Surprise, shock, awe, the place Father had led me to in the end was in fact the exit to his humble abode and by extension outside. I of course knew that there were such things as the sky and clouds but to see them for myself, it was a very different kind of feeling.
A smile all too naturally crept over my face as I stared out at the far rolling hills of luscious green moss. This world most definitely was not the Earth featured so prominently in my memories but to me it was far better.
An untainted paradise just waiting to be travelled and explored. Before I could take my first steps off of the remainder of Father's cold and dreary metal flooring to at last know the feeling of dirt between my toes said man abruptly placed his hand on my shoulder halting me.
"The reason I showed you this Reen is so you could properly prepare yourself. Should you ever desire to leave I will never stop you but when that time comes, do not expect to ever return back to a peaceful welcome."
Hearing such things my happiness towards the novelty of my surroundings quickly fade. While I knew Father was a cold man I can't help but to have expected more.
"I don't understand."
Despite knowing it would have been better to maintain an appearance of strength my age shines through regardless and I say as such with the vulnerability of a ... well a child.
"It's nothing complicated Reen. Two tigers cannot share one mountain this is why our kind who once boasted a population in the trillions has now been reduced to our current pitiful state."
"Is Father referring to the Only King?"
While humanity has long evolved past the level of revering constructs of our own imaginings even we still have our own equivalents.
"While the Only King is a good example what I truly mean is that this is merely our unalterable nature."
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What is the nature of humanity? While my genetic memories contain all knowledge of universal laws and my sleep learning pertains to our race's history and culture more esoteric concepts like philosophy are not overly included in such things.
"Curiosity, ambition and cruelty these are the three cores that make us who we are."
"Curiosity, ambition and cruelty?"
"Yes, while there are races that rival us in intelligence, these races will be bogged down by their own customs and taboos. We humans however will do just about anything in the name of curiosity no matter how depraved or forbidden and thus we will always walk further on this path."
"What of Ambition then?"
"Even simpler to the point newborns display it. "What you have, I want." Curiosity will drive us to see all things but our ambition is what makes us seek to claim it all for ourselves."
It was as Father said despite knowing very little even I understood the fact that I instinctually desired Father's power, his knowledge and even his very world all for myself. Despite knowing it wouldn't be anything good that blasted curiosity reared its head again and my ambitions forbid me from not completing the set so with a morbid sort of wonder I asked about the last of the three cores.
" ... Cruelty?"
With a sadistic grin like the big bad wolf of old Father was more than happy to share his twisted logic.
"Humans, from the times of darkness before even fire itself, all the way till now when we have command of the very stars have always been "weak."
Confused I called Father out on his contradiction.
"How can something that controls massive stars be weak?"
"How? That's exactly the point we are not weak because we lack power we are weak because that is our nature. It is only by always seeing ourselves as weak can we become the great beings we are today. Other civilisations will eventually fall in their overconfidence but we will always know fear, at every shadow, at every unknown, no matter how much we try to hide it that fear is who we are. As such from the smallest bug to the mightiest wyrm we will never show mercy and anything that threatens us will face only absolute destruction to the last. We stand above all others because even when facing our lessers nothing is beneath us."
It was certainly a sobering explanation, one I oh so desperately wanted to deny and yet ...
I know in my heart it's truth, beasts are all we ever were, beasts are all we will ever be. All jubilation forgotten I wordlessly shuffle myself back into the dark crypt my father has the insanity to call a house.
The imagination of my mind as the only companion I have, I ponder what sort of dwelling I would make given the choice myself ... One day ... One day. I consciously make an effort to flood my thoughts of better things and leave the disturbing truths I've learned behind, this too is human instinct it seems.