No amount of pride is worth a life
Cinder: *roll her eyes* I can't believe it! You're dealing with criminals as if it was the most normal thing to do! What's wrong with you!?
Rusted Knight: *fastening the shipment of food to the truck* It was cheaper, and we need as much food as we can get for the outpost—
Cinder: Urgh! Money, money, money; is that all you care about? What about your honor? Your chivalry?
Rusted Knight: *sigh* Honor is nothing more than self-righteousness disguised as something more noble. The truth is that the end justifies the means, it's as simple as that.
Cinder: *frown* Yet you didn't want me to kill the bitch who tortured me everyday for years and now she's STILL a pain in our ass! Well, less so nowadays, but still!
Rusted Knight: *tap the side of the truck, telling the driver to go* That's because no amount of pride, money or "justice" is worth a life. *Turns his head toward her* And you should be the one that understands it the most, Cinder.
Cinder: *annoyed* Yeah yeah, i know; I was supposed to become the scourge of Remnant and destroy multiple kingdoms with the help of an immortal witch. *Sigh* And speaking of her, what about the ones that do follow her still? Watts, what's his name and Who that is?
Rusted Knight: *cracks his knuckles* They are to be dealt with, one way or another. There's a difference between someone actively trying to kill you and someone abusing you, as much as it pains me to say—
Cinder: *scoff* What, you'd wish for them to get a slap on the wrist instead of getting killed?
Rusted Knight: *his hands shakes surreptitiously as memories of the night he saved her comes to his mind* No... *His fist clenches* That's not what i meant.
Cinder: *notices his change of mood, softening her voice* Dad, you know i didn't mean— I didn't— I.... *She stops, not finding the right words to say, instead silently walking up to him and hugs him* I'm sorry...
Rusted Knight: ... *Sigh, before patting her head gently* Don't worry, i know you were being sarcastic. *Chuckle* I'm old, not dumb yet.
Cinder: *sigh* Pacifism is hard...
Rusted Knight: *scoff* I beg to differ; i still broke your "mother's" jaw and stole her money before running away with you when i saw her for the first time. Just because i don't kill doesn't mean i won't bite. You are mixing pacifism with passivity here.
Cinder: ... What's the difference?
Rusted Knight: *pensive* Well... You can't be a pacifist and a chump at the same time, or else it just means you are weak, right? *Smiles, picking her up in his arms* I showed her what happens if she gets close to my little candle; she gets burned, simple.
Cinder: *Blushing slightly while giggling* Ahah d-dad! Stop it! You're making me blush!