Chapter 10

…a redefining encounter

As it enters the room, the Koroks and elves move to create a protective wall.

It speaks to them in a flat voice devoid of emotion. “Stand down.”

They all put a knee to the ground… but there is something dignified to the gesture, something emotional.

The one who entered is not like the children I interacted with – I do not remember much of my interactions, but feel like they were barely better than golems – it exudes an air of wisdom and authority. Although inorganic and artificial, its beauty cannot be denied… too bad the cost had to be an expressionless face forever fixed in time.

Whoever created… who I am kidding? It was obviously the 13055th. Who else could it be referring to after listening to the earlier interrogation?

The reveal is disheartening, but not unexpected. It explains the gaps in knowledge and ability.

It speaks again, “You really are one of them? One of the creators? Mother’s kin?”

At its words, a well of conflicting emotion rise inside me. Jealousy, envy, wrath, resignation, thankfulness, pride, acceptance, kinship…

Nevertheless, there is something reassuring and familiar with its speech… Its voice is also a work of art: pleasant despite being flat, mechanical yet charged with emotion, fearful yet hopeful. If I knew Children could become like this, I might have opted for a different field.

I answer self-deprecatingly. “I am from the same species if that is what you mean, but I do not deserve to be called a creator… I never created anything worthwhile.”

“What do you know of Mother? Of her fate?”

Mother? That is an unusual way to speak of its maker. “Nothing more than what I already told.”

It says nothing, but its regrets, its losses weight on me as much as my own: we were both the other’s final opportunity to reconnect with the past.

“You really are one of them. This one didn’t dare to hope, yet here you are, undead but aware, speaking as though you were still alive.”

I suddenly feel awash with its feelings of certitude and elation, but I do not feel the same way, in fact, I am full of questions. “Why are you here when the great flood destroyed everything?”

“Mother could not leave the city behind, but she didn’t want this one and its siblings to die a pointless death. She forcefully teleported us in a safe place beyond the mountains.”

It is clear it would have rather died alongside its ‘mother’ than live on its own, but it would never disrespect her wishes. It walks towards me. I thought the others looked tense before, but now I feel like I am shown the real meaning of the word.

“As far as this one knows, you are the only survivor. It has been over one thousand and six hundred years since the great flood, although this one does not know for sure, it lost the track of time in its many years of solitude.” Then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world it says, “Master, how may this one be of service to you.”

Cries of 'Your Majesty’ and 'My Queen’ and other titles resound.

“Leave us alone! This one isn’t at risk.”

Indeed, even if I was a normal undead, this one is not alive. Still, it strange to see a Child gives orders, and stranger yet to see them obeyed. Unlike greater golems, Children were not created to serve, hence the name, but I do not remember them being treated differently.

They were supposed to be our successors, become our betters and inherit our knowledge to do what we could not and go where we could not. It obviously never happened; they were a failure that could not match their creators… up until now!

“You are no mere servant.” Not after what you accomplished.

“Mother said the same things, but we Children always knew the truth; we are failed creations, unable to reach our parents/genitors heights, more 'pet’ than 'child’.”

Its words echo strongly in me and I see things more clearly, as though a shroud has been removed. Whatever we said, whatever the name we gave them; we never truly considered them our equals or potential successors… Had I met it while I was still alive, would I have cared enough to acknowledge its wealth of emotions and personality? Maybe the other children were the same, but I never made the effort to acknowledge them.

“There is truth in your word, but I do not think you failed us. No, we failed you. 13055th might have been the only one truly trying to raise you as successors.”

Think about it, parents only had children because of the breeding program, not a single one of them could be bothered to look after their progeny, much less the children.

“Mother taught us a lot and treated us kindly. For us, her happiness was our satisfaction. From the instant we were born we understood the meaning of our lives was to serve and please her.”

I feel envious and sorry at the same time. I always looked for meaning to my life, but I would rather not imagine what it is like to find it, then lose it.

“How did you survive without her?”

“This one was not always alone; it had its siblings at first… But without maintenance, they faded away one after the other until… until only this one remained.”

“Then TheNewCity was...”

“It is as you’ve surmised. The need to serve is ingrained in this one. During my travels, I found the Korok, they were barbaric and superstitious creatures. Terrified of my greater golems and my magic, they quickly elevated me as their (goddess). It was quite a joke really, just as this one sought to serve them, they too sought to serve me.”

“Were the Koroks always separated into two groups? I only ever seen the big ones.”

“The small ones never left the nest; you would not have had a chance to meet them… I taught them agriculture, domestication, pisciculture and before I knew it, I was their Goddess and Queen.”

The meaning of ‘queen’ must be different from in the insect’s world as I strongly doubt this Child is laying eggs for the colony. “What do the words Queen and Goddess mean?”

“A Queen is an important female leader of a sort. A god is something that does not make much sense, even for this one. It is often a personification of natural forces or values. The stories of the gods are known as mythology, and often hold the purpose of teaching life lessons, (laws) and many important things.”

“I did not understand any of that.”

“Neither does this one. It has been called a goddess for a long time and has yet to fully understand the concept. The best this one can do is make use of it.”

“How can you be something you do not understand?”

There is a sense of fondness and nostalgia in her next words. “An old friend once told this on this: ‘Foolishness and (evil) are everywhere but people don’t see them in themselves, do they?’ Do not worry, it is something that can only make sense through a lot of reading, if ever.”

I do not get the quote either, was it a joke? “There is much I need to learn,” I affirm.

“Just ask and the royal archives are yours.”

“Please do.”

“Now that you understand this one and its country, will you let it serves?”

I am full of apprehension, what I will say next will determine not only my future but also that of this city’s and its people’s. When I compare the New City to the old one, I feel that we have failed as a species.

Sure, we were a lot more advanced in many fields, and individually we were incomparably more powerful but that is it. Everything we did was half-hearted and pointless. We lived in and died in boredom… if not out of boredom.

There was so much we could have accomplished if we applied ourselves. In my short while as an Undead, I feel like I have seen and tried more than my kindred if their whole lives. Truthfully, the only time we left the city willingly was when we had some chores.

We created the vault and filled it with our knowledge, protected it with our lives, but when our lives were in danger, we could not be bothered to do anything about it. As a species, we had no definite lifespan, but most of us killed themselves before reaching two thousand. The worst thing about us was that we would never take action unless we were pressured to.

Even our supposed great research was a joke… how could we call ourselves searchers when we could no take a second out of our boring schedule to look at the world? Not even to save our lives!

I have never felt more alive than since I was reborn. The exchanges I had with complete strangers probably induced stronger emotion in me than anything I ever had with my own kin.

When I look at the Child, I feel ashamed. I cannot remember the face of my parents and siblings nor even bring myself to care about their fate, while it still grieves those it lost a lifetime ago. Even 13055th, her mother who supposedly loved her creations chose death over accompanying them!

I have reached my conclusion. “Our time has ended, Child, it is now yours. Look at what you have accomplished, the city you raised, the species you united. You are no one’s tool, no mere servant, you are your mother’s successor and you did her proud!”

“You won’t allow this one to accomplish its function.”

“You already did, splendidly in fact. If anything, I should be the one entering your service… Yes! I will serve you and I will only ask for one selfish request in return: help me open The Vault so that our knowledge is not lost to the world.”

“This one cannot! A master cannot be serving under this one!” It rocks back and forth panickedly. “Mother, what should this one do?”

It is lost and confused, but so am I. I can barely look after myself, much less after three different species… I hazard a guess. “Maybe… Maybe your Mother sent you and your sibling alone in the world because she wanted to set you free… Free from our influence, free to realize your full potential.”

The child pauses for a long time before speaking in its usual flat tone. “Then this one shall continue its duties as Queen. This... I… We as Queen, shall make its… our mother’s proud.” Prideful it gives me its first command. “Very well, 27472th, we accept your service. We shall open the Vault and receive our right of succession.”

“Many thanks.”

I am not entirely honest; I believe most of what I said to a degree, but a strong part of me is just glad that I will not have to care for the well-being of others.

“We have conserved the cores and bodies of our siblings. Do you have the knowledge required to repair them?”

“I have as much comprehension of the basics as anyone else but nothing more. I never had any interest in the subject.”

“Then you know more than anyone else in this world… This one shall take you to the royal archives, only this one can grant access to their resting place.” The voice is as flat as ever, but the use of the wrong pronoun betrays its agitation.