England's grateful for Minami's healing spell, and even notes the faerie-like appearance of her Persona, but he's focused on Shinjiro for the time being, poised to fire his weapon if it appears that Shinjiro is going to hesitate in his confrontation with this...shadow. He's unsure as to how one's own personal demons can manifest, but, then again, they do summon those strange things from their own heads...
"I think you underestimate the necessity of balance in this world," he eventually comments dryly to the Shadow, as if a child had just asked him a particularly stupid question. He stares down the length of his bow and the arrow loaded in it-- thinks of his own mistakes, his own shames, things he'd rather sweep under the bed where the monsters dwell so that he can pretend they don't exist too. "Your presence is not a threat. It is a simple fact of life. It is what the true self chooses to do with that fact that matters."
England's thumb absently traces circles on the wood of the crossbow, a subtle note of distaste in his expression as he arches one eyebrow. "And doesn't that scare you? Knowing that your existence and freedom both hinge on a choice that was never yours to make? Because you certainly should be scared, if you're not. It's frightening not being the one in control of a situation." He speaks from experience. It's the worst feeling in the world knowing that you're not the master of your own fate.
Hundreds of years of demons. One choice not to let them be the end of him. That was all it had taken to set his own healing into motion. Shinjiro can do it too -- he doesn't even truly need to forgive himself. He just needs to accept his past for what it is. No good or evil, no demonising himself, his actions, or anyone else. Just accepting his past as a part of what makes him who he is.
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"I think you underestimate the necessity of balance in this world," he eventually comments dryly to the Shadow, as if a child had just asked him a particularly stupid question. He stares down the length of his bow and the arrow loaded in it-- thinks of his own mistakes, his own shames, things he'd rather sweep under the bed where the monsters dwell so that he can pretend they don't exist too. "Your presence is not a threat. It is a simple fact of life. It is what the true self chooses to do with that fact that matters."
England's thumb absently traces circles on the wood of the crossbow, a subtle note of distaste in his expression as he arches one eyebrow. "And doesn't that scare you? Knowing that your existence and freedom both hinge on a choice that was never yours to make? Because you certainly should be scared, if you're not. It's frightening not being the one in control of a situation." He speaks from experience. It's the worst feeling in the world knowing that you're not the master of your own fate.
Hundreds of years of demons. One choice not to let them be the end of him. That was all it had taken to set his own healing into motion. Shinjiro can do it too -- he doesn't even truly need to forgive himself. He just needs to accept his past for what it is. No good or evil, no demonising himself, his actions, or anyone else. Just accepting his past as a part of what makes him who he is.