Interlude 3: The human goddess.
Before I had realized it, I had spent years with Neveah.
It wasn't as though I'd stuck with her all the time. I still went out and explored the world occasionally, going here and there, but Neveah stayed in the same place throughout. She only knew the system, and her time was mostly poured into it.
Her dedication to the craft was respectable.
Maybe she was a shut-in?
No, that was pretty much given. What am I saying?
Either way, seeing her working on the massive system alone was honestly inspiring, so at one point, I thought I would help her a bit. That was my original purpose anyway.
''You? Helping?''
''Mhm.''
''Uh... we're not short on materials, so...''
Neveah appeared to be seriously pondering it. After a long while, she smiled at me awkwardly, ''Sorry. It doesn't seem like there's anything for you to do at the moment.''
''Really?''
''Really. The system is intricate. I fear it'd be ruined if another source of divinity interferes with it.'' The goddess sighed. ''Rather, you really couldn't get the limited edition shortcakes? I thought you quened early.''
''Ah, that.''
This morning, Neveah told me to go buy us groceries and some dessert. Surprisingly, even though neither of us had to consume organic food, Neveah liked to cook in her free time. It helped her relax, apparently.
Now, the groceries part went alright, but I got stumped at the dessert endeavour.
''The bakery owner thought I was a robot, so he kicked me out,'' I replied.
''Again, that's unreasonable. There are no laws prohibiting robots from buying desserts, are there?''
''There isn't. It was probably an excuse.''
''...Did you do something?''
Shrugging, I reply, ''He found me frightening, it seems.''
Objectively speaking, I must have looked quite intimidating. Imagine the word 'soulless' and add around fifty 'absolutely' to it, and you'd get my appearance.
And since I didn't speak with tone or make expressions, the package only got eerier.
Neveah stared at my face for a few moments, then sighed as she shook her head.
''You... you need to learn to be human again.'' The goddess said.
''Hm?''
Before I could ask further, she took my hand and led me back to the house. Greeted by the owl, now with his family, perched on the chandelier, we settled in the living room.
''Listen, Aurora. I've said before that I wouldn't probe your past, but I must ask—were you always like this...?''
''If you mean how expressionless I am, then yes. The human me was perhaps... seventy percent of what I am now?''
''That's rough...!''
Neveah smacked her face, clearly troubled. After pacing around the room for a while, she pointed at me decisively, ''I've decided! I'll train you to be a human again!''
Unsure how to respond, I perfunctorily clapped a few times and watched her dancing around with her plans.
Eventually, I couldn't resist and tapped her shoulder, ''Why are we doing this again?''
''What do you mean...?''
''Both you and I aren't human anymore. Why are we trying to be like them?''
At my words, the goddess went silent. Then, her face turned solemn. Deep within her eyes, a burning desire, one I always felt from her, present or future, glimmered.
''Because I love humans.'' She replied. ''You and I both came from humans. We might be vastly different from them now, but fundamentally, we are the same. We share the same emotions with them, the same language, and the same curiosity.''
''...''
''It's not just that. We aren't mere 'gods,' but the people's 'gods.' Gods care for their people. Gods who aren't could only be qualified as heartless rulers.''
Smiling confidently and... humanly, Neveah took my hand again, ''So, what do you say? Don't you want to be a 'good' god with me?''
I was left speechless.
In the future where everything was lost, the future that I had run away from, in that reality, I never met Neveah directly. She never came back after the 'hibernation.' Still, I had witnessed countless traces of her across this dying planet.
Most of them were in the form of... motivation. That she had inspired countless not to give up and fight for their freedom.
It was at this moment that I realized—so this was why.
Neveah was a perfect goddess. Capable, benevolent, beautiful.
She was human. A human goddess.
''So, you'd first have to show me a natural smile.''
''...Like this?''
When I tried smiling, it felt stiff. Not as stiff as Neveah's expression upon seeing it, though.
''Man... you already look gloomy like this. That smile is just creepy.''
Or so I heard her mind's voice.
For a long time, Neveah coached me on how to smile. Don't tense up. Don't focus only on the lips. Make sure to relax the brows.
In the end, I could only muster an awkward smile, but she gave me a thumbs up, saying 'Progress is progress.' I wonder if I could smile naturally in the future.
''Also, the way you talk is also a problem.''
''How so?''
''You sound too curt. You might underestimate this, but a favorable impression of oneself helps with a lot of things. We are social creatures, not independent, after all.''
''So I have to fix my way of speaking?''
Neveah nodded, ''Soften your words a bit. Ah, your monotone needs to go as well. No, maybe that could be charming...''
''...''
Why did I have to go through this...