The Beast Player

The knowledge we teach is simply the truth as we know it at a particular time. What we believe to be true now may be exposed as error through the discoveries of succeeding generations. That’s how human knowledge has been renewed throughout the ages. Remind your students of this every chance you get. “A good teacher is not one who never doubts, but rather one who strives to keep on learning despite the doubts in her mind. At least, that’s what I think.

I stood on the edge of that abyss between man and beast and played my harp for you, checking each note, one by one, to see if it would reach you.

When Elin watched the honeybees or other creatures in the wild, when she observed the diversity of their life cycles and the astounding precision of their habits, there were times when she felt herself become a prick of light in the vastness of the night sky, times when all living things, people, beasts and insects, dwindled to equal points of light twinkling in the darkness.

Tears are the soup of sorrow. The more tears you shed, the more they will wash away your grief. Eventually you'll be able to forget what caused you so much pain.

A good teacher is not one who never doubts, but rather one who strives to keep on learning despite the doubts in her mind.

Humans, beasts, bugs—all are but tiny pricks gleaming in the night—a herd of countless points of light, bound in the darkness of distrust.

But I despise the way you use the word ‘sin’ to manipulate others.” Feelings locked deep inside her suddenly rushed from her mouth as if a dam had been broken. “You use that word to paralyze the mind, just like we use the Silent Whistle to freeze the Beasts and Toda. I can’t bear to see people bind others like that.

the one emotion all living creatures shared was not love, but fear. This, most likely, was the hard truth. Men, beasts, all sentient beings that inhabited the planet, were incapable of trust.

[...] worrying about what other people think really holds back the imagination.

The headmistress told us to ignore that you're part Ahlyo, but I think she's expecting an awful lot. It's only human to notice when someone's different, right? If it were me, I'd say that instead of ignoring it, we ought to tell people not to be so dumb as to take those differences in the wrong way. That's what really counts.

Sometimes we hit the wrong notes like clashing echoes. Yet sometimes, just by chance, the notes we played for one another made unexpected music, like this. Her eyes filled with tears. As long as the life you have given me continues, let me stand on the shore of that great abyss and play. Let me pluck my harp, note by note, and speak to the creatures of earth and sky, so that I may hear music as yet unknown.

It’s only human to notice when someone’s different, right? If it were me, I’d say that instead of ignoring it, we ought to tell people not to be so dumb as to take those differences in the wrong way.

Sometimes, we hit the wrong notes like clashing echoes. Yet sometimes, just by chance, the notes we played for one another made unexpected music, like this.

Shunan had woken long ago, but he lay in bed listening to the groaning of the wind. His father, who lay in the tent beside his, but be listening to it, too. It sounded like someone choking back tears.

In return, when the time came, I planned to take responsibility for this choice. But after hearing you describe Damiya’s scheme … I just don’t care anymore. “If that’s the way people think and the path they choose, then let them. If it’s simply human nature to maintain the status quo by killing each other, then even if I sacrifice my life and bury the Art with me, someday the same thing is bound to happen all over again. If humans are just going to destroy themselves anyway, why not let them…” This savage thought must have lurked deep inside her for a long time, because when she voiced it, she knew it came from the core of her being. Yet even voicing it did not ease the fury she felt in her heart.

She can’t be serious! Elin thought. How could anyone possibly remain objective if they knew what Leelan has been through? If she and that boy taking care of the young Beast can’t feel its pain, then they don’t understand it at all. They haven’t a clue of how petrifying it is to be suddenly separated from one’s mother and to find oneself totally alone. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Then, opening her eyes, she said quietly, “Miss Esalu.” “Yes?” “I don’t think that objectivity necessarily guarantees accurate decision-making.” Esalu frowned. “What do you mean?” “I think that keeping your distance can also mean that you stop feeling things.