In case you don't notice, these memories are NOT in chronological order. Just letting you know.
"Papa?"
A glare. The darkened brown eyes glare at the youth standing before him, said boy shrinking away in fear. "…M…Mama told me to come get you."
"Of course she did. Tell her I'm working."
Mnem frowned, crossing his arms indignantly. "But… but you're always working! What about us?"
The brunette sitting at the desk sharpened his eyes dangerously and Mnem attempted to leap away, but his smaller legs prevented him from doing so. The hand swiped across his face and the fingers gripped his hair, yanking him back down to the floor as the older man pressed him against stone, the air hot and stuffy and…
Had it always been so unbearable in here?
"Let me tell you a story."
Mnem attempted to protest, but his father's hand clamped over his lips with a threatening "Shh!"
He smirked. "Do you know why I do this, child?"
Mnem shook his head slowly, gray eyes misted.
"Because if I didn't, the entire world burns."
Mnem tried to escape as his father gripped his wrist and stood, his lips released and his voice coming out in a high pitched squeal. His mother came around the corner in anger, gripping her sword. "Put him d-"
"I'm teaching him, woman!" he screamed, dragging Mnem through the house and outside, finding their way down to the caves. All the while, the youth screamed and flailed, unable to gain purchase on anything beneath him.
"Please, Papa- I understand! I understand I just-"
"Shut up, you brat…" the man snapped, opening a heavy door. Mnem yelped as he was thrown into the darkness, falling down the pit. He slammed into something softer, something meatier, but for a few moments he was so shocked and confused that it never registered. The smell had, however. He sniffed and wrinkled his nose, opening his eyes and looking beneath him.
Cold, misted blue eyes stared back.
He let out a shrill cry, pulling away from the corpse. He tripped over another, falling on a third. He covered his head, shaking it quickly and squeezing his eyes closed. "Papa please…"
"Those are the bodies of those who have stood in my way. Would you like to join them?" His father shouted down to him, and Mnem trembled, tearing up and letting a few choked sobs escape his lips. He shook his head again, barely whispering,
"…no…"
"Now come here."
Mnem found himself being grabbed by his wrist, pulled out of the pit and into the arms of his father.
"I have things to show you, child." He snarled at the six year old, dragging him back out of the caves. The boy followed compliantly, screwing up his face as he attempted to understand.
"Read these." His father snapped, throwing a journal onto the boy's chest. Mnem blinked and opened the book gingerly, thumbing through the pages. "Read those and understand, child. When you are of age, it will be the day where only you are able to follow our traditions. I expect much of you."
"Y-yes… father…"
