Mana Mutation Menace (Journey to Chaos Book 3) Read Free Page A

use, so too does a sapient leave traces in the monster created
from it.”  
    His answered excited everyone. Kallen was visibly
relieved. Percy was unmoved.
    “Yes, it is similar. The ‘docile pets’ that Director Pluagi
referred to have long been assumed to support this hypothesis because they are
docile in the presence of people important to them, typically family. However,
this tame mindset is generally extended to only one or two people, and
sometimes not family. To everyone else, they were just another monster. Thus,
the hypothesis remains a hypothesis.”
    “I’m different from them because I am fully sapient.”
    As he finished this sentence, Eric realized that he still
had his spear’s blade extended from his hand. He quickly retracted it and
tightened his fist to hide it, and just as quickly loosened it so he didn’t
appear as if ready to punch someone. Percy replied as though he hadn’t noticed.
    “Yes, I believe that your case is different from the tame
monsters’. Instead of a monster influenced by a human’s memories, you are a
monster who thinks he is human. ”
    “I just told you— I’m not a grendel!”
    “Frankly, Mr. Watley, we don’t know what you are. You
don’t look like a grendel, but you act like one. You certainly don’t act
like a human.”
    That last sentence provoked Eric’s ire. He crossed his
arms and raised the hand of his left arm. Raising each finger in turn, he said,
“You want to start a debate about what it means to be human? Fine. I find food
for myself so I can stay alive. I kill threats to myself and my family, i.e., I
protect them. I dislike being treated as though I cannot think and reason for
myself. Is any of that not human, Tiger Man?”
    “Very well. We will wait for the test results to come back
to continue this discussion.”
    “What am I supposed to do in the meantime? My short-term
memory lasts longer than five seconds. As a human, I get bored.”
    “Kallen will show you around and ensure that you are
entertained.”
    “She’s to be my keeper?”
    “She is best suited for the role, yes.”
    Kallen grabbed Eric’s hand.
    “Come with me.”
    Despite the surroundings and his day so far, it was
impossible not to feel happy and peaceful when her hand was in his own. Why
does this happen? I’m sure Grey Dengel would be able to explain it. Despite
this, he couldn’t relax. His mind was constantly on the lookout for danger or
opportunities to eat. In addition to this, Kallen’s proximity stirred another
desire.
    Eric clamped down on that third one immediately. While he
couldn’t deny that he found Kallen attractive, the last thing he wanted to do
right now was jump her. He told himself it was just the grendel talking and
pushed it to the back of his mind.
    If only I could expel it like I did with Dengel….
    Kallen left the testing area and her arm pulled him in
that direction. He followed without comment. The door opened for her and she
led him into one of the facility’s hallways. The cameras watched both of them.
The scientists they passed subtly raised their barriers, and the guards kept
their weapons close at hand.
    “They consider me a threat just as I consider them a
threat,” Eric mused. “Is it because I also consider them to be food?”
    “Yes,” Kallen replied. “Humanoid sapients don’t consider
each other to be food. No, I should rephrase that. City-sapients, who are most
often humanoid, rarely consider each other to be food. It’s a different story
in other places.”
    “Sounds complicated.”
    “We can’t have a society based on nothing but food,
family, and threats.”
    “There’s also ‘obstacles’...What am I saying?”
    He shook his head and hit himself. Kallen gave his hand a
squeeze.
    “You can’t shake the monster out. Believe me, I tried.”
    “Oh yeah, I remember you saying you’d tell me about
Siduban sometime, but you always said ‘later.’ Is now a good time?”
    Her grip on his hand shifted. It was too