After yesterday incident, people around the Herta Space Station were busier than usual.
Construction crews continued refining already pristine areas to an even higher standard. Elsewhere, people argued, chatted, or simply gazed at the stars.
As Ena and Stelle walked to meet Herta, the Space Station fell silent.
Construction workers stopped, their tools hanging in the air, and scholars froze where they stood.
"Miss Ena!" A researcher appeared from nowhere, already offering his jacket with a marker in hand. "Just your name anywhere I'll have it framed!"
Another pushed in from the left, reaching for her. "I just want to shake your hand I won't wash it for a week... maybe two!"
"One photo" Someone was already crouching with camera held low and angled toward Ena feet.
Stelle head tilted slightly. She followed the angle, then the position.
Ena hand tightened on Stelle. "Have you thought about what it would mean to simulate an Aeon presence? Herta says the Simulated Universe can theoretically achieve that"
Stelle blinked, her mouth slightly open, then turned to Ena.
"But AEON are real gods. You can't simulate something like that"
"You can simulate the conditions. The sense of a Path itself, not the AEON" Ena said.
Stelle kept her eyes up as they continued down the corridor.
Behind them, the researcher slowly checked the camera, eyes fixed on the device.
...
...
Ena and Stelle arrived at Herta office, where Herta puppet turned toward them the moment they stepped inside.
Herta crossed her arms. "I've been looking forward to this. Do you know how-"
"We came directly from the Express" Stelle said.
"Tch… that's beside the point. Forget it. Let's move on" Herta turned toward the structure behind her.
There, the two saw a large console, humming quietly.
Herta opened her hand wide.
"Under ordinary conditions, studying an AEON directly is essentially impossible. The Simulated Universe can theoretically change that. Those who enter can attempt to interact with the simulated AEON, to understand the Paths themselves"
Ena glanced at Herta. "Theoretically?"
Herta turned toward them.
"AEON have no interest in ordinary people. A false presence would be seen through immediately. But there are exceptions"
She glanced at Stelle, then turned to Ena.
"You are one. As for Stelle, she is a Stellaron vessel, which makes her inherently unusual. The Simulated Universe may respond differently to her. I plan to have her disguise herself as AKIVILI"
Ena nodded. "How about me?"
"Originally, I planned to disguise you as the Aeon of Abundance" Herta frowned slightly.
"But there is already one in the Simulated Universe. That plan is scrapped. However, the quantity of blessings you carry is genuinely illogical. I still want you to run through it. There may be events I haven't been able to observe before"
Herta smiled faintly. "Appropriate compensation will follow. I also have questions regarding a certain Emanator of Abundance. Those can wait until after testing"
Stelle had been looking at the structure throughout the exchange, her expression growing more serious.
She turned to Ena. "Can I go first? I want to see what it's like"
Ena gaze fixed on Stelle. "Examination first"
"Already processed" Herta waved a hand.
She handed over a data slate. "Updated secondary sweep during your walk over"
Ena took it and read it thoroughly.
"Mom… I'll be fine" Stelle said quietly.
Ena looked at Stelle, then at the humming structure, then back at the data slate.
Her grip on Stelle hand loosened.
Stelle stepped forward. Ena arm lifted slightly.
"She'll be stable" Herta said from the console without looking up.
"A compatible body. I've run these calculations three times"
Stelle looked back once before she stepped inside. "I'll tell you everything, Mom"
Then she entered the Simulated universe.
Ena stood near the threshold, watching in silence.
...
...
Ena stayed near the structure. It hummed steadily in front of her as she kept her eyes fixed on it. After a long time, it fell quiet.
Stelle came out with a slightly dazed expression, her steps slower than usual.
Herta was already reviewing output. "AKIVILI presence registered clearly. Promising."
Ena phone rang.
She picked up.
Himeko: The phone arrived. For Stelle.
Ena looked at Stelle, still blinking. "We'll come-"
"You haven't entered yet" Herta said from the console, not turning around.
"I can go alone" Stelle said, her gaze focused. "I know where the Express is."
Ena stays silent.
"I do" Stelle met her eyes.
"I'm not a baby"
Ena gaze stayed on her. "You are a baby"
"A baby who knows where the Express is" Stelle replied.
Ena studied her for a moment, then stepped closer and reached for her face.
Stelle froze. Then, carefully, Stelle lifted both hands, cupped Ena face, and brought her closer before pressing a kiss to her forehead slightly off-center.
Stelle let go and stepped back.
She looked away, her ears burning red. "I'll be careful"
Ena stood there a moment.
"Come straight back" Ena said softly.
Stelle nodded quickly and walked to the door with uneven steps.
Herta watched without saying anything.
Ena turned back toward the Simulated Universe.
Steady. Humming. Something beneath it she couldn't locate, neither familiar nor foreign.
She thought of the dream. Not what it contained. Only its shape. Like a word already forgotten, still heavy in her chest.
Herta waited at the console, patient for once.
Ena slowly took a breath and stepped inside.
...
TBC
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...
After finishing Chapter 20, I realized something:
Do I want the reader to feel it, or know it?
I think I managed it okay in this chapter, but I'm still not fully sure. (✿￣︿￣)
Feedback is welcome. (｡•́︿•̀｡)
Also, my keyboard still hasn't arrived, so I'm surviving this chapter with autocorrect. (｡•ˇ‸ˇ•｡)