Beauty of the Moment

“Still, the animal most likely would not choose death, only to keep us fed. They are victims of happenstance, just like Xenos or even us. Part of the greater life and its cycles. Don’t thing to employee sadistic pleasures to ease your craft, like so many others might tend to do. Such deplorable urges have no place in our profession, just like blissful hedonists. We what we do because such is existence. Life and death. Sometimes at our own accords, sometimes forced upon us. Without it, we cannot truly express these emotions. We need first-hand experience, not some colourful descriptions of such experiences.”
Cutting with a saw, Remion removed on of the arms of the carcass, weighting it in his hands and thinking about the properties and possible uses of the strong upper bone in it. The fingers to. So small and filigree. “If such thoughts disturb you, you should look for another field then!”
“They don’t!”, she barked back, more aggressive than she wanted to. “Not directly…”, Nodiana corrected herself. “I understand the underlining necessity of our craft. Without an outlet, our people will either become stagnant, living in somatic bliss, or wild degenerates, that carelessly find succour within the pain of others. We keep ourselves grounded with exploring the ugly fields of life. But I still feel pain inside me, every time I work, or I look at morbid artwork. Like when an animal gets slaughtered…”
Remion continued his butchering of the carcass, seemingly unmoved by Nodiana’s words. But a coy smiled crossed his narrow face, nonetheless. “Your art is crude, dearest Nodiana. You may never exceed a certain level of expertise. But you have a keen awareness of thematic and deeper meanings of the craft of a Death-Artist. To be frank, there are countless master artisans out there, but few you can take the teachings of our doing so to heart, as you just did. Or at least you managed to fool me such.” The master turned around to face the young woman, staring directly into her dark eyes. “Take that lesson with you: It never gets better. You either feel empathy, cursing yourself for apparently becoming a monster, or you find sick joy in your work.” For a moment he remembered the giddy feeling when he took the Human’s life. “Questioning yourself is the best medicine, if a bitter one. Fill your lacking talent with the exploration of the deeper meanings of our craft, at you will rise even above your more talented colleges. Again, I personally am tired of flawless works, and yearn for something new.”
Nodiana needed some time to understand what her teacher just told her, then nodded in sombre acceptance. Still, there were so many questions in her mind.
Yet, Remion nodded towards the door. “You may leave now. I have no further need of you.”
After quietly undressing from the apron and gloves, Nodiana walked past Remion and the body. “Thank you. I will keep this in mind.”
Remion did not answer, still working on the last dismembering of the body, letting Nodiana leave without another word. He held still for a moment; his mind wandered back to what he himself said. That this may be more ground shaking to the way Albnur lived than they could anticipate.
“Replacing the unseeing Xenos for Humans. A more elegant, aesthetic and homogenic Empire.”
He walked towards the bloody carcass of the Human, pulling forth one of the larger carving knifes from the leathery set. Now it was time, to cut away the useless flesh and see, what he could do with the marvellous bones of the Xenos. Maybe flutes from the legbone. Brush handles from the forearms. Some sort of vessel of the skull. The next days will be full of experiments for the renowned artisan.