Chapter 24 - Label

Ravenna's breath was even, and she could see the tiny particles of sand floating around her in the dry air.

She crouched lower, her movements slow and careful, ensuring that she did nothing to scare the herd.

The calf, now only a few feet away, lowered its head and sniffed at her stretched-out hand. Ravenna's heart swelled with a mix of hope and awe.

The mother Firehorn made a soft, rumbling sound, a sound of reassurance to her calf and a signal that there was no danger.

Ravenna knew that this moment was significant. The Firehorns, despite being labeled as monsters by humans, could sense the truth of her intentions.

They were calm because they could feel her heart, a heart that was pure and free of any malicious intent.

Ravenna's thoughts raced back to her lessons in the palace, the teachings about monsters and their innate abilities. She realized now that those lessons only scratched the surface.

There was so much more to these creatures than she had been taught. They had feelings, families, and the ability to sense the true nature of others.

This encounter was a reminder for her that the labels humans placed on things often masked the deeper truths.

Ravenna let out a chuckling laugh as the calf nudged her hand with its small horn. She lightly tapped its nose, and the calf playfully tossed its head, spraying a bit of sand around them.

Ravenna giggled, her eyes sparkling with joy, and the calf seemed to respond, bouncing a bit on its feet and nudging her again.

She began to play with it, moving her hand in small circles, and the calf followed with eager curiosity, its movements light and energetic.

The mother Firehorn watched them with gentle eyes, and even the other Firehorns seemed to relax, going about their tasks but occasionally glancing over at the happy scene.

Ravenna and the calf were lost in their playful moment. 

As they continued their playful interaction, Ravenna's thoughts drifted to Lumina's words. "What I told you, Ravenna, label, a word but it could be more dangerous," Lumina had said. "The world labels by words, without knowing the true meaning behind them."

Ravenna stood there, beginning to understand the deeper concept. Humans often use labels without fully grasping their meaning.

They create words to describe what they fear or don't understand, sometimes attaching a sense of insanity or danger without knowing the true nature behind it.

"Monster," Ravenna muttered to herself. "What is the real meaning behind it?" She was lost in thought, trying to unravel the concept.

Without Lumina's guidance, she wanted to understand the meaning on her own. She raised her hand, her mind deep in contemplation.

"What comes to my mind?" she wondered aloud.

Words often don't hold any intrinsic meaning but are given power by human imagination. Like colors - what does "yellow" really mean? It's just a word until the mind conjures an image of the color.

Similarly, the word "monster" brings to mind a being that is furious, scary, and a killer - one that attacks humans without question. But do they really do such things?

Ravenna's eyes widened as the realization settled in. As it goes, "Don't judge a book by its cover."

Firehorns before her wasn't a killer. It was just protecting itself and its loved ones, much like humans do.

The mother Firehorn wasn't a beast; she was a protector, ensuring her calf grew up strong and safe. The herd wasn't a threat; they were a family, living their lives with love and care.

As Ravenna played with the calf, she saw the world from a new perspective. The labels humans placed on things often masked the true nature of those things.

The word "monster" was just that - a word. The beings it described were living creatures with feelings, connections, and purposes. They weren't so different from humans after all.

"What is the real meaning behind it?" she repeated, feeling a new sense of clarity.

It wasn't about killing or destroying; it was about understanding and protecting. She looked at the playful calf and smiled. In that moment, she knew what she had to do.

"Are not humans then also monsters?" Ravenna asked this question to herself.

If monster means to kill, like savage, destroy everything in their path, hold no justice, and destroy everything for their own benefit, then it seems to suit anyone.

It is just a word. It does not mean a race, a label, a caste, nor does it define any living being.

Ravenna closed her eyes and understood the hidden meaning behind the word "monster."

A word that describes her situation as well, her kingdom which was the prey of such monstrosity - they were the real monsters.

Ravenna understood the deep meaning buried like a pearl in the depths of the ocean: The worst monsters are those that hide behind the mask of humanity.

Her mind flashed back to the betrayal and the bloodshed that brought down her kingdom. It wasn't the Firehorns or any other so-called "monsters" that caused it. It was humans, driven by greed, jealousy, and a thirst for power.

Those who destroyed her kingdom may have believed they were justified, that their actions were necessary. But in truth, they became the very monsters they claimed to fight against.

Ravenna stood amidst the shifting sands, her eyes following the playful dance of the Firehorn calf and its mother.

The realization she had come to was more than just an understanding of monsters and their role in the world.

It was the moment of self-discovery and reflection. As she watched the tender interactions between them, she couldn't help but think about the nature of monsters and what they truly represented.