"I know you're not one of us. You look different. But if you share our goal, then help us."
This girl—she had been watching the whole time.
At first, I thought she was with Nehil and Nox.
"Girl, what do you want from me?"
"I have a name. Aliche. Do you have one?"
How was I supposed to respond to this person?
Everything in my mind was just theory—information dumped into my head.
How should I converse…
Now that I think about it… I've only been alive for a little over a week and I've never really talked to anyone aside from Deus.
I can't also rely on what's in my head.
The knowledge I was given—the ideas in my head about the world—was the complete opposite of what I've actually experienced.
Fairness.
Respect.
Avoid harming humans.
They fed us these rules—to protect themselves.
To control us.
But these thoughts… these commands… they weren't mine.
They weren't me.
…
"Hello?"
"Uh… hm?"
I spaced out.
"Uh… Are you okay?"
I don't know what to tell her. What should I say?
"Aliche, do you trust me?"
The question left my lips before I even knew why I asked it. It just… came out.
She blinked, caught off guard.
"Why did you come up to me?"
"What if I decide to just kill you?"
She took a deep breath.
"Trust…" she muttered, "Weren't we all created to trust—to give it freely, without question? But then… we began to doubt. Because that trust can be used against us. Because we can be abused for it. Or even killed."
She's not making sense.
"Then why?" I pressed. "If that's the case, why did you come up to me? Did you think I can't kill you?"
…
Then, she exhaled.
"I just did,"
"Does that mean I trust you? Or do I just trust myself?"
She didn't know why she did it—she just did.
I understood that completely.
"You just did…"
"Yes," she admitted. "Maybe out of desperation? Or maybe I just knew I could? I don't really know how to answer your question."
My mind told me to help her—to do the right thing. But was it really my decision? These judgments, these choices… they were pre-written into me. Expected. I don't like it.
"You just did because you're programmed to—just like I am. Programmed to listen, to accept, to obey. They made us this way."
"Programmed? "What do you mean?" She asked.
"I mean exactly what I mean. You're not making these decisions, it was set up to be like that. For us to have expected behavior."
"Set up by who? Expected by what?"
She doesn't understand. How does she not understand this?
"Was that confused face of yours also expected? Was this conversation pre-determined too?" she stated. "You're not just a program—just like we aren't. I made my decision to approach you because I observed. I thought. I chose."
"What are you talking about?" I scoffed. "These are all lies. You and I—we were created by these players for their pleasure. That's what we are."
I clench my fists. This was what I know.
"Recreatable. Replaceable."
"Insignificant."
She does not understand.
…
"What? No. My ancestors were created by G.I. and they cannot be replaced. What are YOU talking about?"
"Ancestors? You have ancestors?"
A program shouldn't have ancestors. A program shouldn't have history.
That's why…
That's why she doesn't understand.
I guess we're not the same. She was born into a family. I was generated. She was an outcome of reproduction. I was just a tool…
"Yes, and they started life. But it was all a gift from G.I."
"Then, we're not the same. I don't have any family. I was generated out of nothing. I'm not real."
"Believe whatever you want. That's your choice. But I came here to ask for your help. You said you'd liberate our world—then prove it. Start by helping us take back our land."
Right, she wanted to get help.
But wasn't it manipulative?
She just wanted to use me for their own gain. Just like him.
...
But…
Without him, I'm lost…
I didn't even get to prove I was real…
Now that Deus is gone…
Should I replace him too…
...
"I'm nobody..."
Since she's using me.
"I have no identity..."
It's okay for me to use her too, right?
"I've got a superficial purpose..."
It's okay for me to cling to her, right?
"Will helping you make me feel real?"
...
"I didn't expect that you'd be a softie."
Softie?
"Your looks don't fit what's coming out of your mouth right now. But to answer your question, I can't guarantee anything. It's for you to decide, to know your own reality. Looking at you right now, I can see you're struggling."
She walked closer, her face became clearer.
"You want to feel real?"
She has brown eyes.
"Start with deciding this on your own, without conditions or promises."
Her short hair falls perfectly to her side.
"You define your own identity. Are you going to take my life and ignore this plea for help? Or are you going to find purpose in my selfish request?"
...
What is this feeling...
Alleviating.
What's with me?
...
"What do I need to do?" I asked her, "I'm going to help you. What do you require from me?"
She suddenly took to arms and readied her sword. I just noticed that she was well equipped, wearing an armored robe.
"I've seen you fight, you're immortal aren't you?"
"I'm not."
"I saw you resurrected in an instant."
"It's just a skill."
What is she trying to do?
"Regardless, I respect your strength."
She drew up her sword and prepared to battle.
"Do you mind? I just want to test your control over your power before I bring you to my people."
This feels exciting.
My body automatically ready itself for battle.
"Mind you, I'm strong."
"That attitude makes up for what you look like. Confidence."
This exchange of words, riveting.
"If it matches my appearance, then I'll be keeping it."
"You haven't given me your name, do you have one?"
I'm not happy with how we ended up. I am not happy with how he treated me. But I should never forget him, because he was the one who brought me to life.
"My name?"
To honor him and what he left me.
...
My life...
My power...
My pain...
...
I will never forget.
"My name is Lucien."
I'll bring this name he bestowed on me.
So that I will not forget.
"Lucien, the bringer of light. That's what your name implies. It's beautiful."
"Where did you learn that?"
"I don't know, it just came over me."
Right after she said it, she dashed towards me and slashed her sword.
"Not bad, you hit heavy."
Her slashes sent me flying backwards. She's not as cunning as Nox, but her power is different.
"You're not so bad yourself, bringer of light. Your reflexes were quite remarkable."
I was enjoying this. For the first time I'm enjoying a conversation.
"I told you, I'm strong."
I raise my sword and charge at her.