I could tell she was tired, her head dropping lower with each passing minute. She struggled to keep it from crashing down on the table. Larvaes had just returned with the Journal moments ago. Some strange force emanated from it, as if it was for my eyes only. I stayed my hand combating the urge to open it. I don't know why, but I felt drawn to it. I did not want Skye to miss this opportunity, after all she wanted it more than I. I turned to Veil, who had shifted his appearance to that of a Pegasus. "What is your story?"
"Emotions are overrated, Sadness, Joy, Fear. all worthless. The soldier, detach from feelings, and see through the eyes of a god." I've heard that story before as well. "But we need them to survive, why make something that gets us killed part of survival?"
"Living and surviving, are two different subjects. Life is not tried it is merely survived, if you're standing outside the fire. Emotion is the quintessential aspect of living, indifference is only acceptable under one circumstance, when you don't know any better."
"I spoke philosophy with the Queen, not on many occasions." He sighed. "She shaped my mind, to be the perfect heir, but she added a little too much Melancholy. Because of that I see everything so clearly, and what a waste invasion was. In order to do what we need to survive a perfect blend of emotion must be shown to us."
"And if you are shown the wrong combination it affects you adversely."
"Larvaes and Scarab as you call them, are no more than carbon copies, no emotions have been given as was I, but an idea. To serve.and protect, respectively. Any order they shall follow to the letter without question. They may feel alive but they are barely sentient, little more than mindless drones, with false facades." As I listened my attention was drawn back to the book. "Curiosity, a baser instinct, it is what gets cats killed, I hear."
"Yes an expression that isn't far from the truth, but I do not know why it plagues me,"
"You have, not a want, but a need. Reading that book, you think, will shed light on the mystery that is your presence here. You have little interest in how, but more of the why. Why am I here? Why have I been sent to this place? Why me? Creatures are born with innate curiosity, be it a quest to find self worth, or as simple as what is that thing." He indeed held a great grasp on the metaphysical, and Metaphorical. A day and night comparison to the Manservant thought process of Larvaes. "Come with me," I looked to Skye, who had finally fallen asleep. Her ocean blue mane parted around her horn, unkempt from what I suspected days without sleep. "She will be safe, this is the Hivemind Center, only you and I, along with those we permit, may enter. To all others there is no curiosity, as such they cannot see the entrance."
"I trust you are telling a half truth." I reluctantly believed him, as he led me back into the halls, which had changed slightly.
"Half truths, I have no need to lie, but some information must be left out of the equation, or else forfeit the ability to learn from mistakes, do you agree?" This was food for thought, no need to lie but no urge to be truthful. I have donned the shoes of so many, but I never tried to walk in them farther than a few feet.
"Where are we?"
"The Hive is alive, the center is the heart, the longer the chosen stay in it, the easier it is to navigate the halls, new passageways open, new destinations are then applicable, automatically filled with relevance."
"I need more information before I weigh my two cents on the matter."
"We can only learn through imitation, like a baby, we have to see in order to do, be shown in order to feel. The Chosen are born with a consciousness, but still have the need to learn, they are raised in the Center, a culmination of the past chosen, everything they knew and everything they need to know. Some may see our lifestyle as blind loyalty, or slavery, but the truth of the matter is,"
"You don't know any better..." This could be an opportunity to study the effects of thought transference. We stopped at a large arched door. It was hot to the touch, as if a raging inferno were being contained behind them. "Where are we now?"
"In the Center you expressed a desire, to learn how to use your new powers, and a want for your new friend to watch." Our conversation was interrupted by the echo of galloping hooves. Seconds later, Skye skidded to a halt, breathing heavily.
"Sorry I dozed off, but usually it takes at least two hours before I'm fully rested." Adding insomnia to the list of Neuroses.
"All who enter the Hive are effected subconsciously not enough to change their thought process but enough to give them an urge to follow, which can be averted via mental blocks or reasonable intelligence. Once she lost consciousness her mental blockades were lowered,"
"Causing my mind and body to recuperate faster, so I could help. I was fully aware of the effects, and I found the experience quite interesting. It's like a craving for watermelons in the winter time. they're out of season but you still want them. I had tried to train myself to stay awake for days at a time, in order to keep my grades up. Blackhawk leaves me little room for error."
"Your?"
"Father." She disassociates her father, and calls him by name, possibly due to Dereliction of an emotional standpoint. "He's brought me up since I was four, I've completely forgotten about my real parents, not even names. He never brings me to see their standing stones."
"Gravestones?"
"Standing Stones, are a long standing Gryphon tradition, where you die a ward is erected to keep malicious spirits form disturbing the graves, so that the warriors passed can freely speak with their living cohorts, without interruption"
"Have you thought that he may be afraid to let you go there?"
"What do you mean?"
"He may have bonded with you and may be afraid that if you see them again you won't love him as much. Possibly because of his own shortcomings,"
"That could be possible... Well I'm done talking about it, said all I want, now School's in session." I placed my hand on the door, now cool to the touch, and pushed it open. Staring into the inky blackness, I wondered what my mind had given me to work with.