[ For reasons Atem himself isn't even sure of, he finds himself comparing himself to Bayek. It's a little bit that he's feeling some measure of uncertainty now, and he barely understands why that is, but Bayek seems considerably more confident than he does. Perhaps that's because of the difference in age between them, but it also seems to Atem that Bayek has had far more living experience than he has. That's also understandable, since he didn't live very long, but that's what makes Atem wonder about his own capability as a ruler when he was alive.
As for what legacy he left behind in the living world, Atem likes to believe his friends will remember him and will continue being the kind and strong people that he knows them to be. They were always that way, even before he met them, so he has no doubts about that particular subject.
He can't speak to the kind of cost that Bayek had to come to grips with, but he can relate to wishing that paying it hadn't been necessary. He supposes that it might well be a different sort of cost, because in his case, he thought he was doing what was best for his people, and so he doesn't regret it. Something tells him that Bayek can't say the same, at least not entirely. ]
I suppose that needing to deal with that great evil gave them an opportunity, and they took it. [ Because his attentions, and nearly everyone else's, were focused on Zorc's. It's not difficult to imagine that those with nefarious intentions would have seen his distraction and used that to their advantage. If only he could have seen that at the time and had counter-measures put in place. ]
You and Aya are honorable people. [ He'd already reached that conclusion just based on his interactions with Bayek so far, and now he has no doubt of it, even though it seems that both of them have carried out their share of darker actions in their time. At least in that respect, they aren't so different. And yet he knows that he still can view them with respect. ]
Oh, yes, so it is. [ He returns Bayek's grin with relative ease. ] If you had the opportunity to choose, would you rather have worked in the shadows to achieve your goals, or... [ He hesitates, wondering if what he's asking might offend the other man. ] I mean to say that a public position might provide more resources. [ And potentially opening up avenues for further trouble and creating enemies. There's benefits and consequences to both. ]
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As for what legacy he left behind in the living world, Atem likes to believe his friends will remember him and will continue being the kind and strong people that he knows them to be. They were always that way, even before he met them, so he has no doubts about that particular subject.
He can't speak to the kind of cost that Bayek had to come to grips with, but he can relate to wishing that paying it hadn't been necessary. He supposes that it might well be a different sort of cost, because in his case, he thought he was doing what was best for his people, and so he doesn't regret it. Something tells him that Bayek can't say the same, at least not entirely. ]
I suppose that needing to deal with that great evil gave them an opportunity, and they took it. [ Because his attentions, and nearly everyone else's, were focused on Zorc's. It's not difficult to imagine that those with nefarious intentions would have seen his distraction and used that to their advantage. If only he could have seen that at the time and had counter-measures put in place. ]
You and Aya are honorable people. [ He'd already reached that conclusion just based on his interactions with Bayek so far, and now he has no doubt of it, even though it seems that both of them have carried out their share of darker actions in their time. At least in that respect, they aren't so different. And yet he knows that he still can view them with respect. ]
Oh, yes, so it is. [ He returns Bayek's grin with relative ease. ] If you had the opportunity to choose, would you rather have worked in the shadows to achieve your goals, or... [ He hesitates, wondering if what he's asking might offend the other man. ] I mean to say that a public position might provide more resources. [ And potentially opening up avenues for further trouble and creating enemies. There's benefits and consequences to both. ]