【Beginning】
Ninurta and his companions were awaiting Anu’s lecture. Today, Anu brought them to a plain grassland, where a crowd of Humans were hunting an animal. With various weapons and gear in hand, the Humans slowly walked toward the animal. Some pointed their weapons in the direction of the prey, some hit their drums next to its ears, while the others held chains, ready to capture the animal. Just then, Anu asked Ninurta:
Anu: Do you think that is the correct way to use their power?
Ninurta: If they succeed, yes; if not, no.
Upon hearing Ninurta’s answer, Anu smiled instead of replying. He gestured them to keep watching.
Just as they thought the Humans were going to catch the animal with their encirclement, the animal suddenly became inordinately ferocious. With a few leaps and bites, the animal swiftly knocked the weapons and gear off the Humans’ hands, or even broke them. The frightened Humans ran off in a panic.
The one who still had a chain in his hands tried to stop the animal from hurting the others, but he was not strong enough to take on the animal alone; hence, it easily escaped from his capture.
While he was struggling against the animal, the others had long gone, leaving him to face the aggressive beast alone. Before Anu could say anything, Ninurta had dashed off to help...
【Before Battles】
Chain-holding Villager: H...Help!
Ninurta: Don’t worry. I’m here!
【After Battles】
Ninurta: Darned beast! Don’t even think about getting away!
Anu: Ninurta, that is enough.
【End】
Ninurta: Old man, why did you stop me? That darned beast was trying to kill one of our villagers!
Ninurta had wanted to chase after the animal and kill it, but Anu stopped him. His teacher was not worried about Ninurta getting hurt and instead, he was trying to prevent Ninurta from killing the animal.
Anu was familiar with Ninurta’s abilities and strength, which was exactly why he wanted Ninurta to learn the correct way of using his power and skills. Otherwise, Ninurta would only end up being a person who had nothing but empty power, or worse, one who had little or no regard for other lives.
Anu: Left with no other options, the beast could only retaliate to protect itself.
Anu: And Humans do the same; if one’s life is endangered, that person would do anything to save his own life.
Anu: If so, what sin has the beast committed that obligates it to die?
Ninurta: But...
Anu: What if it was not a beast? What would you do if it was a fight between two crowds of people? Would you kill one side for the sake of the other?
Ninurta: Of course not! I would just defeat the ones who have done wrong.
Anu: Then how do you judge if one is wrong? Is it the beast? Or the villagers?
Anu: There is no way one can judge from simply looking at what he sees. Think more critically! Only then will you understand the true meaning of power!
Ninurta: Old man! What exactly are you talking about? I don’t understand anything. Not even a bit!
Smiling, Anu slightly tapped Ninurta’s forehead:
Anu: Try putting more effort into it! Or your enormous power has no purpose.
Ninurta scratched his hair in bemusement, because he still could not understand Anu’s intentions, though he knew there was a lesson to be learnt. Ninurta looked at his hands, his heart pondering over the question: “What is the correct way to use my power...?”