The Master of Technologies started complaining the minute after. That tedious little man was unable to keep his mouth shut and that day he wasn't going to hold back.
-They are way too young. I bet they are not older than seven and we all know the rules.- He whined, looking around for support.
-Oh blessed rules, how could we live without you?- The Master of Arts was already peeved. From the sofa he stared down at his pink fluffy slippers, completely ignoring the colleagues.
The Last one of the First-Masters took the word from the darkness, trying to smooth things over.
-We all recognized the language they used. If they really come from those Lands, they must have seen all kinds of terrible things. They are mature enough.- He stated, remaining hidden but glancing at the Great-Master, whose eyes were lost in difficult thoughts.
-They are so small... so emaciated... They wouldn't bear the stress.- Tried to intervene the Counselor, concerned for the child's well-being.
-We don't even know if they'll recover from what they've already suffered.- Added the Master of Tech, as if that was his real concern.
-They will recover and they will be strong enough, don't doubt that.- Strongly corrected them the First-Master. He knew for sure: that young Terrien was going to teach them all an important lesson, over the years. The Masters had to take care of them.
Nonetheless, two sides were forming, with different points of view.
-Anyway, they are not the ones we are looking for.-
-As if we were interviewing them for a job...- Puffed the Master of Arts.
-Master!- Someone yelled at him.
-Yeah, yeah... I'll be quiet...-
-Nevertheless, the Master of Technologies is right: they are not the ones all the rumours are talking about.-
-Not all folk tales should be trusted.- Tried to reason the First-Master, advising them not to blindly follow a mere legend.
-Yeah, like, you know the one about the curfew being reasonable? That's obviously right...-
-Master! Please!-
"How dare you Master of Arts talking of much more important matters..." Thought the Fist-Master with an inner laugh. Then he forced himself to be serious again.
-If we don't welcome them, someone else will. Would you prefer having someone with that power in their eyes beyond the Border?- He threatened.
No one answered. The strength of the child's gaze was undeniable, but that darkness... nothing good could come out of it.
A clock was clicking behind a glass case, alone in the silence. All the Masters were waiting for the final decision.
-Then it is settled.- Said the Great-Master, finally lifting his gaze. -They will be welcomed into the Institute.-
The First-Master was pleased by that decision, but he couldn't stop wondering about the consequences. "This child is going to teach these Masters a vital lesson, sooner or later. I should trust them to be able to listen when the day will come, but somehow I am not so confident they will set aside their so strongly rooted beliefs."
***
4 jumped on his mount, raising his gaze for the umpteenth time towards the room where he had left the little human. In there, an Assembly of Masters was discussing their case. A small Assembly, or so he hoped, otherwise within a few hours anyone for several miles around would have known that another little Terrien had been found homeless and without a family. Damn, the Masters just had to learn to keep their big mouths shut.
His mount emitted an annoyed snort, pulling back her ears, as they approached the front porch.
-Hey, kin-one, I know you don't like getting out of here. But it's always better than being a lab rat for newcomers' practice, right?- He tried to smile, giving her a gentle pat on the neck to make her feel his closeness. By contrast, he couldn't wait to leave: every time he was forced to return to that place he fled as quickly as possible. But how to blame her, after all? Those four walls were so darn good at making you feel protected from the rest of the world. And the world out there was less and less welcoming. Less and less... safe. In those times, too many young Terriens had already been found in critical condition, abandoned in abandoned places. Gloomy rumors began to circulate... maybe it would have been better to leave them on the street, to meet their destiny, whatever it was, not to feed those stories?
With a sharp snap of the tongue he forced both his horse and his subordinate's to proceed: their work there had finally come an end, for the time being at least.
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General FictionThey were raised to help the world, but they actually knew nothing about it. Who decided that States and borders were no longer necessary? Not exactly a wise choice since people were still not ready to learn. Yes, Progress is no longer sanctified an...
