Chapter 118 Practice What You Preach
"I do," Hera replied, her voice carrying a soft chuckle that seemed to dance in the gentle breeze of the summer noon, its tone soothing and pleasant to the ear. However, the content of her words was far from comforting, something they didn’t want to hear.
The other participants were taken aback, unsure how to respond to Hera’s unexpected reaction. Before they could gather their thoughts, Hera continued speaking.
"Don’t you see the double standard here?" she questioned, her tone calm yet firm. "When my team and I were graciously invited by the villagers to share a meal, you all were up in arms, crying unfairness. But now that it’s your turn, suddenly it’s justifiable because Alice isn’t feeling well? Regardless of the circumstances, shouldn’t you lead by example and practice what you preach?"
"B-but..." The other participants stuttered, struggling to find the right words to express their thoughts or feelings at the moment. However, Hera didn’t allow them time to gather their thoughts as she continued to bombard them with her own opinions.
"My team and I respected your request and politely declined the villagers’ invitation to dine with them to avoid unnecessary thoughts of unfairness within the group. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t gather ingredients from the mountains or rivers. I mentioned this earlier where we got what we had, even though it wasn’t necessary." Hera paused and looked at everyone’s faces to see their expressions before she continued.
"But I just happened to share what I heard from the villagers about someone saying that they are feeling unwell because they don’t have enough to eat because they can’t get enough points, that offended you? What about when you accused us in front of our faces? Isn’t that hypocritical and ironic?" Hera’s words were straightforward and direct, yet she maintained a smile on her face as if discussing the weather. However, her tone carried weight. When their eyes met hers, they found themselves avoiding her gaze, knowing she spoke the truth, though it stung.
Hera felt compelled to assert her thoughts and truths because remaining silent would only embolden them further. If she allowed them to take the lead unchallenged, they would continue their entitled attitude, believing they could demand anything from her whenever they perceived the playing field as unbalanced.
Feeling defensive, they struggled to find an immediate response to Hera’s pointed remarks. Instead, they sought a scapegoat, attempting to deflect why they were being held accountable in the first place.
It’s a common tendency for people to operate this way, convinced they’re acting in the best interests of everyone involved. However, when they only hear one side of the story, it’s easy for them to take sides and assign blame. It’s only when they’re questioned themselves that they pause to reflect on their own knowledge and assumptions.
This mindset makes them vulnerable to manipulation, as they are passive bystanders eager to join in without truly understanding the situation. They become susceptible to being swayed by others who may not have their best interests at heart.