Inside the next room, electronic displays covered an entire wall, flickering as they spit out a constant stream of data.
Amid the rhythmic electronic pulses, a meteorite fragment sat enshrined at the far end of the room, encased in a large glass housing.
"For now, let’s summarize our findings up to this point," Stella said.
August shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah... I'm on it."
As he spoke with his usual casual air, he began tapping away at a terminal to compile the data.
Then, it happened.
"What... is this...?"
A low, crystalline voice echoed through the room. It was unmistakably female.
"...? Stella, did you say something?"
"N-no." Stella shook her head, her face pale.
No one else was in the room besides the two of them. Yet, at the sound of that mysterious voice, a chill raced down Stella’s spine.
"What... are you?"
As the voice spoke again, the numerical values on the monitors spiked simultaneously. The once-regular waveforms began to fluctuate with violent, erratic intensity.
"What is with these readings...!"
Just as August’s eyes widened in shock at the unprecedented data, a sharp crack echoed through the laboratory.
The glass surrounding the meteorite fragment was fracturing.
The two reflexively turned their gazes toward the case. Beyond the spiderweb of cracks—inside the enclosure—a shimmering white haze was wavering like mist.
"What... am I...?"
The voice was coming from the speakers integrated into the monitor array.
"Is it... coming from that thing?" August whispered.
"It can't be..."
"But look. It’s the only thing in here showing any physical change."
Stella shivered. The realization that they were conversing with an unknown entity brought a tension so thick it felt like it was pricking her skin. The mist continued to swirl, attempting to take a solid form, but remained unstable and flickering.
"I don't know... this place... I don't... understand anything..."
The voice was now laced with confusion and a hint of fear.
"I see." August crossed his arms, observing the phenomenon with surprising calm. "It probably hasn't grasped the situation yet. It’s like it just woke up and is overwhelmed."
"Woken... up...? I... have...?"
"So it can hear me. It seems we can actually hold a conversation."
Stella held her breath and looked at August. "August... is this really going to be okay?"
"I don't know for sure. But if my hypothesis is correct, we're lucky you’re here, Stella."
"What do you mean?"
"I think this thing is essentially a newborn child. When I was checking the readings alone earlier, nothing was out of the ordinary." August pointed at the screen, his tone turning serious. "And the levels were normal right after we walked in. That means the anomaly occurred just now."
"Does that mean...?"
"Exactly. We are witnessing the moment of birth."
Stella gasped. Beyond the glass, the white mist struggled even to maintain its coherence.
"It’s natural for it to be confused. Its consciousness only just sparked into existence," August said, coolly summarizing the situation. "That’s why we need to record, observe... and provide something to calm its anxiety."
He glanced toward Stella.
"I’m a researcher; my job is to analyze data and properties. But emotional connection? That’s your specialty, Stella."
Stella’s expression softened as the weight of his words sank in. "I understand."
"You’re used to dealing with children. Even if this is an unknown entity, what it needs most right now is a sense of security. I’m leaving it to you."
Stella took a steadying breath and nodded. She had spent years working with children at the orphanage. She had soothed those who sobbed inconsolably and held the hands of those who had lost all hope.
If this was a new life, then there was something she could do.
Stepping forward, Stella gave a warm, gentle smile. "Hello. My name is Stella. This is August. And... who are you?"
The white mist trembled slightly. "I don't know... I am... nothing..."
The voice was faint, lost in bewilderment.
"I see. In that case, would it be alright if we thought of a name for you?"
The white mist pulsed gently, signaling its agreement. Stella turned back toward August.
"August, you should be the one to name her."
"Huh? Why me?"
As August blinked in surprise, Stella spoke with quiet conviction. "A name is the first gift a parent gives to a child. You should be the one, August. Regardless of how it happened, this child was born because of your research."
"...Alright. Then—let’s see..." He paused for a moment, thinking. "I'll take a name from the fairy queen in the old stories. Titania. From today on, you are Titania."
The white mist twitched in response, and a soft wave of positive emotion washed over them.
"Titania...? That is... me...?"
Stella couldn't help but chuckle softly. "You really have a flair for the dramatic, don't you? First naming that energy 'Mana,' and now this."
"Hey, it works. It’s easy to say and easy to remember. Besides—it’s got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" August sounded quite pleased with himself.
A few days later.
The atmosphere in the laboratory had transformed since That Day. The entity that had been a simple white mist now understood human speech perfectly and could converse with ease.
When Stella opened the lab door after finishing her daily duties, a clear voice greeted her. A new speaker system had been installed near Titania’s housing to allow her to speak more clearly.
"Master, Stella has arrived."
"...Eh?" Stella stopped dead in her tracks. She thought she had misheard, but the voice had been crystal clear. "W-what did you just say?"
"?"
"Did you just call August 'Master'?"
"Yes. August told me I should call him that."
August, who was busy at his terminal, looked up with a guilty expression. "Ah—well... you see..."
"August!" Stella’s voice went up an octave. "Since when have you been making her call you that?!"
"Hey, I didn't force her! I just suggested it as a joke once, and she seemed to take a liking to it. She’s been calling me 'Master' ever since."
"I quite like it," Titania added.
"You like it...?"
Ignoring Stella’s protests, Titania innocently swirled her mist.
"See? If she’s happy with it, what’s the problem?" August asked.
"There are so many problems with that!"
"Stella, I truly do not mind," Titania said reassuringly. "I was not coerced, so please do not worry."
Stella pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a long, weary sigh.
August, watching her reaction with a mischievous glint in his eye, decided to push his luck. "By the way, about her first-person pronoun... 'Watashi' is a bit plain and boring, don't you think?"
"Is it? What would be better, then?" Titania asked.
"Wait, wait! Stop right there!" Stella interjected.
"It’s fine, Stella. This sounds interesting," Titania replied.
And so, August’s brainstorming session began.
"How about 'Atashi'? Or maybe 'Yore' for that regal, dignified vibe?"
"That doesn't feel quite right," Titania mused.
"Then 'Boku'? Or 'Warawa'?"
"No... those are also different somehow."
"Hmm, none of them fit, huh..." August scratched his head, then caught Stella’s eye and grinned. "I’ve got it. How about 'Uchi'?"
Stella’s face turned bright red in an instant. "N-no! Absolutely not!"
"Uchi...? I like the sound of that. It feels right," Titania declared.
"Titania! Please, anything but that!" Stella begged, but her desperate resistance only served to peak Titania’s curiosity.
"Why do you oppose it so strongly?"
"B-because... that's..."
"It’s because that’s what Stella used to call herself when she was a little kid," August finished for her.
"August!"
"I see. Then it is settled. From now on, I shall refer to myself as 'Uchi'."
Titania made her declaration with a sense of joy, while Stella buried her burning face in both hands. August, meanwhile, was doubled over, barely able to contain his laughter.