"Mmm. Smart parents does not always lead to smart children. They may be able to challenge the child, guide it, but it doesn't always mean the child will have the same...I.Q.? as the parents." The crone shrugged. "So, you'd rather just be a brain, not an over all hero? You could be. You seem to be waiting on something."
Baba relaxed back against the bench, her hands on either side of her. She thought about what he was saying. Mm.
"Are your parents like you? Different? Did they tell you that it was wrong to be different? Physically? They were the ones who trained you to feel shame about your body? If they did, then that is bad parenting. If they did not, then good for them." She reached over and patted him on the shoulder. "Humans are odd. They really are strange. As long as they can pretend, they're okay with the world. Or if they can condemn the very thing that saves them because it isn't what they believe to be the norm. It's pathetic. They're only happy when they're miserable and making others miserable, yet they dream that they are more or there is more without every trying to be more."
Mundies were a ridiculous lot; she'd think them useless, but they give power in their believing.
"You shouldn't worry about the people here. Those born in the City rarely pay attention, and the ones who are brought here each have their own little quirk. Physical, mental, magical, technological...no one's normal here. Not even the most normal." Though there were a few she thought were painfully normal.