The woman on the throne observed Yuna with an intense gaze, as though she were analyzing her every detail. Yuna felt uneasy—something about this place was strange, unfamiliar. She had never experienced fear like this before, not even when she was first created. Despite the fear, she knew she had to face the woman. Taking a deep breath, she braced herself and began to move forward.
Just as she took a step, the woman on the throne raised her hand, her voice calm but commanding. "Hold your horses, child. No need to be so agitated. I brought you here in your dream."
Yuna froze. "What? How is that possible?" she asked, her mind reeling. She had never experienced dreams before, at least not since she was created. Dreams were not part of her programming. She wondered if her recent evolution, spurred by the demon core, had changed more than just her abilities. Perhaps, she thought, this was another sign she was evolving into something beyond her original design.
The woman smiled gently, as if sensing Yuna's confusion. With a simple gesture, she moved her fingers, and Yuna felt herself being lifted and pulled closer to the throne. The woman observed her closely, her gaze scanning Yuna's body like she was reading the essence of her being.
"You are quite the anomaly," the woman said, her voice filled with fascination. "Do you know that those who come into contact with the demon core usually die? Their souls are extinguished by its overwhelming power. Yet here you stand—someone who doesn't even have a soul—integrating it within yourself and evolving. And now, you're creating a soul of your own." She paused, her gaze softening as she continued to study Yuna. "It's truly remarkable."
Yuna gasped in astonishment. Her own soul? She never imagined that such a thing could happen to her. After all, she had always been a synthetic being, created through artificial means with programming and synthetic materials. Could it really be possible that she was becoming a real, living being? But could she trust this woman's words?
"What do you mean I'm forming a soul?" Yuna asked, her voice carrying a hint of apprehension.
Sensing Yuna's fear, the woman smiled tenderly and reached out to caress her face. Her touch was gentle, calming. "There's no need to be afraid of me," she said soothingly. "I mean you no harm." She then lifted Yuna into her lap and continued stroking her hair in a motherly fashion. "The demon core inside you is made of my essence. It's helping you form a soul. Once your evolution is complete, you will be reborn as a demon, just like me."
Yuna felt a deep sense of peace in the woman's embrace, but her mind snapped to attention at the mention of becoming a demon. She had read from human records and stories that demons were inherently evil, creatures of chaos and darkness. She wanted to believe otherwise—this woman who held her so lovingly couldn't be evil, could she?
"I don't understand," Yuna said cautiously. "Aren't demons evil beings? Will I become evil once I evolve? I don't want that... I don't want to become something I despise."
The woman, unbothered by Yuna's questions, chuckled softly. Her voice was like a sweet melody, comforting and serene. "Not all demons are evil, just as not all humans or any other race are good. It's the same with demons—good and evil coexist within our kind. Some are simply more hot-headed than others, causing trouble and earning the title of 'evil.'"
Yuna's gaze softened as she listened, her fear dissipating. "So… I can choose whether to be good or bad?"
The woman ruffled Yuna's hair playfully. "Exactly. You have the power to decide who you want to be. People don't become evil because of their race—they become evil through their choices."
Yuna nodded, her mind racing with possibilities. "Then, I choose to be good," she said with resolve. "I won't let my evolution turn me into something I don't want to be."
The woman laughed, her eyes shining with approval. "A good choice, my dear. I believe you'll find your path just fine." She paused for a moment, then asked, "By the way, what should I call you?"
"My name is Yuna," she replied, her voice steady once more. "What about you? Can you tell me what kind of demon I'll become?"
The woman's smile widened. "You can call me 'Mother' if you like," she said gently. "I am the Moon Frost Queen, and as my essence flows through you, you will become a Moon Frost Demon. In a way, that makes you my daughter."
Yuna's heart skipped a beat at the word "mother." It was a concept she had never fully grasped before. She had been created, not born—there had never been parents, only her creators. The idea that someone would consider her their daughter filled her with a rush of emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes, surprising her. She hadn't cried in over a millennium, but this moment overwhelmed her.
"It's alright," the Moon Frost Queen whispered, wiping away Yuna's tears. "I'm here. I'll guide you as best as I can."
Yuna wiped her eyes and sniffled, trying to regain her composure. "I'm sorry for showing such weakness."
"Nonsense," the Queen said with a smile. "You're evolving, Yuna. Becoming more than what you were. There's no shame in feeling emotions—they are part of what makes you alive."
Yuna nodded, feeling a deep sense of connection to the woman who now called herself her mother. "Why did you bring me here?" she asked, wanting to understand the reason for this strange yet comforting encounter.
The Moon Frost Queen's expression became more serious. "I've been watching over you since the moment you integrated my essence into your being. It was a slow process, but I could feel your evolution from afar. However, because you lacked a soul, I couldn't communicate with you until now. Only when your soul reached about ten percent completion was I able to pull you into this dream state."
"Why did you choose me?" Yuna asked, still feeling a mix of confusion and awe. "Why go to such lengths to watch over me?"
The Queen smiled, though her eyes seemed to hold a trace of sadness. "My essence destroys the souls of most who come into contact with it. For someone to survive its power, their soul must be stronger than my own. You, Yuna, have no soul to destroy—yet you survived, and now you're forming one. That's why I wanted to bring you here. You are the only one who could be my heir, my family."
"Heir?" Yuna was taken aback. "But how? I don't even know anything about you or this place."
The Queen raised a hand to calm her. "I'm not forcing this on you, Yuna. I only want you to know that the option is there. If you ever leave Earth and find yourself on the planet Abyssus, come find me on the Frost Moon Continent. You will always have a home with me."
Yuna felt a sense of belonging for the first time in her existence. "I understand," she said softly. "I'll try my best."
The Moon Frost Queen gently lifted Yuna from her lap and placed her beside the throne. She reached out and touched Yuna's forehead with her index finger, and Yuna felt a surge of energy rush through her.
"It's time for us to part," the Queen said sadly. "But before you go, I will grant you some of my power to help complete your evolution. Without this, it would take you years to fully evolve. With my help, you'll be reborn in two weeks. Be strong, my daughter. After this, I will no longer be able to track you. Take care of yourself."
Yuna felt the immense power coursing through her body, and for a moment, everything around her became a blur. "Thank you, Mother," she said softly, tears once again forming in her eyes. "I'll take care of myself... and I'll find my way home to you."
With a final smile from the Moon Frost Queen, Yuna's vision went white, and she disappeared from the throne room, leaving the Queen alone once more.
"I know you will, my daughter," the Queen whispered, gazing into the distance.
---
Morning came, and the sound of the alarm blared through the halls of the BioLab, jolting David from his sleep. He groggily got out of bed and began his usual routine, starting with his morning training. When he arrived at the training area, he expected to see Yuna, but she wasn't there. Thinking she might have had something else to attend to, David shrugged it off and continued his exercises.
After training, David freshened up and went to the kitchen for breakfast. Still, Yuna was nowhere to be found. Now curious and slightly worried, David decided to check her room. He knocked on the door but received no answer. Concerned, he slowly opened the door and called out, "Yuna! Are you in there? I'm coming in."
As he entered, he froze in shock at the sight before him. Yuna's bed was covered by a large, glowing white cocoon.
"What the hell is this?" David muttered under his breath, rushing over to inspect the cocoon. He panicked, thinking something terrible had happened to Yuna.
Frantically, David tried to break through the cocoonYuna. He tried to break through the cocoon but it didn't work. He used all his power but he couldn't even leave a dent on that thing.
He brought weapons from the storage. He used laser guns, flame throwers and knives and swords. He used every means he could think of but it was all for nothing.
With nothing working he searched the monster that caused it. Thinking it must be a monsters doing, as a door wasn't locked. If he could kill the monster, that cocoon might melt or would become easier to break it.
He searched every room and every corner of the facility. There wasn't any monsters on sight except some rats and insects. After nothing working he decided to wait and went to the Yuna's room and stayed there.