Good and evil...

How much do you believe in the concept? Do they truly exist, or are they merely products of one's imagination?

The basis of morality is entirely subjective, shaped by what the majority considers good or bad. In the end, it all comes from the mind—created by imagination, an illusion that sprouts from one's thoughts. Good and evil do not exist unless someone thinks of them.

For creatures without thought, there is no such categorization—only instinct. The instinct to survive by any means necessary, to continue existing, to reproduce, to live.

For us goblins—creatures of green, illiterate fools—there is neither good nor evil, only survival. That was true until I tasted the forbidden fruit of knowledge, consuming the essence of awareness and taking the first step toward intelligence.

"Bandits!" The shout came from afar—a man's voice, human. The rest of the goblins turned pale, their instincts screaming at them to run for their lives. But for some reason, my feet did the opposite.

My body was drawn to the voice. I think this is called curiosity—the thirst for knowledge. My mind buzzed with anticipation and excitement. I wanted to see, to know what was happening.

Yet, Fina stopped me before I made a mistake. For some reason, curiosity can kill a cat.

The strange female goblin dragged me away from the danger. It was the safest choice—my instincts screamed at me to flee, yet a part of me yearned to chase the unknown. My heart was filled with the desire to understand.

And then, as if my will had bent fate itself, the shouts of the humans came closer. A tattered carriage, drawn by two wheezing and wounded horses, crashed into a tree. People were thrown from its wooden enclosure. A young girl clutching a large book tumbled out, pain marking every inch of her body.

A group of humans on horseback followed, wielding red-tinted swords and spears. One of them commanded, "Kill that child of a demon!"—and the others pointed their weapons at her. My curiosity was piqued. Questions sprouted in my mind. How could one human command others so easily? Why were they trying to kill one of their own kind?

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I squinted, seeking answers while hiding with the rest of the flock. The humans readied their swords, prepared to strike down what should have been their kin. Yet before the scene could unfold, a man clad in bloodied, tattered armor crashed into the group, halting their malicious intent.

"Don't touch her!" he screamed with every ounce of his exhausted, dying will. "How foul and evil are you to try to kill an innocent child!?"

A chuckle echoed. "This is the problem with illiterate fools—pretending to be saints while knowing nothing of the world." One of the bandits extended his hand toward the armored man. In an instant, a flash pierced the air, and a hole appeared in the man's chest.

"Believe me or not, I am doing this for the future of mankind."

With the support of his heavy sword, the dying man forced himself to stand. "Even so, killing an innocent child is—"

"Fool," the bandit growled. "What's heavier: the life of that child or the lives of thousands—if not millions—that could die by her hand? Which of us is good? Which of us is evil?"

Good and evil. At first, I knew nothing of these concepts, for I did not understand human language. Yet this moment was when I first tasted the forbidden fruit of morality—of right and wrong—committing the awareness of sin.

The bandit laughed. "I forgot—it's all just a matter of perspective! There are no good or bad people among us! We're all just trying to survive!"

"Only animals lack the concept of good and evil. And I am human. I am not like you," the warrior declared, slashing toward a bandit but missing.

"Young girl, RUN!" he shouted. The girl, her cheeks wet with tears, stumbled to her feet and fled as fast as her small legs could carry her.

"Don't let her escape!"

But the girl was clumsy. She tripped, dropping her book. Without a second thought, she stood up, closed her eyes, ran and screamed from the top of her lungs.

Though she never outran the bandits.

This happened long ago, and the memories have faded. I do not know what became of the girl or the man in armor but it may be better to live it to your imagination. But what I remember most vividly—etched deep into my mind—was the book she left behind. That book changed my life for better or worse. It was my forbidden fruit.

It was a picture book that told the story of a Hero saving a Princess from the Dark Evil Lord. I was curious, so I picked it up—though I could not read. Slowly, bit by bit, I began to understand the words. Curiosity birthed imagination, which gave rise to imagery, which connected to words.

I studied the pictures, identified the shapes of letters, learned how they formed words, and how words combined to convey meaning. As I deciphered each page, something within me changed.

I became aware—aware of the world, of what I was, or rather, of what the world thought I was: a goblin. I realized I had thoughts. And with those thoughts came awareness of my own existence.

And thus, the awareness of morality was born—the notions of good and evil, conceived by thought.

Good and evil...

How much do you believe in the concept?