“I know well that seeing Gehenna Flames can be quite traumatics, for ones that managed to remain conscious and hold most of their memories. That said, even with help you seem to accustom yourself fairly well” Girl stopped for a moment before taking a water bottle from the seat on the right from her. This made Mark look right to his pair-seat.

There was exactly the same bottle there. It would probably make him wonder if not for a fact that, considering his situation, he probably should not care about physical laws to much.

Still possibilities that it opened…

“besides… praise, expectations, and something to hold myself to… “ it was like speaking to a psychologist…“and I definitely didn’t miss the reincarnation keyword, but that is ridiculous, I’m not some main character from the isekai novel! "

“Or maybe it is not surprising at all?“ Girl continued to speak after taking a sip. Did he actually even ask for her name? Mark rewinded conversation in his mind, before acknowledging that he indeed did not.

“Wait, then why exactly you are there? You don’t want to tell me that you are just human like me right? If so then there is no reason that we are the only two people here. And if you could tell me your name-”

“Levi”

“mhm?“

“That is my name. I am… The closest possible answer in your tongue will be "Sentient Spell Matrix. "“

“You are… a kind of magical AI? “ Mark looked at her surprised.“Speak about uncommon things really.”

“While that is not completely incorrect, I was born as a living being, and I always tried to stay… a living being, so I would oppose the word "artificial." “

This was probably a delicate subject, so Mark decided to not get drawn into it.

“I was always tolerant, so it is fine for me either way. Nice to meet you then Levi, and I am wrong with assuming that you are avoiding rest of the questions? “ what have happened after that was long while of silence before Levi finally spoke silently.

“… I don’t actually know where to start… “ Again long while of silence.

“then start from beginning” Mark smiled “I know nothing about this place, but I at least can feel that we have a time… enough of it”

“Enough… yes, that is a good description. Not to long, not to short… enough, there is always enough time in this place” His conversation partner did not responded with a smile but rather with a scowl. But finally she seemed to continue. “you must understand that where your soul-forming was a given- no, please do not stop me I will respond on your questions later… when it was given, chances of you holding to your memories and being conscious during next part was astronomically small. I used advices from few psychological corses – conscious archives – on the beginning of our conversation, but that was never part of the plan. And now I have to think how much I should tell you.

And before you ask for it I can not tell you everything. Maybe I never will… in the original plan you should know nothing upon being born. And in a way it would be for the best. Perhaps, you will grow faster with your memories but if you know to much to early it WILL be disastrous… as it would be if I won't tell you enough, and you decide to perceive me as an enemy.

Because I am not your enemy, not now and at lest not in foreseeable future. That I am certain, since someone like you will sooner or later find yourself on the same side as me… as one’s that created me…

I said to you, that I am no God, and that I don’t know if someone like that exists. This, are both truths. However, if you ask me if I believe… then I don’t. I have no faith left from time longer that you can imagine.

Yes, if you ask about my own opinion then we are alone. Ah, I can see that you disagree with me, that is fine, I am not here for this kind of discussion. What I want to say is... there may be, or may be not God, but there surely is, a struggle, and pain, that you agree to feel for others, and heart full of desire to protect… And sacrifice…

there were once entire races that given themselves for this and I… “ she opened her arms just like she wanted to show herself fully. A girl nearly, but with eyes of steel that shined with pride and wisdom. And something... else.

“… I am their struggle.”

Former student looked at his conversation partner while straightening himself. There was definitely power in her words one that make him nervous. All of this didn't seem like a laughing matter.

“This is a lot to take on” he responded “But you actually did not explain anything, if it really is so important-”

“- just think about it as, me trying to set the atmosphere” Levi smiled sadly when breaking into his sentence.“After all it would be very cliché to tell you, that you are going to be reincarnated into the world of so-called "swords and magic"”

Hearing such a ridiculous sounding words Mark send the young woman uncertain smile, while thinking that it would be much more funny if not for the still gloomy atmosphere.

“Too defeat the demon king? Or something like that?”that could be interesting. While Mark was not a warrior nor a child, he always loved heroic stories.

“Demon kings are not really a problem, do what you want with them. I shall not say why and against who I am sending you. This is one of the things that must remain a mystery... for now at least”

He sure though too optimistically, hoping for straightforward answer, did he? This entire matter seemed more and more shady with every moment.Young man sighed and took a thinking pose.

“And my cooperation will be guaranteed by... ?” He remembered to not sound too rude. Antagonizing someone capable of manipulating reincarnation itself was usually very bad decision.

“Nothing” she shook her head “your participation was never in question, this was one of the reasons why we have altered paths. Mark Taylor – as you are now – or even as you will become in the future, will not be able to go against us and still stay as himself.”

“so you want to say that my... character itself is your guarantor? You must know awfully lot about me...” - Young man tried to make his voice stay indifferent.

“I know just enough” - he heard a response.“The main reason why you were chosen was different though” For Mark this was actually quite obvious. He may have a good character, maybe even nearly heroic one, if granted proper circumstances, and be very intelligent. But the same could be said of many other people, even just on his own planet... well now his former planet. Certainly if he could think about something special about him then...

“This is about what happened right after I died right? This... enlightenment? I really don't think that I could name it properly...”He waited for answer eagerly. he was worried but he was curious as well, what exactly happened in that moment?

“Yes, Your soul finally forming was predicted long time ago, and arrangements to take advantage of this situation started appropriately.”

“Advantage?” He noticed.

Levi sighed.“Actually I have done a lot less than you are probably thinking now. Your death was natural. There was no need to speed anything, not only it would introduce an unneeded variable. As weird as it may sounds to you, altering time flow between two dimensions is actually easier than influencing one of them from the other, even in the most minimal way. All that I have done was to make sure, that you will be reborn in the proper time and place. Don't misunderstand, you WILL be reborn anyway I just... ”

“Altered paths?” He ended instead of her remembering that she used this expression a moment ago. She just smiled slightly in response “Yes, and now to give you some explanations. And this is where my role ends”

“But” he groaned “you really are very skimpy with it. You did not say anything about this soul-form, was this not supposed to be most important of all?” That said the last few sentences made him feel less uneasy. At least it did not seem that Levi – and whoever was beside her – had any bad intentions. And If what they expected of him was something that he would want to do regardless... Then does it even matter?

He wondered how much of this reaction was planned, as Levi already acknowledged that she had access to psychological "programs".