“The Ascendancy is not one of those nations, though.” Circe countered with a pointed emphasis on ‘Ascendancy’, as if she was acknowledging the others in the Sector may not share her perception of Graecia’s enlightenment. “Most star nations out there, in fact, aren’t like that.” She said with a firmness Arthur found amusing.

There was no way for her to know that empirically, but he wasn’t about to make that argument needlessly. In truth, he was enjoying seeing the animated nature of her convictions.

“Yes, there’s some manner of dichotomy. I’ll grant you that,” Circe continued passionately, “but the overwhelming reality across much of the known Humanosphere is that people benefit from longer lives, universal healthcare, and the fact our species has all but eradicated disease and mental illness where it’s possible to affect change.”

“That doesn’t account for every nation as a rule, though, nor does it speak to empirical data.”

“No, it doesn't.” Circe admitted with a small frown.

“Nor does your statement account for every ailment.” he pointed out calmly.

Circe sighed and gestured with a hand in acknowledgement of his point.

“Some injuries, some trauma, some mental illnesses are beyond the scope of human understanding—but even then,” she said firmly, “psionic healing has bridged many of the gaps where science has failed us… and that is only possible because of the Geneticists’ legacy of understanding when it comes to Callandium and Psions.”

“Which only circles back to the disparity between those with superior gene-lines,” Arthur pointed out, “and those with more common ones. It is only the superior that have the Callandium capacity to affect that relief for others, and only if they choose to dedicate part of their Callandium capacity to those sorts of sigils.”

“Nobody should be forced to sacrifice their own pursuits for others. That’s why it’s considered benevolent in the first place. Without it being a volunteer pursuit, it would just be a glorified form of slavery.” Circe disagreed once more. “Oppression and stratification are rarely the norm in most Human nations, Ser.”

“But it is the case often enough.” Arthur continued doggedly. He was very much enjoying the rapidfire exchange. It was satisfying to debate with someone that felt passionately on such matters, and had the intelligence and courage to challenge him. “Graecia is not entirely an exception either, my lady. Your own parents, while only distantly so, are cousins. It was seen as more acceptable for your family to engage in incest—albeit in name only, as far as genetics is concerned—than to seek a suitable match for your father outside of House Leos. I would wager there are more than a few Graecian Houses with first cousins or even siblings of some capacity that are wedded.”

Both Kidemónes shifted slightly to step subtly away at his words, but Arthur ignored them. His focus was on Circe. How she dealt with his points would inform him quite heavily on her own personal convictions.

What he received was a mix between a sound of discontent and a grimace of disgust. “The idea of sibling marriage is not something I agree with, Ser, and my parents are third cousins!”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Arthur chuckled and shook his head, and she favored him with a half-hearted glower.

“I’m aware of the fact they’re basically not related in any way that matters, but that doesn’t change what it means on paper, my lady.” Arthur said with a wry smile which seemed to ease her evident disgruntlement at his earlier laugh.

“My point is that there will always be a separation of privilege between the upper and lower classes, and I would wager you never even considered the idea of marrying anyone that couldn’t give you an heir more powerful than you—or at least one with a good chance of power parity. I doubt you even like most of your peers among the Ascendancy’s upper society, but the thought still never occurred to you.”

“I…” Circe trailed off and sighed. A moment later she shook her head and laughed softly. “It is unfair to have such discussions with your psion density at work, Arthur.”

So he was Arthur now, was he? He decided to test and see if it had been intentional.

“Don’t blame my psions for my being right, Circe.” he responded with a smile.

Her eyes searched his for a moment, and a beatific smile spread across her lips.

He had made the right choice by responding with her name in kind, it seemed.

“Is your psion count as prodigious as I was told?” she asked curiously.

“I have been told it is a rare density even among the Inner Sectors.” he admitted.

Circe looked thoughtful at his words, and seemed to ponder the weight of them.

“I wonder if that is why we have such strong resonance…” she murmured half to herself, while watching him closely. “Though I assume you, too, have felt it?” She asked in a more conversational tone.

“I have.” he admitted. “And I’m not certain. I don’t know what controls resonance.”

“Some people say it’s the divine tether of predestined love.” she responded lightly.

“Some people are idiots.” Arthur muttered without missing a beat.

Circe let out a warm and spine-tinglingly musical laugh at his words.

“Okay, fair enough.” she said with remnant mirth. “I’ll accept that.”

“I’m glad we’re in agreement.” he said with a smile of his own.

He really did enjoy her laugh, for all that he wondered if it was him or her psions at play. In a lot of ways, he didn’t think it mattered. It was just nice to enjoy a conversation with a relative equal, and one that was almost immune to his psion density in a way few others were. She was… not unique, but certainly rare in her ability to engage him in discourse with little to no evident influence from his psion density.

It strangely helped him feel normal in a way he usually couldn’t.

Even his Zacaris memories agreed it was a truly rare occurrence.

“And it’s not as if I don’t see your point, you know.” she said after a few moments of thoughtful silence. “I do. I do. It’s just… Well, what can we really do about it? If any of us stop pursuing superior genetics for each subsequent generation, we’ll lose all standing with our peers. Genetic perfection is one of the few universal pursuits across the Humanosphere. Not even the Grand Imperium is an exception, and certainly not your home system of Aurelia.”

“Of course they aren’t.” Arthur said simply. “After all, the Grand Imperium started the damn pursuit.”

“Well, yes. I suppose that’s true.” Circe said with a sigh. “And painted the destiny of us all in the act.”

“Kingmaker theory strikes again.” Endymion rumbled.

“Hard to argue with that.” Arthur said while Perseus nodded his agreement as well.

A shout from the distance caught their attention, and Circe glanced back toward the distant group now fully looking their way, and then turned back to Arthur.

“Well, Ser Magellan. If you’re done making me question the foundations of our reality—” she tempered the words with a smile that warmed Arthur’s cheeks “—and dazzling me with your intellect, perhaps we can finally go and meet with my father?”