Chapter 26: Tunnel Vision

"So, I have come to a decision on your situation. Emotionally, you are ready to advance with your training. Mentally, you still have your own mind. As I said, normally by this point, your will would have been destroyed.

After searching through some records, I have found that your mental state does prohibit from advancing. The lack of mental acuity is not a prerequisite on deciding readiness." (Otec)

"So you purposely break down a person so that they can be molded to what you desire?" (Rehor)

"Unfortunately you are partially correct. We do try to make it so a person can no longer have feelings. But no, it's not to mold that person. Instead, it's for safety.

When we were talking previously, you were correct. Putere is based on emotions. That is why, when your emotions grew out of control, you were able to use your power." (Otec)

"If what you are saying is the truth, why didn't you teach me to control my emotions, instead of what you did?" (Rehor)

"We have tried that before. Unfortunately it has never worked. Even if you can control your emotions in a normal situation, there are times of stress that still make it that you would lapse in your control." (Otec)

I do not know, that what Otec is saying is in fact, correct. Logically, it does make some sense. If someone was doing something truly abhorrent in front of me, I probably would have let my emotions show.

"Don't just think of negative emotions. Think of caring for someone deeply. Love. If you truly loved someone, even if you have controlled your emotions, you want to embrace your feelings at that point." (Otec)

"I will assume that what you are saying is the truth. If so, why did you want me to have a lack of will?" (Rehor)

"It's for the acceptance. If you just did as you were told, there would be no need for explanations that sound shallow. Just speaking of what we do to you children is difficult. Getting you to accept that what we are doing is for your benefit, is impossible." (Otec)

"I'm still assuming you are speaking the truth. If that is so, what is the next part of training?" (Rehor)

"And this is why it would be easier for you to be a brainless idiot, I would just start your training. I wouldn't have to try to persuade you. You would just go along with it, without questioning." (Otec)

Otec's word choices are deliberate. I can see that he is trying to pick out the best option that he can say. I do agree with him, that if I still did not have my own will, I would easily follow his commands, and do as he says. But I do have my own sense of self still. I need to question his commands, at least to some extent, and do what I think it is best for me.

"The next part of your training, is more of learning. It would be building you back up, and teaching you to reason out why you act. You need to learn to act without your emotions to lead you." (Otec)

"But I already do that. At least to some extent." (Rehor)

"You're wrong. Right now, all you do is respond. What we need to do, is teach you to be human. Your mentality has retarded, becoming a bare reaction to stimulus. I need to teach you to want again." (Otec)

He is right. Other than survival, and what I have promised myself, I no longer have wants. Take yesterday, after passing out, I should have wanted to relax for a little bit. But no, I did what was expected of me.

"I can not argue with you. I don't have anything that I want, not truly. I do not want to be punished, so I try to avoid it. Food and rest are the only other things I want." (Rehor)

"Do you know why we have un-Chained help with the training?" (Otec)

"Am I still assuming what you are saying is the truth?" (Rehor)

"For convenience, yes. What I am speaking all fact. I'm not trying to mislead you." (Otec)

"Then I don't know. If what you were saying is a lie, I would say that you are making me complicit. I know it's something I shouldn't do, so I know it��s wrong." (Rehor)

"You know it is wrong. That's part of thing we are trying to teach. I want you to question your actions." (Otec)

I can see where Otec is coming from. Abusing some child is something that I, personally, know is wrong. For those that have lost there sense of being, they would not be able to question the reason why they are acting in an inhumane way.

"Can I ask a question?" (Rehor)

"Go ahead." (Otec)

"What will eventually become of me once I go through all the training?" (Rehor)

"You will be allowed to do whatever you want. You can rejoin society, if that is what you wish. Or if you find that too difficult, you can stay here, or any of the other schools." (Otec)

"You won't require me to do anything?" (Rehor)

"No. Why would we? All we are attempting to do here, is make it so that you can control your power. I don't want you to be some mindless adherent." (Otec)

"I ask for honesty here, this isn't some type of cult?" (Rehor)

"That explains everything. You have viewed us as an enemy. Yes, that's why it took you so long to lose your emotions. You have kept fighting, so as to not become one of us.

You assumed that you had to become one of us. Assuming that this was some organization that self-propagated. So you resisted. You think like an adult would. If I knew that, I would have trained you like an adult." (Otec)

He seemed relieved. That stress on his face resolved itself, as he found out what was the problem.

It is the truth, though. I think like an adult. Though my body is still that of a child, my mind is that of somebody around the same age as Otec, himself. Two lives of experience have made me mentally resistant to being forcibly corrupted.

"An adult sometimes becomes an Unleashed, and their training is different than that of a child's. I have never been around the training of an adult, nor has anyone else that it is here.

I have decided. You are to advance your training. It will take me some time to learn how to train you from here, but we do have some records on how to train one such as you." (Otec)