Humans are fragile, yet they require so much care.
You have to keep them clean at all times, and despite eating so little, they need to be fed two or three times a day in divided portions.
Their diet is especially finicky. Most things need to be cooked for them. You have to roast or boil food to remove toxins and soften it. If it’s even slightly hard, they can’t eat it, so you have to pay meticulous attention. On top of that, they get sick if they don’t consume a tiny amount of salt.
You can’t just feed them one thing either. If you only feed them meat, their body breaks down, and if you only feed them grass or fruit, they lack energy. You have to process and feed them a balanced diet.
Their bodies are incredibly weak too. Their skin is so delicate that even brushing against grass causes wounds and problems. If they fall, their skin tears and they bleed. Jump even a little too high and their bones can break if they’re not careful. Catch a bit of cold wind and they get sick, and if they don’t sleep on time, they lose their mind.
“How on earth did such a fussy and fragile existence manage to survive without going extinct?”
“…I’m not weak.”
“And yet despite being like this, why are you so pretty?”
“Will something terrible happen if you don’t tell me I’m pretty?”
“I can’t help it. What can I do about you being pretty? You should have been a little less pretty.”
“Damn it. There’s no getting through to you.”
I still haven’t made Miros’s arm.
It’s my fault for deciding to study humans first in case any problems arose. Miros seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but didn’t say anything more.
I suppose he was scared since it’s his own body. It’s better for both of us to be safe about it.
Havi’s knowledge is useful but too fragmentary, so I had no choice but to buy some human books.
Contrary to my worries about how to obtain human currency, I acquired it surprisingly easily. I had plenty of gold pieces from what the humans had given me before, so I exchanged those. Ah, so humans use gold pieces as currency. I knew there was something called money as a medium of exchange, but I didn’t know exactly what it referred to. I wish I’d known beforehand.
Then Miros wouldn’t have had to endure that pain. It was belated regret. But I also know it couldn’t be helped. Who would have known that humans trade through this, that they use it as their main currency? Neither Havi nor I have any occasion to trade with humans. We just vaguely thought we’d accept whatever was offered.
Anyway, that’s how I bought the books. And then I had to struggle with an unexpected problem. I learned that human language had changed quite a bit in the meantime. Thanks to that, I had to spend quite a lot of time reading the books.
Hmm. Their knowledge develops surprisingly fast. I thought it would be fine since I’d learned from Lamga before, but the language system has changed considerably. I thought it would be okay since I could still use the spoken language.
Is it because their lifespans are short, or because of the weakness of their frail bodies? They really studied hard. I’m almost thinking this is how they survived. It really was tremendous dedication in many ways.
“But does that actually help?”
“At least it’ll help more than before. If nothing else, your meals have become more plentiful, haven’t they?”
I also bought books on processing food for human consumption. Humans call this cooking, apparently. It’s better to feed him something delicious while I’m at it. I can’t tell the difference, but taste is an important sense for humans too.
“You can read them too. There are surprisingly many interesting things.”
For some reason, Miros only rolled his eyes back and forth at my suggestion, watching my reaction. The answer came quickly. He hesitated and barely managed to speak.
“I… don’t know how to read.”
“Hm? But you’re human.”
“I’ve never learned!”
Oops, I forgot again. That Miros was an individual who became independent quickly without being raised by his own kind. He might have learned speech by hearing it, but he might not have learned written language. I didn’t consider that.
“If you’re okay with it, shall I transmit it to you?”
“…Trans… mit? What’s that?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I transfer part of my knowledge to you.”
Unfortunately, I don’t know how to teach using human methods.
It was the same when I learned from Lamga. I received a transmission of part of his memory.
“Shall I do it now?”
If I’m going to do it anyway, sooner is better.
***
There’s no particular reason I bothered learning human language. I just became slightly interested. I used to see them quite often in the past too.
Their will is conveyed, but I couldn’t understand what they were saying.
To be honest, it wasn’t an act with utility in mind. When birds chirp, do you need to know what they mean? Of course I can understand what they mean, but it’s not a necessary act.
I don’t see humans often, and there’s no reason to.
But even so, I wanted to know. What are you saying to me? I can know what you want, but that’s all. I know the form, but not exactly what kind it is. It was curiosity brought on by a moment’s whim.
Lamga was the smartest human I’d known up to that point, and was an individual who knew how to give despite being human. In fact, Lamga was the only one I could ask. At the time, Lamga didn’t seem too pleased that I was showing interest in humans, but eventually accepted my request.
I wanted to hear Lamga’s voice more too. To be honest. I said there’s no need to attach meaning to birds chirping, but Lamga was special. I was just curious what he was saying with that beautiful voice.
At first, Lamga seemed to try teaching me the human way, but we knew too many different concepts, so he gave up quickly. In the end, it just ended with him transmitting it to me.
Unfortunately, Lamga’s human period didn’t last long either. Later he ascended and departed beyond eternity. Saying pessimistic things like there’s no hope in this world. How cold of him. He was a human I really liked.
What a fool. Everyone has dreams and hope. If he lost them, it’s because he lost them himself, yet he blames the world for nothing.
Lamga was inevitably a foolish human too. After acting so smart about everything.
“So, I don’t have to study?”
For some reason, Miros looked pleased. I suppose the idea of avoiding the difficulty of learning is appealing.
Well, the act of learning by investing physical time and effort is very tiring. I understand too. Though I’ve never acquired anything in such a troublesome way, I’ve seen many cases where one has to.
I put down the book I was reading and held out both hands.
“Hold them, and press your forehead to mine. Then say ‘I accept the transmission.'”
“That’s simpler than I thought?”
Just the form is simple. But the chain reaction of miracles that will occur from this simple act is very complex. It’s possible because I’m the medium that constructs, connects, and executes that circuit.
Oh, I belatedly warned him about a problem I’d just remembered.
“Ah, I’m telling you in advance, your head might hurt a bit. Since knowledge that didn’t exist is suddenly filling your head.”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
At my words, Miros asked in a somewhat worried tone. I tried to recall my hazy memory.
How was it? I tried to remember that time, but it didn’t seem that bad.
“Just a slight throbbing? It goes away quickly…”
I was sure it was like that, but Miros suddenly burst into tears and fainted again.
Oh no. I should have been careful, remembering again how fragile Miros is. I forgot again and tormented him.
***
Miros groaned and suffered for a whole week before waking up.
How can such a fragile life form exist?
Or is Miros special? Was it because he’s an immature individual? I don’t know. I don’t think dragon hatchlings were this fragile. They get transmitted to as soon as they’re born. Still, none of them have ever died.
Yes, this can’t be helped. Let’s accept it. Humans are very fragile. Miros is especially more fragile. I need to take action quickly.
“This won’t do. I don’t think I can delay any longer.”
He collapsed just from transmitting language. With nothing else, just from transferring speech and writing.
This is a really serious problem. Humans’ method of communication is language. In other words, it’s an essential survival tool. Seeing him collapse so easily, I can only think I need to elevate him as soon as possible.
“I’m sorry.”
For some reason, Miros became dejected. He seems to think I’m troubled because he’s too weak. I comforted such a Miros.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. It’s my fault for not considering it despite knowing your fragility. It’s because I failed to recall and be careful despite already knowing the situation sufficiently.”
“…Stop it. I feel even more miserable.”
For some reason, he became even more gloomy. He hung his head with a face that looked like he might cry. His eyes were brimming with moisture.
Oh, I didn’t mean to make him this sad. Miros is really delicate. He seems to cry more than most fairies.
“Just in case, I chose the smallest piece. If it’s not enough, let’s just build the form and fill it slowly.”
I took out my fragment that I’d prepared in advance. Miros stared at the piece placed on my palm, then spat out as if tossing it away.
“Why are you going this far?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s bothersome and difficult. You’re suffering because of me…”
It’s really strange. Though I haven’t directly encountered humans very often, most of them liked when I did things for them, and just readily accepted everything.
Most cases were overwhelmingly ones where they acted shamelessly as if it was entrusted to them, which was troublesome. I even punished them because it was annoying how they acted like I should naturally do things for them. There had never been a case of someone being sorry and watching my reaction like this.
Is it because he’s a young individual, or is this Miros’s innate nature?
“I’m doing it because I want to. I want you to regain your pretty form.”
“You know you’re really strange, right?”
