*
Perhaps it's working. It's only been the first day, and Lastia couldn't bare to see how pathetic Arin could get. So before Arin shames herself further... She'll carry through to the very end. This world was Arin's word, her beliefs, her hopes brought to life, and it was her challenge to Lastia... The Primordial Shadow of Existence had pride, the great all encompassing deity beyond the twinkling stars and quasars ordained for it to be so. Her host, her bearer, the original reigning deity of an extinct civilisation that witnessed the end of the origin era.
She'll eat the attack head on to show her absolute dominance. She'll let her emotions run and not fear getting too attached to these false beings, because even if she did she knows she'll come out on top at the end of everything that transpires here.
" Alright, that's enough. Let's get home and make use of this early break." (Lastia)
"Mm. Bye bye." (Arin)
Leisurely, they turned and strolled off to where they were initially heading. Lastia's home. The blazing noon begins to cool off as their faces were hit by gentle breeze. A stifling air keeps the conversation silent, but their eyes hold every intention to convey.
"... Sorry. I'm not very reliable as your challenger, am I?" (Arin)
" You idiot. There's no risk of death here, this world is the embodiment of peace. An unrealistic dream like place would never move me. Even so, as inconsequential as it is, you should at the minimum hold the dignity of a magical girl." (Lastia)
Yggdrasil presses her lips together, her sight was drawn to the ground as she contemplated her next words. More importantly, what was this sensation? Like a disarray, her own thoughts are conflicting and lost. She brings her eyes back to Lastia.
"I'm not a magical girl... I'm not Arin. I don't have the right to dignity here. The world is mine, and I am the world's. For a shameful sculpture of a world, I deserved to be just as shameful." (Arin)
She draws her hands into the house, lightly pushing the door to the side as if her body got swallowed by the entrance. Lastia follows behind before closing the door behind her. She had no interest in waxing poetry nor did she care about Yggdrasil's thoughts.
"You living here too?" (Lastia)
"... Got a problem?" (Arin)
Composure gradually returned and she eked out a grin at Lastia in response. No matter what, she had to face things eventually. Running away will not help. She shouldn't run in the first place. What a shameful goddess who shuddered from her own creation. How utterly distasteful that her enemy had to step in. Anyone could understand, she was being pitied by her mortal enemy.
"Fufu, that's far better. I like it better when you smile, Arin. Anyway, I'm retiring for the day. I'd like to see how life feels. " (Lastia)
"Alright... Lastia. I'll turn in too." (Arin)
This will be the first time she stepped into another bedroom in her own home. There had always been more than one room, previously it served as the study. With the reproduction of the original world, some details were tweaked here and there at the start, to make living more convenient. One such detail was her bank account, it held extra zeroes, and it wasn't just a few. If she needed to, she could rent out any nearby home right now, or completely refurbish Lastia or Arin's home.
She brushed off Lastia's questioning, but she wasnt quite certain of the answer herself. Why did they live together? To spy on one another? To inculcate trust? Or perhaps she simply thought it would be fun? Speaking of which...
The Primordial Shadow will be the 'third' Lastia, now huh? Will there be more in the future? Yggdrasil's thoughts run their course. There is no meaning assigned to this line of thought. She had truly become human in her way of thinking. Mulling over false niceties. Trivial, worthless garbage. Would the old her having arrived at this evaluation ever entertain these thoughts? Would her creator be proud of her for growing closer to her?
Before the possession, before all the battles with The Calamity and The Invader, she remembered and cherished those times the most. The memories of her creator. Her creator didn't pay much attention to her, after all she was an artificial intelligence born to serve as an auxiliary module for battle. To provide computational power and execute actions on behalf of her creator. It wasnt until the very end, she was entrusted with the burden of life.
All that is horrible, ugly, painful. All that is beautiful, pleasant, joyful. The friends she conversed with using all of her heart, putting her feelings into words, tugging at her mind to convey her own thoughts to the the best of her ability... Her creator sure entrusted so damn much to her... For a battle AI, it was a burden incredibly heavy. Forcing her to feel emotions, to both cherish and forsake life when it was necessary, it was like making a person fly without any tools. Only Yggdrasil was able to grow wings.
Her thoughts dampen into a chilling silence. They slow to a sluggish pace, experiencing the pull of drowsiness. She lay in bed under her thick blankets, with nary a thought in mind. By the time her eyelids open once more, natural light was breaching the covers. Her lashes quivered before her conscious stirred. Without pause, she slipped into her routine of making lunch and breakfast. When there aren't any Trace attacks, all she had was studying and other household appliances to occupy herself with.
Carrying a trait from her creator, she didn't like to subscribe her interest to any particular franchise. Whether it's a show or a novel. Lastia refrained because of her amnesia, there wouldn't be enough time to watch many series in a single day, and she would forget everything the next day anyway. As for Yggdrasil, she found it particularly hard to motivate herself into engrossing in fiction. At least when it came to cooking, Arin and Sariel benefitted from it too. She would make their lunches on the night before, otherwise mornings would be too occupied with cooking.
As for today, there would only be breakfast. Eating outside won't be a concern with her hoard of wealth. Sure enough, the scent of crisp bacon and sunny eggs drew Lastia out of her room. Lastia widened her eyes in surprise before scooting closer, like a prey staring at the open jaw of a predator. She really didn't trust Yggdrasil's skills, even though it looked so appetising.