Leave it, for now. There isn't much aside from that... Well, perhaps if you trusted ME more... But you don't, so... Just remember the option. And remember that 'Forced' and 'Against Someone's Will', while they may appear in the same sentence... They are two different concepts.
Sure, I just...Do not want to see Ke being controlled so easily. I'd like to hear what is that alternative you have in the case I trusted you more.Barth starts once again to drift into sleep, stubbornly considering his options. He does not want Ke being so easily controlled, but his options are slim.
His morals...Being a "master" and keeping someone as "slave" are concepts that are alien and sound offensive to him. He does not want to order anyone around nor be in a position of "superiority" in relation to someone. He accepts companionship, but slavery, even if not as he knows the word, is still odd and...Simply goes against what he considers right and proper as a free and educated man.
On the other extreme...He didn't want to let Ke be freely controlled by others. She could be hurt, and she could hurt. There was no telling on what could happen next. If the creature inside his mind had controlled the snakegirl so easily, what about new ones? What if clinging to his values happened to be selfish and exposed Ke to danger, creating a dilemma that actually put him facing another of his most important values, which was saving and helping people? Wouldn't be accepting the duty as a master be the best option, as hard as it would be for him, even as the loud cries of some of his values attacked his mind?
As a medic, Barth knew that he sometimes had to take unsavory decisions. Life was harsh, and, in his world, very dangerous. Always wary, always trying to do good for people...If there was no other way, he would do it, may his moral values forgive him. They would be muffled by higher reasons...But only if there was no other way.