The conversation continued, I let Garrl speak for the most part and I just listened and asked questions when I needed clarification. Among the topics he focused on was emphasizing the reverence for dragons. I get the impression that he sees them as deities or something similar. He showed me the prayers we made in the village, confirmed that Kirkarrg saw me as a wanderer, and explained a bit about what this place is. Apparently, its name roughly indicates "the great caverns." They are a series of caves that a group of kobolds decided to see as their home, apparently on the advice of an ancestor and as a hideout against humans. We are also in an intermediate layer of this place. As for the creatures that inhabit here, since we are young, most of them are dangerous to us, so we must be very careful.
On their part, regarding kobold physiology, I learned a couple of important things. The first is that we are mostly carnivores; I suspected it, but unfortunately, insects and amphibians are our main dish. Also, to my relief, I am male; don't ask how I know, but I do know. Also, Garrl is. I was a bit curious about how Garrl didn't understand my concern about this topic, but, oh well.
Regarding kobold culture, I learned that the young who are not "wanderers" are cared for until they are ready to integrate into the village's tasks, such as wise ones, hunters, warriors, gatherers, and other professions, which generally depend greatly on the type of inheritance the young one receives. Apparently, they can't control that, or at least as far as Garrl understands. Their social structure, as I understood it, is that each kobold fulfills the role for which it was born. If you ask me, it seems more like a social structure similar to that of ants than humans. It's not that they don't respect individualism, but the good of the majority is above the individual. Unfortunately, those who are born as wanderers are literally abandoned and end up being prey to the other creatures of this cave. When I asked Garrl and tried to question him, he only answered that it has always been this way, that they do it because of lineage, and if you are a "wanderer," it is because the ancestors do not see you as worthy. This makes me question what would have happened to me if I had been born in the village, but the truth is, it is time past, and for now, although it seems like a very murky and questionable issue, I can't do anything about it in our current condition where we only seek to survive. I suspect that being a "wanderer" or not is more of a genetic issue, and those who are born this way behave instinctively simply because they were not given prior knowledge. However, I don't believe they cannot be educated or that they cannot learn. The truth is, it is just a conjecture on my part.
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Lastly, there is the topic of family. As such, all kobolds see themselves as one single family. The figure of a father or mother is not relevant; what matters is your lineage and what you contribute to the village. Our case is special because, in theory, we know who our mother was since we were born. However, generally, for the mating season, kobolds of purer lineage have the right to procreate and choose their partner first, as long as they are not directly related. The females lay their eggs all together, then wait for the offspring to be sufficiently developed to perform the ritual, this before the eggs hatch, to finally separate the wanderers from the non-wanderers with the hatching. While the parents know which ones are their children, their upbringing does not fall on them; they are raised according to their heritage, by adults who share the same heritage. A child may resemble one of their biological parents, but it will be mere coincidence. It's not that there isn't a relationship between parents and children; the parents are very proud of their "non-wanderer" children and their heritage, just as they lament if "wanderer" children are born, but as such, they do not form a family like the human one.
And that was broadly what I was able to learn about Garrl. In general, if you ask me, he knows quite a lot for a newborn. He doesn't know the exact details of many things, for example; he knows that magic exists, but he doesn't know how to do it. However, he knows a lot about this cave, which is why he suspects he is a gatherer, although he wishes to be a warrior like his mother. As for me, I avoided the topic of my knowledge. I don't want to confuse Garrl or provoke misunderstandings. I understand that I need to find where I fit in; otherwise, the village might reject me. Although it's unlikely since Garrl assured me that the fact that I can speak and understand things proves my lineage. So, they wouldn't kick me out until they see what I'm good at. If only he knew the origin of my supposed lineage! Another reason to hide my previous life. How stressful, really! Another reason to hide my previous life, how stressful it is, really! Although being alone with Garrl and the fact that he is a child has allowed me, and I believe will allow me, to say and act in a certain way and justify that they come from my lineage, I still believe it is not fair to deceive him; I even feel bad, but for now, it is the best for both of us, or at least I think so.
