spoilers for A sky beyond the storm by Sabaa Tahir
The Nightbringer has good motives to go against the Scholars. They did, after all, doomed his people, his family. Years later, Laia has good motives to hate him. He aided the fall of the Scholars, leading to herself, her family and her people suffering tremendously. BUT Laia chooses to forgive Meherya. Because she understands him. And she also understands how hate and violence will only generate more hate and violence and the vicious cycle will continue to roll, switching the power scheme over and over in the same rollercoaster of anger and pain. Laia chooses to break it, to be kind, to do better. Because she realizes that's the only true way to move forward and learn from the past for a bright future. It is not a weakness on her part, nor a silly dream, but THE power move we need more of. In this essay I will-
