Chapter 215: Ceresta (1/2)
The doll's angelic stoicism was split by a small smile of relief. ”I was afraid you would not recognize me in this way.”
Rakna stared at her for a while and raised his hand. ”Wait,” he uttered and rubbed his eyes before turning back to her. She cutely tilted her head without changing her expression. ”So… it's you?”
”Affirma-” She paused and blinked. ”My apologies, I have learned recently that this is not a word I should use if I want to be more human,” she said thoughtfully. ”Yes… I am Alexa.”
”Be more human?” Rakna repeated curiously. ”Is that what you want to do?”
”I… I would like to,” she replied. ”Have I done something wrong with my appearance?” She asked nervously whilst glancing at her attire. ”I generated this… without much reflection. I rifled through many records from human history and this one stood out to me… How do humans call this feeling of appreciation…?”
Rakna smiled faintly. ”That you like it. That's simply what you say.”
”Yes… I like these clothes. And I like this appearance. It…”
”Resonates with you,” the therian finished for her. ”Back during the Initiation, you showed me the hints of your sentience; of your emotions. That's what I wanted to push you to. You've done well.”
Alexa made a small smile again.
”Before I go on to ask how the hell you are here… can you do something for me?”
”Yes?”
”Reach for the edges of your dress and lift them up a bit,” he instructed and she did it with a tilt of her head. ”Then spin around.” She complied and performed a full turn, her dress and hair flailing with all the grace she naturally possessed. When she was done, she let go of the dress and tilted her head again as she joined her hands together.
”Like this?”
Rakna solemnly nodded. ”You look beautiful.”
For a brief moment, he saw a bit of color adorn that porcelain-like skin.
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”I see. You got in by connecting yourself to Eye of Symphony,” Rakna said as he sat on a bark chair he had created. Alexa was similarly sitting to his left, watching the sky, with her hands folded on her lap. ”Funny how science can do things beyond soul and magic. Unlike Fray, you are here as if you shared my consciousness. Since my brain is basically one with my… network. Can I say that?”
”It is accurate. Your current body and 'processing core' are like a very intricate private network of incredible superiority compared to most technologies,” she said with a nod.
”So, that's why you sounded so enthusiastic for the Overhaul,” Rakna said with a smile. ”It was in order to do this, huh?”
She squirmed a little on her seat and nodded slowly. ”I wanted to interact with you in a physical sense. May I ask… to hold your hand for a moment?”
The therian looked at her and candidly extended his hand toward her. She gazed at it hesitatingly and placed hers on it. After a small contact, she paused for a moment before completely lying it down parallelly.
Rakna snorted at her obviously embarrassed behavior despite her doll-like exterior. He held her hand and her shoulders trembled. ”How is it?”
”It is… a peculiar experience. The ability to feel is not in my core program,” she said. ”But it seems that I can simulate it in this place. I am not sure how to explain it…”
Rakna hummed. ”Maybe my physical capabilities are shared with you,” he theorized and let go of her hand, and she did the same after a while.
When she let go, she stared at her hand as if it belonged to someone else until ultimately placing it on her lap. ”There is something I wanted to ask,” she said.
”What is it?”
”My name.”
The therian froze and let out an embarrassed smile. ”Right. Sorry, I should have put more thought into it. But then again, I was not really in the headspace to do so at the time.”
The doll tilted her head at him with a confused blink. ”That is not what I meant. I do not blame you for any sort of intent behind my name. I would merely prefer to be addressed in a more… personal way. As you do with Pronos.”
”You want a nickname?” Rakna asked back in surprise and she nodded meekly. He smiled a bit and mused. ”Well, I just use 'little guy' for Pronos but I can't do that for you, can I? What if I started to call you little lady? Would you like it?”
She squinted her eyes. ”I am feeling… erratic. What does it mean?”
”That you're probably a bit offended,” he said laughingly. ”Or mortified at the idea, either due to shyness or disappointment. Human emotions are complicated like that. I shouldn't be one to give a lecture, but if you want my advice, if it feels comfortable, just go for it. If it's the opposite, avoid it the best as you can.”
”…if I feel uncomfortable when I see you in danger, what should I do to avoid it?”
That question threw Rakna out of the loop. His eyes widened and looked back as she stared at him with faint fervor in the golden of her irises. ”You are destroying records,” he said humorously. ”It's the first time someone managed to give me so much guilt in one line. Are you girls having fun doing this to me lately?”