A Hard Learned Lesson

An important lesson learned from the Magistrate's experiences is the idea that when the structured government that is retaining and suppressing the "evil" force is, in itself, corrupt and no-good, then the line between what is good and what is bad is very thin. He realizes that the Empire is doing what they think is best, which, in fact, is only best for them, and is harming the other people. When morals come into play, it is obvious which force is doing the right thing. Although the Colonel and the rest of the Army may think that beating and torturing these people is simply right and what they deserve, they are driven by twisted motives and their sense of right is actually a sense of empowerment.

Another important lesson that the Magistrate learned is the idea that no matter how hard he tries to associate himself the barbarians and disassociate himself with the ways of the Empire, he cannot escape. Although at times the barbarians may sympathize with the Magistrate, they overall see him as a commanding part of the Empire, and for the most part treat him coldly. The torture and abuse that his own people inflicted upon him proves the idea that trying to escape his Empire's principles will provide no gain and only harm him. It is morally right and selfless what he is trying to do, but if he were to look from a purely selfish point of view, the betterment of himself would only come from the ways of the Empire. His history and looks cannot be changed and the barbarians may never accept him for who he wants to be and will rather only label him with the same bullseye that they put on the other members of the Empire.