater impact on personal power. His mind whirred through the possibilities for a bit before responding, “Well, I could increase your stats to match mine. You do not have to worry about that.”

“Maybe, OK. But now your knowledge will give you power I do not have.”

Joe blinked at that before replying weakly, “I could teach you.”

Kilniara shook her head at this point, “And what about the differences in our strength due to our races?”

Joe breathed deeply at this point, no longer having a response and Kilniara quickly continued.

“It seems like a foolish thing to be concerned with. No one will ever be exactly equal. No two people ever can. Someone will have more power in some way or in some form, either because they have a greater job, greater wealth, greater knowledge, greater position, greater relationships with greater amounts of people or greater people in general. How can any ever be equal to another. If true relationships could only ever form with equal power then there will never people any true relationships. Everyone always has one skill, ability, strength, or … something, that is stronger than another,” Kilniara ended with an angry huff, looking at him with a firm grimace, “Every relationship has power differences. If you will not have relationships with someone of different power, you will never have one. Parents can’t have relationships with children. Teachers cannot be friends with students. Older people cannot be friends with younger. It’s… a pointless impossibility”

“But that’s my point, we can make sure you are my equal before we…”

Kilniara cut in a bit angrily, “How could we ever? Will you suddenly find a mother and father in a great clan for me to match yours? My parents are dead! How could I ever match you and your clan!”

Joe’s thoughts quickly died at that, his breath escaping him in a pained whoosh when he saw tears trickling silently down her cheeks. I don’t have a clan… but… yeah, she has a point. He stopped quickly and pulled her into his embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her lower back as he cradled her in his chest, bringing one arm up to embrace her head into him. She resisted a bit before collapsing into him, releasing quite but giant slow heaving sobs. She quieted with his embrace but took sometime before she was able to begin speaking again, and she spoke quickly.

“Every relationship always has differences in power. They may be equal in some ways, even many ways, but there will be at least one way they are different and one is stronger or more powerful than another. And almost all significant relationships based on or demand power to be different. The guards must have power to maintain peace. Business owners have power over their workers. Teachers have power over their students. Clans and nobility have power over the commoners. Why is this power difference… different?”

“It’s more intimate?”

“Having a guard throw you in the dungeon for life, or even kill you as punishment is less intimate? Clan leaders having almost total control over their commoners… us… is this less intimate?”

“More … significant, maybe, but less intimate.”

“Possibly, but more detrimental.”

“Yes.”

“So intimacy makes it bad?”

“It takes away control of your life.”

“All these do as well.”

“But… you should have control over who you are in relationship with. It’s your choice.”

“Why?”

“Just…” Joe’s thoughts came to a screeching halt with that realization and he turned to her, “Do parents help children find someone to marry them?”

“Many times, yes.”

“They … do not listen to their children’s desires?”

“Most of the time they do. But if the child is being foolish, parents may disregard the child’s desires.”

Joe’s thoughts whirled in confusion as his thoughts wrestled with the ramifications. Arranged marriages! Yeah! I forgot about that! But… power…

“But, even in that case, the relationship would not be good if the power differences are too great and the one with greater power abuses the other.”

“Well, of course! Abusing another is… well… wrong, but… that’s why it is wise to find one you can trust that they will not abuse that power. And in every kind of relationship as well: business, adventures, guards… just… everything!”

“Or just not be with one who has too much more power than you.”

“So commoners, merchants, craftsmen, and artists should never marry or be in a relationship with warriors and combatants as they will always be stronger with their stronger stats. Or a lower leveled person should not marry a higher leveled person. Or an Acokzau should never marry a human as they will always be weaker. Or… if someone is lucky enough to change jobs and begin once again at single digits, should they leave their current relationship because they are now weaker? And how would you help us, oh great one, to be free of an unwanted relationship with a clan or other such thing?”

Joe found himself at a loss, his mind over run by her thoughts, pummeling him.

“Or a woman should not be with a man, yes? They are usually slightly weaker than a man?”

Joe opened his mouth at that point and then shut it before replying weakly, “Are men always stronger than women?”

“For most sapient races? Yes, although there are some unique ones where the women are generally stronger or some where what men or women are… is a bit different.”

Joe felt at a loss of words at this point, uncertain, before replying, “Then, what should we do?”

Kilniara looked back up at him and smiled slightly, “What people have done throughout all time? Accept it but also wisely make sure to choose someone you can trust with that power over you.”

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“Or find someone with equal power,” Joe replied stubbornly.

Kilniara angrily stomped her foot at this time before turning to look at him, “Name one person. Just one! That is your equal without any difference!”

“Jason Brown.”

Kilnaira seemed a bit taken aback, but rallied and continued, “Who is he?”

“My best friend in high school.”

“A friend at academy. Who was smarter? You or him?”

“I… uh…” Joe trailed off as he realized her trap.

“And who was better at sports?”

Joe remained silent for a bit, “I was better at combat sports but he as much better at team sports than I.”

“So, are you equal?”

Joe frowned, sighing, “There were many things he was stronger or better than me while I was in others.”

“And we will not be the same?”

“I…,” Joe paused at that, thoughtful before continuing, “We may not be equal in many things, but … we had a greater chance to be equal with equal education and …”

“You will withhold your knowledge from me?”

“No, of course not!” Joe exclaimed.

Kilniara smiled sweetly, “Then it is only temporary.”

Joe frowned, “Then it would be wise to wait until it is done.”

Kilniara replied with a frown of her own, “Then could anyone ever be in relationship if equality of everything, including knowledge, needs be achieved first?”

Joe grimaced, “No, but …” he sighed and continued, aiming to be more blunt, “If our relationship fails, you may fear that you cannot leave me because you would lose your food or place to stay. You would be… forced to continue a relationship you do not like. This is why student teacher relationships and ones in business are… not wise at all. A student or underling may fear their job or grade… uh… teaching if they reject their lover.”

Kilniara nodded at that, “That is why I will no longer be your apprentice,” ending with a shrug.

Joe shook his head, “But you are still dependent on me. What about food, money, income?”

Kilniara quirked a humorous eyebrow, “I couldn’t go back to my home and be a cloth armorer?”

Joe blinked, “You… you still have your house?”

“The house and workshop. My brother and I are considering selling it.”

Joe frowned, “But then it would be exactly as I said. You would…”

“I would have the money from the sale. Why do you fight this?”

“Because it is important if the relationship is to be balanced and equal between us.”

Kilniara paused at that, then nodded, “That does seem wise, but it will not be completely equal.”

“Why?”

“In combat and adventuring, you have significantly more skill than I, but … possibly in living and being in the cities on this cradle, I likely have much greater experience than you. We share each other’s burdens and shore up each other’s weaknesses.”

Joe smiled at that, then schooled his face, “Yes, but still…”

Kilniara huffed at Joe’s recalcitrance and quickly interjected, “Then how did you and your school friend do it.”

Joe hummed as he thought deeply, “Hmmm… we acted equal to one another and we didn’t let our differences bother us.”

“Then, act equal with me, and don’t let the differences bother us.”

“But what if I… abuse the power difference between us?”

“Then you are not a very good man and I should not trust you.”

“How can you trust me?”

“The same way you trust us with almost everything, even my brother still, despite his breaking of that trust.”

Joe fell silent at this, accepting his defeat for the moment but deciding he would have to wrestle with this thought for some time. Quite a bit of what he was taught in school and amongst some people he deeply trusted always spoke about the dangers of abusing power and warning against relationships with high power differences. He wasn’t as certain, anymore.

“I’ll give this to you, for now, but I won’t concede. I need to think more deeply on this, although I will admit that you have a powerful argument. So, for now, I will try to cherish your trust and not my power against you inappropriately. Please, act as if we are equal in power with me in our relationship.”

Kilniara bowed her head in a happy bob, “Of course! Although, I will still see myself as your subordinate in my apprenticeship.”

Joe chuckled, “That… will be hard.”

“Why? I did it with my parents. I was their apprentice and their daughter. It was two different relationships and I must act in two different ways, but … it was fine.”

Joe once again found himself stymied, “Right. You win. I’ll shut up! But I’m not going to stop thinking about how I can come back at you on this.”

Kilniara giggled at that point before nodding in victory, “You can try!”

Joe chuckled back at her, “Well, that makes the next thing I was going to say a bit moot, but don’t use your relationship with me to bully your brother or Garnedell.”

Kilniara narrowed her eyes, “You are taking away my power!”

Joe found his eyes flicker at that before chuckling in relieved release as he saw her face breaking out in poorly concealed laughter, “You… you really are a turd!”

Kilniara continued giggling at this point and the two relaxed once again into each other’s embrace, hands clasped tightly. They walk on silently for another moment before Kilniara steps in front of him before turning the spread arms wide and introduce the area to him with some pride and quite a bit of joy.

“The Great Square!”

Joe became aware of their location, and looked around to find quite a large square, almost twice as big as the Temple and Merchant square, littered with bushes, trees, and various fountains scattered throughout. It was a wide open space without business of the markets or temples, although it was still crowded as couples and families strolled languidly throughout the almost park. Not quite a park. Lots of greenery, but still mostly… I guess more like a half park half plaza. Small patches of trees and bushes surrounded by small stone demarcations separated the cobblestone walkway from the natural greenery. The greenery sometimes were only bushes, or a single tree surrounded by inviting grass, or even both shrubbery and a tree or trees. Studded throughout were posts which Joe quickly realized were lamp posts and he quickly understood that the entire area was opened wide with almost no hidden areas as the bushes were too low to be useful and the trees were too skinny or two singular to make useful hiding spots. The guards patrolling the area surrounded the edge of the entire square and anyone would be visible from at least two sides at all times, while most would be visible from three or four sides.

Joe took in the area and found himself smiling, “This is… nice! Let’s go sit on some of the grass! Is that OK?” Joe asked after noticed some families and couples sitting on some of the grass.

“OK!” Kilniara replied cheerfully and quickly tugged his hand towards a grassy spot under a pleasant deciduous tree that seemed a bit oak-like to him. Or maybe a bit like a maple?

They reached the grassy spot which had only a single tree slightly off center, its trunk quite large but only slightly larger than his body width. Kilniara pushed him towards the trunk and Joe chuckled as he flopped himself down against the trunk. When Kilniara pushed herself into the crook of his arm, Joe realized she wanted to lean against him in his embrace and lifted his arm so she could lay her head against his chest. He shuffled a bit to make her recline more comfortable, and the two soon found themselves staring under the dappled shade of the tree, Joe’s face upturned as his eyes gazed up through the trees while Kilniara’s was downturned, eye’s straying across the edge of the grass and into the plaza.

“You know, I’ll give you that power differences exist in every relationship but you have to admit that people can abuse power to take advantage of others. It’s...”

“This again?”

“Hear me out. People can really abuse other people with greater power.”

“And?”

“And!? That’s… well that’s bad!”

“Of course it’s bad. I don’t deny that, but what’s the point to pointing out bad things as bad?”

“Well, then, it would be wise to remove yourself from being in relationship with people who have power over you like that.”

“So, I should leave the city and live in my own little cave in the middle of the woods?”

“What? No! That doesn’t…” Joe trailed as his thoughts caught up with his exclamation and Kilniara jumped, sarcasm heavy in her voice.

“Pretty much everyone in this city has power over me. I should get out of it?”

Joe shook his head before beginning, “No. That’s… different. I’m talking about the intimate personal relationships.”

“Like the one I had with my mother and father? Come out of the womb and sprint for freedom? Is that what you suggest?”

Joe floundered with some embarrassment, thoughts tangled, meaningless.

“OK. I’ll also give you that power can abuse and harm other people. Great. What’s the point of you telling me this.”

“That… it’s dangerous to be in a relationship with someone that has greater power than you.”

“Yes. Again, I agree. But what do you want me to do with this? What can I do? Do you expect me not to date or pursue anyone? Or to only date those weaker than I? But if I were to do that, then I would be guilty of what you claim you are doing. So what do I do?”

“Ah…” Joe once again found himself lost for words, uncomfortable as he looked to her.

“Joe. You are an amazing man, but what possible use is this?”

Joe sighed and dropped his head back against the tree, “Just, be careful.”

She snorted, a heavy chuckle desperately suppressed behind a choking cough, “Well, duh! That seems fairly obvious.”