Author’s Note
In a world of gods and monsters, myths and men, history is written by omitting the uncomfortable reality. Being victorious means one can forget the atrocities they committed to do so, and in vilifying the loser, warping the complexities of human nature to seem black and white, they look like a hero. As if every heart that stopped beating, every drop of crimson ichor that painted the soil was necessary for survival, as if it was the only option. Kill or be killed.
But, genocide is not an act of defense, and it has never been an attempt at survival.
What drives humanity to slaughtering one another so needlessly? Any individual with half a brain would tell you it's their nature. The sweaty, soft spoken preacher with that cross around his neck would call it sin, and blame the Devil's wicked influence. But, he may be the same one with his hand's wandering the flesh of his young congregation. Or perhaps you'd ask the copper-haired girl, dancing barefoot along the river's edge, and she'd tell you about the Universe and energies people carry. She may warn the very weight of cruelty, and hate, will shroud the soul unless cleansed by the elements. There are so many responses, each one more divine than the last, and yet no man or woman seems to know the real answer.
Humanity are a species better defined by blends of grey, the duality of their good and bad traits meld into an entirely unique shade, ever evolving. Every set of eyes perceives the world around them in a way foreign to their peers, each of their choices defined by their own desires or needs. And like any creature, when threatened, some will fight tooth and nail while others sprint in the opposite direction. Duality is one of the only things consistent throughout each one of them, because that balance is the nature of the Universe.
I suppose you're wondering: What's with all the rambling? What point are you trying to prove?
Humanity wasn't the first race of intelligent beings with so much gray in their soul. They certainly aren't the only ones at the moment, either. So, leave your judgements and preconceived opinions here, journey forth to meet them by name.
They left the unknown for us to discover.
-W