Case 222: The guardian goddess’s awakening.
''The attractor... attractor what...?''
''The attractor fields. As I said, they act as a device to pull multiple sub-world-lines together, essentially 'correcting' their courses. If these theories hold true, the universe might really be run in a simulation. After all, without these fields, the possibilities are endlessly closer to infinite. They might not have the computational power to process infinity, right?''
''Okay, I get it, I get it already! Stop explaining...!''
The air-headed Luxia pitifully whines as if her family is being held hostage, the stars in her eyes trembling. Meanwhile, the scholarly bunch among us seems quite intrigued.
''This is more confusing than the political science classes I take...'' Nydia bitterly laughs.
''Well? It's fine as long as you get the gist of it.''
Chloe, who has been fervently discussing the theories of time traveling and parallel universes, sighs helplessly, her eyes darting toward the main character of this controversy—Buezrith herself.
''Aurora... can we really trust her?'' She whispers, suspicion hardly concealed. ''What if this is all a hoax?''
''It's fine. I trust myself.''
These aren't empty words. I trust the other Aurora's intuition and experience. I believe she will intervene if we ever get deceived. Since she has put her hope in me, her past self, wouldn't it be natural to reciprocate?
Either way, because this next and possibly final plan involves everyone present, I want to get their input before making the final decision.
''So, what do you guys think?'' I ask.
''I'd get as much help as we can. However, having something as collateral would be nice.'' Skely voices his thoughts. ''Do you have something that can assure us of your loyalty?''
''...''
Buezrith's eyes flutter. Not a word is uttered from her mouth for a while as she grimaces. Eventually, as if she had gathered all her courage, the woman sighs, ''I'll give my life.''
''That much?!''
Chloe, as taken aback as we are, immediately shoots back.
''I pride myself on being decisive.'' Buezrith smiles. ''This very moment determines the fate of the multiverse across the time spectrum. If we fail to defeat her now, we might as well never will. I can't let it all go down because of a little risk, can I?''
As ridiculous as it gets, her reasoning is sound. None of us can retort.
Buezrith steps forward, then places her hand on her chest, slowly pulling something tangible out. It gradually takes the shape of a silverly light orb, one that peacefully gleams under the Backrooms' light.
''Take it—my soul.''
And she extends it to me.
For some reason, I feel a slight resistance. Like... I'm not supposed to interact with such 'objects' in the first place. Almost instinctively, I realize that this might be another 'behavior correction' of the universe.
''You should take it.''
'''' ...!! ''''
At that precise moment, a voice as deep as the void rings behind me. Even without that, still, I can recognize who it is, so I'm much less startled than the others.
''...Where were you all these times?'' I ask, carrying a hint of annoyance.
''Stargazing,'' Aurora replies nonchalantly, then picks up the soul on the frozen Buezrith's palm. ''I'll be taking this, little miss.''
''...Ah, okay.''
''By the way, can I have a word with you in private?'' With the same eerie, thin smile, Aurora suggests. ''As for you... I need you to wake her up. It's about time.''
So, promptly takes Buezrith to another place, leaving us almost dumbfounded. The last words are for me, and her, in this case, is probably... Neveah.
Indeed, it has been a few months since she fell asleep. Although I'm unsure if it is enough, we need her power to execute the next plans.
Having decided the course of action, I signal for everyone to stand by and warp to a certain place in the vast maze of the Backrooms. I only noticed this area some time ago during a deep sweep. I never thought Aurora would bring her here so covertly, too.
''Hah...''
Standing before the peacefully sleeping Neveah, I begin to ponder—how should I treat this woman from now on?
I am not her lover, but the other me is.
The assimilation process is already ongoing. Ultimately, it depends on what kind of 'Aurora' I am after it finishes. For now... I suppose I'm still my present self.
Well, it's not like I'd give her a morning kiss if I treated her like a lover anyway.
''Hey, wake up.''
''...''
''Wake up.''
''...''
''...''
Without hesitation, I lightly slap her smooth cheek. Yet, even with this kind of firepower, her breaths are still even. Should I just slap her with all my might? That might be a little rude.
''Ah, hey—''
Don't grab my hand, please.
When I instinctively pull my arm out, I realize that the resistance is much stronger than I'd expected. I guess she's not a goddess for nothing.
''Tch...''
After wrestling with this woman for a while, I eventually manage to escape and wake her up.
''Uh...'' Neveah yawns lazily. ''I thought you were giving me the cold shoulder for a moment. You know, after everything we've done.''
''Open your eyes clearly. I'm not her.''
Smiling coquettishly, the goddess shrugs, ''All the same to me.''
Her gaze briefly turns lascivious, but under my extreme display of annoyance, she quickly retracts her intent. Slipping out of bed casually, Neveah sighs, ''You two seem like two different people.''
''...''
''So? Why did you wake me up?''
Not bothering with her antics, I calmly state, ''Someone visited us. Another time traveler.''
In an instant, her face turns cold, ''...Tell me the details.''
''I won't.''
I don't want to do the explaining again.
Thankfully, when I take her to the gathering spot earlier, Chloe seems comfortable enough to run through the events that happened during her hibernation. The others, facing the true goddess, express certain levels of nervousness, especially Luxia.
But Chloe is Chloe. Her composure is admirable.
''That's all.''
''Hm...''
Stroking the dragon egg in her arms, Neveah's Zircon-orange eyes turn thoughtful.
''I didn't expect the scale of things to exaggerate this greatly.'' She ponders. ''But if the threat is truly as serious as that Buezrith said, it will alert the omnipotent universe soon enough. At that point, it will be too late for us, but if we can somehow bring their attention to this place earlier...''
''...You mean we will rely on the universe's laws to punish the other Buezrith?'' Sierra guesses.
''That's the only way. Once again, if we were to believe the informant, even Aurora at her peak might struggle against that kind of monster.''
At Neveah's cold words, the room falls into silence. A faint tension pulls in the air, like a fine string, waiting to snap. After all, playing with the rules of the world is not safe business.
''I reached the same conclusion, too.''
Buezrith's gentle voice promptly cuts that string in half. As she enters with Aurora, we collectively put our eyes on her.
''Now then,'' Aurora lightly claps her hands. ''Since everyone is here, let's start the planning.''