Sapienophobia

Chapter 3

I planned on following Root to school the next day, making sure to even go to sleep early the night before so that I would be awoken by his movements to leave. But it was one of Father's lighter days so I was obstructed by him doing laundry when I pressed my ear against the door.

Great, I thought, being the optimist a 10-year-old should be, I can save time by not having to go get him.

I knew Father would ask me to strip the beds of their sheets. I sneaked upstairs with the expectation to be praised afterward.

"Good morn- oh, thank you, Shin, you didn't have to," Father found room under the sheets to pat my head after I tumbled down the stairs.

Yes, I did.

I heard Father ease into his favorite rocking chair when I went back to my room. I sketched to pass the time.

"Father! Root left his lunch box!" I interrupted his reading after several hours.

Another lie. I stole it out of his bag when he was sleeping and stashed it under my bed.

"Really? And here I thought you were the forgetful one. Let's bring it to him," Father stretched as he stood.

Yes, yes, all according to plan.

I smirked to myself when Father's back was turned to me as we exited.

I squinted. The second, larger sun was high overhead, subduing the clouds and encouraging me.

The distance between the house and Root's school wasn't long but I urged him to take the scenic route.

I had to time it perfectly.

Father's strides were wide, commanding. The indent in the dirt left by his boot illuminated its definition, it was as if nothing could wilt it; mine would've faded with a passing wind. I tried to match him step-for-step but all I accomplished was staining my shoes with clay.

I was so distracted by the differences in our footprints that I fumbled Root's lunch when I was abruptly met with Father's back.

"Shin," Father's voice held no semblance of its usual warmth, "go and hide behind the school statue."

He didn't need to point. It was the only human "founder" memorial in the district.

I would've been reluctant to approach the statue if a congregation of humans wasn't present a few kilometers away.

Knights.

With their bronze-plated armor and the royal insignia engraved on their breasts and spearheads, I could only predict as much.

I mapped out the shortest route back home.

They hadn't noticed Father who only walked up after I was hidden. They were too busy bloodying their hands, battering the school staff. The worry plaguing Father's face tells me to look for Root.

I scan the dirt, broken twigs, an unconscious mass of random victims, ripped garments, cross-species mixtures of blo-

He's there.

Amongst the pile of what I feared were only his classmates and teachers. I didn't notice him initially because the state of his face made him near unrecognizable. A black eye here, a swollen cheekbone there. His glasses had been shattered.

The priestess was nowhere to be found.

Yeah, just as scary as I remember.
I think I'm going to throw up. I can't move.
What happened? No, does it matter?
Nothing would excuse this.
I warned him.
I told him to stay away from the humans. No good will come from getting friendly with them. See how easily they did this? They're monsters. It's in their nature.

Father raised his hands to the humans, revealing that he was unarmed and meant them no harm.

"I am a doctor. This boy is my child. May I ask the reason for this?" His eyes glanced between Root and the knights.

He wasted no time amidst the awkward silence that followed to tend to my brother's wounds.

Father, no! Just grab Root and run. Don't be a hero. They won't spare you!

"This boy is your kid?" One of the knights spat, eyeing Root closer to confirm, "You should've taught him to know his place. The world doesn't need any more half-Anide devil spawns."

Father only took a moment to fully understand the situation.

"Forgive him. H-"

A kick to his shoulder. Father rolled away but bounced back quickly, returning to Root.

"You need to pay for failing to educate your offspring. This insect nest too. This filth's surroundings helped contribute to his blasphemous mindset," another knight gritted, her nose scrunched up at him.

"You know... they do say the best way to get rid of an infestation is to burn the nest," the first suggested, conjuring fire in his hand.

"Please," Father begged, paying no heed to their insults or intents, "let me help him, he will bleed out if left like this."

A different knight hacked and then spewed a fat wad of saliva directly into the medicine Father was preparing. Then they kicked him again, this time harder.

I can't look.

I spun my back to the scene whilst trying to muffle the sounds of Father's assault. My breaths became ragged when I was forcing down my gasps. My knees buckled against my wishes as I clasped my quivering hands into a prayer grip.

I can't breathe.

I felt urine running down my leg. I dug my nails into my knuckles, urging my body to heed me.

I need to do something. Now. Or Father... they'll kill him.
Isn't this the part where I'm supposed to get angry at them?
Hate them! Hate them for doing this to me! Move! Hurt them like I hurt!

My stomach churned and I swallowed deeply to keep it down. My thoughts raced but the epiphany that arose was still, my body's response to trauma.

Calm.

I can't win. Never against a human.
It's fine, parents die for their children all the time. There's nothing wrong with prioritizing my own life.
I'm sorry, Father, Root.
I don't even have the strength to watch you die. You can take comfort in the fact that I will survive.

The sweat that had beaded on my scalp now felt warm. A cooled head with a dash of adrenaline lets me move my legs, my feet.

And I ran.

Thus, my inconsolable fear of humans intensified.