So I wanna talk about Loen’s reflection, which you can get in volume I chapter 3.
“It’s better to be a coward than to die”. Let it just sink in, war can do many things with you and this is just one mere example. This person was willing to be Pigeons slave then seeing/hearing innocent people die. This was after the announcement of Snownight and other young soldiers death or announced to be missing. In this chapter of the memory of the reflection, a lot of people of Westburg gave their opinions of this war. Uncle White, the father of Snownight wanted the soldiers to retreat because these young people shouldn’t be out there fighting in this war. “Just don’t send our children to hell already!…” - Uncle White.
A herder said “That’s silly. If we give up now, those sacrifices are in vein!” While I agree with this argument, that all those sacrifices will be in vein, it’s just NOT good for young people to go out there in war. They should be living their lives and not risk it in a war with so many dangerous battles. “But if the army keeps losing the enemy will bull their way” “The longer the battle drags on, the more people will die…” Which is all true in war, but here comes the next part.
“If we surrender, there will be no Apple Federation, will there?” If they had given up then and there, Apple will be drastically different then what we would have known it in year 0 or maybe even year 680. Consequences, that’s what’s gonna happen. Actions have consequences and in a war it’s one of the things you have to be cautious about. “I don’t think we should give up! If we are defeated those Pigeon people won’t let us off easy!” “Do you want your children to kneel down and polish their shoes in the future?!” If Apple would have surrendered then and there, the future would be like this (what the herder said). Let’s just say, the future would be sad and grey.
“It doesn’t matter to be a slave, it’s better than anything to have no war.” Now were going back to this passerby and why I wanted to make this in the first place. This person was willing to give up the Independence war and live the future life as Pigeons slave. It’s better than war and death.
“What was my father thinking when he went to the battlefield with those young warriors.” - Loen.
Timeskip, because I also want to talk about this, even though there’s a lot more to talk about the Independence war of Apple Federation.
We see here Loen and Reddish (Vermillion Snow) talking. Loen takes out a red cypress vine flower (which reminds me of that sr suit of Vermilion Snow) in her hair.
There is not really much to talk here, but I think it’s important to say it anyway. The fact that Reddish (Vermillion Snow) doesn’t know that her sister has passed away is really heartbreaking to be honest. (Notice: i haven’t read her reflections, so I don’t know if she does know or not. But is she does get told about it it’s still heartbreaking). Loen reassures Reddish, that the place they were going to will be beautiful (Cloud Empire). He says his final goodbye to the White family after this conversation. For people who don’t know, this is 13 year old Loen and Reddish was at least 8 years old in this reflection.
