Ethereal

All living entities inevitably grow. A child who once only lay and cried eventually learns to crawl, to speak, to walk, and to run. They learn to dress and wash themseleves. They acquire language, mathematics, science, and history. By meeting countless peers, elders, and juniors, they internalize sociality. Every single day, without exception, a living entity incrementally evolves.

However, entities whose mental reserves have been decimated begin to exhibit self-destructive phenomena--deformed behavioral patterns. At a fundamental level, they destroy their own domain, their bodies, their lives, and those around them. To an entity that has run out of internal targets to demolish, everything remaining appears as an object to be annihilated. The radius of resentment expands like concentric circles.

The anger and agony that once dwelled only within start to incinerate their space, time, food, shelter, clothing, appearance, behavior, speech, and even the spirit itself. Once the era of destruction arrives, the mechanism is designed to accelerate, unable to cease. Destruction is like a virus; if the initial onset is not halted, the host risks being completely consumed and collapsing under its weight.

Alcohol serves as a catalyst for this acceleration. Alcohol not only destroys the self in the moment but also persistently erodes subsequent time, mental fortitude, and physical stamina. Those with severe alcohol dependency commonly exhibit destructive tendencies that do not remain confined to the self but bleed out into family and friends—as if afflicted by a malady that demands the destruction of one's surroundings.

Human DNA is hardcoded with the instincts for reproduction and nurturing, designed to love and protect one’s offspring. Yet, there are cases where these individuals drive their own flesh and blood toward ruin simply because they "unsettled" their mood. The embers of destruction leap without stopping, spreading even to their children.

The human entity manifests such extreme polarities. A being imbued with vitality learns, grows, and matures as naturally as breathing. Just as it is not a miracle, but a scientific certainty, for a plant to bloom when provided with sunlight, rich soil, and sufficient water. Conversely, no matter how affluent the material environment, invisible variables can infiltrate the psyche and trigger a cascade of ruin. An entity continuously exposed to such triggers inevitably possesses the attribute of destroying the self and everything it belongs to.

Distinguishing between an entity vibrating with life and one self-immolating toward extinction is not difficult. If the soil is parched and littered with dry, combustible leaves, anyone can predict that a great fire will eventually consume it all, even if it is not burning right now.