Humans are, in a way, also lost

Frostplane Outer, Northern Province, Civilization Monument construction site--

Hazard is lost.

He knows for certain where he is, and he knows for certain where he will be in the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, Hazard is lost.

Hazard signed up to be an engraver for the monument construction feeling that he wants to do something, and engraving he did.

It is not particularly fulfulling, but Hazard is content to be doing something, and at least this one felt like he's doing something important.

Now, he cannot help but wonder, in a gentle winter day blasted by cold winds. The world is white and felt like home.

Why must there be a gaping maw in the sky? Why must human-faced birds circle around the monument, pretending to be vultures waiting for someone to lose it?

It is not so much an important matter, and in fact, it is a pointless matter, but Hazard also wonder about it, that Hazard was told that his friend knocked up a lady and have become quite happy with his life.

Why?

At the same time, Hazard wondered for himself. He didn't care to have children when his peers talked about it. And he doesn't even care to find love.

Hazard considered finding someone to hook up with, or more likely, finding someone to pay to sleep with, but he feels like it would make him feel worse.

If the other person is also lost, then he would be dragged deeper into this dark pit he's in. And most people, it seems, are lost.

Why else are there people here?

"Friends, I go have drink. Want something?"

No one replies.

Hazard didn't so much feel the need to move, but simply thought that doing something else might make him feel better.

These days, it has become too easy to stay in place. And Hazard already found it too easy.

However, he now has a bit more clarity of mind to think about things like this.

The birds look like they are laughing at the people working.

A curious one lands where Hazard will pass. If it looks like anything, then it looks like a bearded baby, staring with lazy eyes in Hazard's direction. Its mouth open and close, as if considering whether or not to release a few words with its small mouth.

Hazard looks at the bird as he passes.

It flies away.

Hazard looks at the foreman by a different section of the site.

The foreman looks at Hazard.

Common manners says that Hazard shouldn't just be walking out like this, but he did it anyway. And the person who can tell him to stop didn't say so.

The foreman is also lost, it seems.

There is no sense of urgency for the construction of this monument.

There is a stated purpose for this project, but in practice, it is simply a way to keep idle hands busy -- apparently, to keep people out of trouble.

Hazard didn't take long to reach the catering van.

A woman sits under the awning, watching some familiar Turtle music video on her tablet. She, too, looks lost.

"Friend, where the cooler?"

The woman looks at Hazard then thumbed over her shoulder in the direction of the back of the van. It was a brief gesture she did before turning back to her show.

"Thank"

The woman does not respond.

Hazard walks past the woman to get himself a drink. The woman doesn't stop her show, but she seems to be watching Hazard now too.

The cooler isn't full, and the drinks it contain don't perfectly match how Hazard likes them. Nevertheless, there are indeed drinks and Hazard isn't particularly picky.

Hazard takes two bottles. He takes a moment to figure out how to remove the caps before finding the implement.

Hazard had already opened both bottles before realizing, from the smell, that they may be too strong for him.

He grabs a chair to sit near the woman and places one of the bottles near her.

"That would be four"

The woman says after giving Hazard a look.

Hazard goes through his pocket and puts the money on the counter, making sure that the woman can see.

Hazard watches with the woman.

The Turtle video is about to end. Hazard doesn't know exactly how the song goes but there is a feeling of finality in the current scene.

The performers look out into the tranquil sea, reflecting the red sunset. The dragon is looking at Hazard, its tongue flickering like a snake's.

Has it always been like that?

The woman waves her hand before her, seeming fight some kind of fly.

Hazard looks. A green fly does indeed buzz around her. He can hear its wings beating.

Very unusual. To see something like this in winter.

It can't be happening. In a way, the fly is also lost.

A shadow swoops in. Hazard hears it cut through the wind.

Hazard and the woman flinch, almost falling off their seats.

The fly is gone. The shadow is gone.

"What that?"

The woman looks on the ground, searching where the thing could have landed.

Hazard also looks.

Nothing--

The next video plays. Another Turtle music, this one features cartoon babies singing a fast song with nonsensical lyrics. Something about it feels dirty.

Whenever the sky looks like a sky, the dragon appears, looking at Hazard in the eyes.

"You have child?"

The woman asks. She doesn't look at Hazard.

"No"

"Want child; dead husband"

Hazard doesn't care to listen to the woman's story, but he also doesn't care to stand up and get back to work.

It's an ordinary story. A lot of people have simple desires and simple struggles. It doesn't make them any less important, it is a story that is easy to imagine and understand.

Some people don't care, and some people want children. Some people can't have children for one reason or another.

The woman had long wanted to have a child, but never got around to it. And now that her partner is gone, her plans might never come to fruition.

Similarly, it is also normal to lose someone. People die from all kinds of causes.

The woman's partner became a demon and was shot down.

She wasn't there to witness it happen. The woman wonders if she would feel better about the fact if she saw. Is it better to see why someone had to die when they did, or is it better to not see a loved one change into someone else?

The woman didn't share this thought to Hazard. It might be easier to tell it to a stranger, yet she didn't.

He could imagine what she was thinking, but he wouldn't know.

"You still want child?"

"Yes"

"Your life"

Hazard didn't think of the matter earlier. The thought had visited his mind for a moment, but he didn't entertain it.

Children are objectively necessary.

That is true in the past, before people could literally see death looming over their heads.

Why have children?

There is a difference between purpose and benefits. And the question of purpose is a deep subject that leads to more questions.

In simple terms, humans have children to so that there will be humans in the future.

Humans have a sense of self-preservation that extends outside of the individual and towards the social group.

Why must there be more humans? There is a difference between purpose and effect.

Hazard must have learned it at school and only occasionally remember, piecing the ideas together based on what remains in his mind. It's a question that doesn't concern him, but the answer comes easy to him.

The creatures who do not care to have more members of their group must not have reproduced more members of their group.

Humans are, in a way, also lost.

Why is the question of existence so profound?

The simpleton digs into the question and runs into the simple answer:

That's just how it is.

Beyond that is a mystery. What can be done with the unknown?

Hazard feels somewhat ashamed. He does still feel lost, but now that he's thinking about it, he realizes that he goes against the modern tradition of the planesmen.

Humans must seize their destiny.

Things are how they are, yes, but how things are bestow people the mind to change the world. The change will be what the world will be, but people can take pride in the will they infused into the world.

That is what the monument is--

A waste, yes, and a celebration of humanity.

Hazard and the woman chat for a bit longer, the length of three or so songs. They talked about trivial matters, whether or not one has tried this or that drink, or have heard this or that song.

Hazard finishes his drink. He can barely feel the warmth spreading throughout his body.

"Good talk, friend"

"Talk is talk"

The woman looks at Hazard then back to her tablet.

Hazard walks back to the monument, reviewing in his head, the work he will have to do.