Nova and Kori had returned to the snow covered field. Kori seemed to be deep in thought, but Nova snapped him out of his daze by asking "Do you have a grasp of what your wish is?"
"I have no wish yet." Kori stated.
Nova wondered if it was possible for Kori to develop one. He didn't want to lose hope; he didn't want to see his efforts in vain. If a passing soul like Sayaka had a wish, Kori could have one too; he was certain. There were two more memories to be viewed. He hoped Kori could form one after the final memory.
"Then, let's go look at your next memory." Nova took out the third snowflake. The scenery started changing. The snow-covered field became the interior of a large room filled with bookshelves. Nova noticed a large bed with two pillows and a large desk that was neatly organized pens and pencils in a mug. The chair had a backpack attached on the back. He knew from Arcturus's memories that this was Arcturus's room back home.
He eyed the bed once more. There were two pillows on both sides. While Arcturus was tall and slightly bulky, the bed was too big for him in general. He recalled that the Kori would lay down on the other pillow in order to imitate human sleeping patterns. He felt slight envy at the thought of Kori sleeping next to Arcturus.
When was the last time we slept with someone? Nova wondered. Castle Lavender wasn't a warm place, so he did feel a bit lonely at times.
Focus back on the memory, please. Souhait snapped as Nova complied.
The door to the room opened as Arcturus, dressed in a fashionably casual outfit, slumped onto his bed and placed a hand on his stomach. "I ate a lot. That was some good food."
Kori followed him into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Your calorie intake in total exceeds five thousand. The steak you consumed contained–"
A flustered Arcturus snapped at him. "That's not necessary! You're ruining the mood!"
"You normally don't eat a lot. What was the occasion?"
"Well, it's the last time I'm going to see my family before I head out on the expedition. I'm not sure how long it'll take for me to have good food again. I need to savor the memory while it lasts."
Kori tilted his head to one side. "Is this what humans call sentimentality?"
"You're close." Arcturus sat up. With a smile, he patted Kori's head. "You're getting close to understanding humans. You did change a lot these past four years. I like it a lot."
"Thank you…"
"Kori, please take good care of Ariel and my grandparents when I'm gone, okay?"
When Kori looked at Arcturus's expression, he felt like something was squeezing him from the inside. Nova knew what it was he was feeling. Kori did not like the idea of waiting for Arcturus. He wanted to come along and see his master achieve his dreams. He wanted to see his smile and be with him. He wasn't sure when these feelings of wanting to be with Arcturus started; he believed it gradually grew the more time he spent with him.
"You loved him." Nova stated to the current Kori.
Kori was puzzled. "Love…?"
"I can see it clearly. The way you gradually have Arcturus on your mind and the way you wanted to be with him…and the way you sacrificed your life for him. You loved him."
"That was what Sayaka had said to me before. I never understood what love was so I never took it seriously…but now that you say it…maybe it was."
Nova became curious. There were many different types of love in the world. What sort of love did Shifties feel? If they were to love genuinely, would it be by their own volition? Would it be programmed? Was their devotion to their master a type of love that was implemented onto them since birth? Could Shfities fall for another of their species or for someone that wasn't their master?
Nova placed a hand to his chest. His love for Souhait was on a different level compared to the budding love he is developing for Arcturus. If Shifties were like him, could they be able to love the soul inside of them?
Shfities truly are a mystery. Souhait remarked.
Focusing back on the memory, the Kori in the memory snapped, "I don't want to stay here. I want to come along with you."
Hearing those words caused Arcturus to sit up from the bed. He looked bewildered that Kori rejected his request. "Why do you want to come along? It's going to be dangerous."
"That's exactly why I have to come along. As a Shiftie, it's my duty to protect my master."
"Listen to me not as a master, but as a member of this family! I don't want anyone important to me to get hurt. Please, stay here and await my return." The bewilderment on his face soon changed into distraught.
Kori shook his head. "I refuse. What if you die on your way to the trip? The journey takes you to the northern hemisphere of the planet, where it is much colder than the humid and warm Lamina."
"If I die, then I die."
Kori shook his head again. "I cannot allow you to die. It's my duty to keep my master alive."
Nova could tell Kori was doing this all by his own will; Sayaka did not guide him or advise him about his words and actions. It was a huge difference from the person he was from the previous memory to this one.
"Why aren't you listening to me?" Arcturus looked very frustrated.
Looking at his expression made Kori feel something inside of him. He felt hot, like something was going to explode from within. He couldn't understand why Arcturus wasn't listening to him. He wanted him to listen. He wanted him to understand his choice.
He grabbed onto Arcturus by the collar and hoisted him up. "Why aren't you listening to me? Is it because I'm a Shiftie? Is it because I'm someone who has to obey your every command? Tell me, Arcturus Mercury, why aren't you listening to me? I want to go with you."
Arcturus looked bewildered; Nova could tell this was the first time Kori had behaved like this. "Like, I said–"
Kori interrupted him. "You said that you'd be fine with dying? I cannot accept that! If you die, we wouldn't know. We'd wait forever and ever. What if you never come back? Ariel wouldn't have her brother. Caroline and Neil wouldn't have their grandson. Your friends wouldn't have their friend. I wouldn't have my master. We'd all be guilty. I'd be having regrets for not coming along with you. You need to live to achieve your dream. You need to live to believe that Souhait and his legacy is real."
Kori then lowered him so that Arcturus was standing on the floor. Arcturus was speechless. Kori hung his head low.
"You said a moment ago that I am close to understanding humans. That is a lie. I don't understand you! Why do you push me away? Why do you insist on doing things for yourself? I was born with a purpose…to be an ally to you. You were born with a purpose to live your life to the fullest–to muster up the determination to follow your dreams. How is it that you get to live for your purpose while I cannot?"
"It's because I respect your free will." Arcturus muttered. "Just because you were born to be an ally doesn't mean you have to be mine specifically. You can be the ally of other humans too."
Kori looked up at him. Arcturus wasn't wrong. He could have a new master if Arcturus were to die. He'd be fulfilling his purpose of being an ally. However, a stubborn pride came to him. He didn't want to be an ally for other humans. He wanted to be an ally for Arcturus only.
You are afraid, right? Sayaka inquired. You are afraid of losing your purpose in life.
I've never heard of a Shiftie going against their purpose. I've never met a free Shiftie before. Am I even allowed to be free to go against what I was born to be?
It wouldn't hurt to try.
But…I still cannot try. Shifties are born for one purpose. We may be man-made beings and not real people, but living for our sole purpose is our pride. Being born like this is what we consider to be "alive".
I don't agree with that thought process, but I'll let it be because it's you. If that's what you want, I'll go along with it. It's because I respect your decisions.
Thank you.
Kori reached a hand out and tugged the front of Arcturus's shirt. "I don't want to be the ally of other humans. I just want to be your ally. I just want to be with you."
Arcturus had an anguished expression. Nova could tell he was troubled. Arcturus looked as if he was moved by Kori's earnesty yet it was also troubling him. His surging worries scattered when he focused his attention on someone knocking on his door.
"Come in."
The door opened to reveal an adolescent girl with auburn hair coming in with a worried expression.
"What do you want, Ariel?" Arcturus asked.