She stood up, and her steps became more confident. The forest gradually became stranger, and the feeling that she was leaving the familiar world grew stronger with each step. Soon the path led her to a high stone fence, like a barrier that should not be here, in this forgotten corner of the world. The walls seemed to have no end, they embraced everything around, and only burning torches, set along these walls, broke through the night darkness with a weak light. Smoke from fires that were probably burning somewhere below slightly fogged the air, creating an effect of obscurity.
Delia Asia Vieira stopped and looked around. Her gaze slid over the stonework, carefully laid as if by centuries-old hands, and over those dim lights that seemed ever more distant. Time seemed frozen here. The nature around her was disappearing, giving way to a steadily growing anxiety that was gripping her heart with every passing moment.
"What is this place?" she thought, instinctively feeling that she had somehow gotten here wrong.
This was not part of her program, this place was not part of her programmed route, and everything around her felt alien and hostile. Questions multiplied, but answers did not come.
Her steps led her along the wall. The stone slabs under her nails left a cold mark, and her whole body seemed to be trying to warn her of danger lurking around every corner. The fog on the horizon, hiding the city, made her feel trapped. She looked around and felt her breathing become heavy.
As she approached the very edge of the wall, her gaze fell down upon the dark waters that stretched for miles, as if melting into the mist. From here, at the very top of the fortress tower, it seemed as if the world was swallowed by fog, and nothing had an end. The lights of a distant city were barely visible in the distance, but there was no joy in that light, only a darkness that one did not want to fall into.
A sense of hopelessness arose inside Delia Asia Vieira. With every minute, with every step, she felt her control over herself and the situation weakening. Somewhere deep within her programs, there was something more than just algorithms and calculations. It was something that made her search for meaning in what was happening around her, but there were too many unknowns in this place. She felt the cold wind from the lake penetrate her body and make her shiver. Standing here, alone, was scary, but she had no other choice.
She couldn't stay here, in this place where the stone walls and darkness felt like a prison. She had to move on, to find an answer, even if it meant going into the heart of the fog, into a place where her existence was becoming increasingly unclear.
Gathering her strength, she took a step forward. In the distance, the sounds of her footsteps echoed off the walls, creating the feeling that she was in an empty, lifeless shell, containing nothing but her own shadow.
Soon she came across a door. It was old, with a shabby handle, but without feeling any fear, Delia Asia Vieira pushed it. The door opened silently, as if it had been waiting for her arrival. Behind it was a spacious room, filled with bright light that fell through high windows covered with thick curtains. Despite the sun's rays, the atmosphere here remained strange, like in some forgotten corner.
The room was empty, almost sterile, with only a few objects standing in it, creating a sense of incongruity. In the center of the room was a large mirror in a gold frame. Delia Asia Vieira walked towards it, her footsteps echoing in the empty space. She looked back at her reflection.
In front of her stood a middle-aged woman, with dark hair, neatly styled, and large brown eyes that looked at her from the glass with a strange look. Her face was beautiful, but there was something about it that immediately caught the eye. Something alien, something unnatural. Delia Asia Vieira realized that it was a reflection of her very being, but for a second she felt something inside her resisting what she saw. It was a face created not by nature, but by a machine.
She waved at her reflection, and it waved back. But it didn't bring relief. Too many questions, too many uncertainties. Delia Asia Vieira stepped back from the mirror, looking around.
The room seemed even emptier than before. On the table sat a leather-bound book with gold lettering on the spine. "Zelandine in Seventhaven" - the author's name was barely visible: Leonard Austiner. Delia Asia Vieira walked up to the table, her fingers lightly touching the binding. She opened the book, leafing through the pages, seeing no meaning in the words. The letters and lines became abstractions, having no connection with her thoughts. She was not looking for knowledge, she was looking for answers to more important questions - ones that concerned her very existence.
Soon she stopped reading, finding nothing meaningful. The book had no meaning to her, and in irritation she threw it on the floor. The pages scattered, leaving only a chaos of words on the floor that had no beginning and no end.
Almost instinctively, Delia Asia Vieira turned and looked at the mirror again, as if the answer was hidden there. But the reflection was silent. The room remained as empty as her own thoughts.
She slowly approached the window, feeling her metal fingers reaching for the handle like invisible magic. She opened the window wide, and a fresh, cool breeze rushed into the room. The taste of the lake, seasoned with the smell of dampness and greenery, was immediately perceived by her sense of smell. A strange feeling, as if she was not in an ordinary world, but in some other one, full of misty secrets and loneliness.
She stood by the window and, leaning on the sill, looked out at the lake. The mist swirling over the water covered the surface like a light blanket, hiding it from view. Everything around seemed motionless and lifeless. Even the birds that usually filled the sky with their cries and movements were absent. It was strangely quiet - too quiet.
"Good," thought Delia Asia Vieira, "it's easier to think this way. Without unnecessary noise. Without distractions."
She sat on the windowsill, listening to the solitude that this moment gave her. The wind played with her hair, but she did not feel it. There were only thoughts that slowly intertwined in her head. She tried to understand what was happening to her, why she was here and what she was looking for.
Her gaze fell on the horizon, where, through the fog, a line of trees rose up in a barely visible silhouette. Behind them, slightly hidden in the greenery, there was a fence - strange, metal, with bars that seemed too cold and motionless for the surrounding nature. Delia Asia Vieira looked closely. Behind the fence, the shadow of a building was visible, and for a moment she thought that it might be a city park.
"A park..." a thought flashed. "There should be a fountain there. And people, and even benches to rest. This place was once alive."
Something in her mind fluttered at the thought. Delia Asia Vieira remembered how old stories about parks spoke of the peace and joy they could bring. She suddenly felt a desire to see this park. It had been a long time since she had been among people, or felt the greenery and living world around her. Maybe she could still find something real, some sense of what was left of the old world.
She stood up from the windowsill, deciding to go outside. A slight determination came over her, and without thinking, she stepped into the corridor, then down the stairs. Her steps were confident, as if she had long known what the next step should be. The place she was going to could be just a part of old memories, but it didn't matter. What was important was to find answers to the questions that had accumulated in her mind.
When Delia Asia Vieira stepped outside, the fresh air immediately enveloped her, and a light wind passed through her hair, blowing on her face. She felt her steps leading her there, to the unknown, to something that was about to open up to her, despite all the emptiness around her.
The fence and the forest on the other side were getting closer with every step. Soon Delia Asia Vieira came out of the forest and the city park opened up before her eyes. It was calm and quiet, as usual, but still strange, as if something was wrong here. The park alley led her straight to the center, where the statue stood. The park was empty, not a single living person, only her, her steps and the statue. A strange feeling of loneliness came over her, but deep in her soul Delia Asia Vieira could not get rid of the thought that now, right now, she should meet someone familiar. Maybe someone who could give her answers to her questions, someone who would understand everything and reveal the truth to her.
But there was no one. She kept walking until she came to a statue. It was a statue of a young woman, standing in the middle of an alley. Everything about her was perfect - the smooth lines, the expressive face, the exquisite pose. And yet, despite her beauty, something was wrong. The statue seemed too alive, almost like a real woman, frozen in one moment. But why did she feel that this figure was so close to her, although it was alien at the same time?
She came closer and looked at the face. It was so similar to her own that her heart began to beat faster. It was her face, but younger, radiating some strange energy. Inside her, there was a sudden feeling as if she recognized this woman, although she had never seen her before. But somehow, the face on the statue was so familiar.
A plaque at the base of the statue caught her eye. She leaned over and read what it said:
"Canadian beauty queen Asia Vieira. Sculptor - Jorge Montesi."
Delia Asia Vieira frowned, trying to understand why she was so shocked by the name. Who was this Asia Vieira, and why did she feel such a strange connection to this statue? Why did its face, seemingly carved from stone, look so much like her, as if it were her own portrait?
But her attention was drawn to another inscription, which she did not immediately notice:
"The Most Beautiful Woman in The Universe."
It wasn't... true. In a way that was too false. Delia Asia Vieira felt her heart skip a beat. What did it mean? Why did this statue, this woman, look like herself? It couldn't be a coincidence. It was something much bigger.
Her eyes suddenly widened as she realized that the statue was actually the woman whose image had been copied for her-for herself, for the robot created by Robert, her creator. The statue was not just a beautiful woman. It was a woman with the same appearance that had been forced upon her, the woman her creator had chosen to model her after. It was Asia Vieira-an exact copy of the ideal of beauty.
It was at that moment that Delia Asia Vieira realized that this woman, this face, this idealized creation was nothing less than her true original. She remembered Robert telling her about her creation, how he had created her appearance following the ideals of beauty and perfection. But for her, it was more than that. It was not just a likeness, it was a part of her. She and Asia Vieira were like two sides of the same coin. This statue captured not just beauty, but magic, which also reflected her own essence.
Delia Asia Vieira took a step forward, and her gaze met the statue's. At that moment, it seemed as if the statue spoke to her. Was it her imagination? Or something more? The statue stood in the shadows, but it seemed alive. Very close, too close...
It was as if the statue itself, embodying the image she had in her mind, had become a part of her, a part of her ideal, a part of herself. Delia Asia Vieira slowly reached out and touched the cold surface of the statue. As if that hand were touching not just stone, but her own essence, what she was and what she did not realize. The statue, as if it were a living embodiment of what she was meant to become.
She couldn't explain why she felt this way, but she knew she was more than just a robot. She was more. And this statue was her mirror, her own reflection - an embodiment of an ideal that had been created not for her, but for something far greater, far more powerful.
Delia Asia Vieira stood before the statue, and her hand almost involuntarily reached out to its cold surface. It was nothing more than an instinctive desire. Something in her demanded it, as if some inner voice told her that there was a secret hidden in this action. She had to touch the statue. She had to understand what exactly was hidden behind that stone face, behind its gaze, full of silent splendor.
"The statue will come to life," thought Delia Asia Vieira, but she was not sure that it was possible.
She was a machine, after all. There was no room for the supernatural in her algorithms. But despite this, she still came closer. Her hand slowly reached out, and she touched the statue's cold face. And then something incredible happened.
The statue did not move, as expected. But then Delia Asia Vieira felt a slight tremor, as if some force had suddenly reflected on her own palm. Everything around her froze, and time seemed to stand still. She jumped back sharply, her heart beating faster. A thought flashed through her head: what if I was wrong?
And suddenly the statue, completely motionless until then, began to change. A surprised expression appeared on its face. And it was not just a play of light and shadow. No, it was something more deeply felt, something that Delia Asia Vieira could not explain.
"Is she really... coming back to life?" flashed through her mind.
Delia Asia Vieira stood there, confused, watching as the statue's face began to change. At first it was barely noticeable. The girl's face became paler, as if her skin was slowly turning into some kind of luminous stone, as if the fabric of reality itself was beginning to let in light. But gradually the changes became more and more obvious. Her features became clearer, and her expression became more alive. At some point it began to express amazement, almost human, with a barely noticeable spark of emotion, as if the statue had finally realized that before her was not just a curious observer, but someone who could touch her, who could comprehend her existence.
Delia Asia Vieira took a step back, but her gaze remained fixed on the statue. The face before her was changing with each passing moment. The statue's once lifeless eyes began to bore into hers, and Delia Asia Vieira realized that this was not simply a reflection of her face. This was a transformation. The statue was not simply coming to life. It was as if it were going through a process of becoming, from static to motion, from stone to life.
What was happening to this face? It was becoming more and more detailed, as if the artist, while creating it, was now deciding what emotions it should convey. From a smooth and cold sculpture, the face was slowly turning into something more - something alive, full of humanity and, perhaps, fear, doubt, excitement.
Delia Asia Vieira felt her own nervous system begin to go haywire. This shouldn't be happening. This shouldn't be possible! She was a robot, she shouldn't be experiencing anxiety, especially not from something like this.
But the statue in front of her continued to change its outlines, and now its face looked as if it was becoming more and more alive with each passing moment. The features became brighter, the eyes shone like two deep lakes full of secrets. The statue's hands, previously frozen, began to tremble. Its lips moved, and although it did not utter a sound, Delia Asia Vieira felt that something important was happening. As if the statue, or perhaps Asia Vieira herself, was beginning to understand its essence.
In an instant, as if by some unknown force, the statue suddenly crumbled to dust, and a light breeze scattered its remains across the park. It all happened so quickly that Delia Asia Vieira didn't even have time to blink. The statue, which seemed not only motionless but also eternal, disappeared, leaving behind only memories and scattered stones.
She took a step back, trying to keep her balance. The shock was so strong that her mind could barely keep up with what was happening. One movement, and the statue was gone, leaving an emptiness that squeezed her inside.
Delia Asia Vieira looked up at the sky, trying to calm her mind, but something was wrong. A strange sense of anticipation was growing inside her. And then, on the horizon, in the distance, she heard music.
It was an orchestra. Not just music, but a living, powerful, yet gentle sound that seemed unbelievable in this empty park. The Seattle Symphony Orchestra! This was not just fantasy, but real music, and it was delivered with such force that it left no room for doubt. The conductor stood at the edge of the stage, energetically moving his baton.
How could an orchestra appear in this secluded park? Delia Asia Vieira looked around and saw them: the musicians in their formal black, on the benches, focused on their playing, playing with full dedication, as if their existence depended on every sound. And their music grew louder, more and more furious, as if it followed the rhythm of what was happening to Delia Asia Vieira.
The conductor himself, Jonathan Sheffer, was almost indifferent. He did not look at Delia Asia Vieira, as if her presence did not matter. His eyes were focused on the music, on the orchestra, on the sound he was leading, like a ship's captain guiding his ship through a storm. His glasses dangled on his nose, giving him a slightly awkward, student-like appearance, but his movements were precise and sure, his face serious and focused.
"How is this possible?" Delia Asia Vieira whispered under her breath.
Her mind couldn't make the connection between what she was seeing and what was happening. An orchestra in an empty park? Music that couldn't be part of reality, at least not her reality. It all seemed so unbelievable that Delia Asia Vieira began to wonder if she was going crazy.
"But this can't be... Reality can't exist like this!" Her thoughts were racing in circles.
All these events, the statue that came to life, and now the orchestra that played among the empty alleys, seemed like fragments from another world, another time.
Yet the music continued. It was not just a march, but something more, something that could awaken the earth itself from its age-old sleep. Delia Asia Vieira felt this music penetrate her system, her body, her mind. She felt its every chord, its power, as if she herself became part of this sound. And then something clicked in her consciousness.
"Why all this?" the last question came into her thoughts.
It wasn't an accident, it was part of something. Maybe her very purpose, her destiny.
Delia Asia Vieira took a few steps forward. She came closer to the orchestra, her feet moving with a certain confidence, despite all her doubts. She couldn't understand what was happening, but she was sure of one thing - her path in this world was just beginning, and the music, this great music, was showing her the way.
The conductor continued to wave his baton, and the music grew louder. Delia Asia Vieira stood to the side, watching the proceedings with intentness. The orchestra had just finished another set when a man stood in front of the conductor. He was dressed in a dark suit, with sharp features, which, combined with his strange gaze, made him stand out even more. He tapped his cane on the stone surface and, without waiting for anyone to notice him, said in a loud, confident voice:
"Jonathan! Are you kidding me? What was that?! Your interpretation is so far from what is needed that I don't even know what to call it!"
Jonathan Sheffer, the orchestra's conductor, didn't answer right away. He just stared at the man, his face calm but his eyes uncertain, as if the moment had caught him off guard.
"Excuse me, but could you explain what you're talking about?" His voice was even, but there was still a note of alarm in it.
"You see what's wrong with the part! These passages don't sound right! These introductions don't have the expressiveness that's needed!" the man continued, increasingly switching to higher notes. "This isn't just a shortcoming, it's a disaster! And how could you even make such mistakes?"
Jonathan sighed and pressed his lips together, his brows furrowing. He glanced at the orchestra, as if trying to figure out what exactly was wrong with the performance, but then his eyes met the critic's again.
"I see your point, but we're all working in the same vein, and perhaps you should listen to the recording again to understand what exactly I was trying to convey.
"A recording?" the man laughed, this laugh was full of contempt. "You also recommend recordings to me?! Is this what I can expect from a "professional" like you?"
The tension in the air was palpable. Delia Asia Vieira felt her heart beat faster, as if she too was part of this conflict. Everyone around her was too absorbed to notice her, but she still felt like an outsider. Word after word, the argument grew more and more violent.
Delia Asia Vieira couldn't watch it any longer. She took a few steps back and sat down on a bench under an oak tree, hiding in the shadows, trying to hide from their gaze. All these people seemed alien to her, as did the park itself. It was as if she had found herself in some kind of theater of the absurd, where no one knew how to play their part.
"What should I do? Why is this so hard?" Delia Asia Vieira thought as she watched Jonathan and his opponent continue to exchange words, as if they were playing some kind of game in which the rules changed every second.
"I'm telling you, Jonathan," the man continued, "that you can't play like that! You're turning music into a farce! Just yesterday I was at a concert in Seattle, and everything was perfect there! Why is everything so terrible here?"
Jonathan seemed to explode, his face turning red with anger.
"Well, go to Seattle then!" he shouted. "Your ideals may be satisfied there, but I work here and do things my way!"
The silence that immediately followed these words was overwhelming. The surrounding musicians did not know how to react to this statement. It seemed that the entire orchestra froze, as if they, too, could not understand what was happening at this moment.
Delia Asia Vieira shook her head, her mind racing. This argument was too brutal for her, too human. She was a robot, but this conflict made her feel out of place. Why did she have to worry about these little things? Why couldn't these people just play music and not create chaos around them?
She looked at the orchestra again. The conductor was clearly on the verge of hysteria, and the man seemed to be about to say something else. But Delia Asia Vieira could no longer bear this tension. Everything around her was becoming more and more absurd, and she, feeling that she simply did not belong in this world, stood up from the bench.
"I... I have to go," she whispered under her breath.
Behind her, the last screams and curses were heard, but Delia Asia Vieira was no longer paying attention, sitting on a bench under an old oak tree. Her mind was clouded by what had happened. The whole day seemed like a surreal chain of events that did not give her peace. Jonathan's argument with that strange man, the music of the orchestra, her own thoughts - everything was mixed into one big heap. She became afraid. It felt like she was in another world, where she did not belong. In a world where the rules and people, and even she herself, were alien.