"Wow, look at all the stars. They’re beautiful."
"Yeah. It’s about the only thing this empty island has to be proud of."
After finishing their bath, Alicia and Machina stepped outside to gaze at the sky. Far removed from the mainland, the air on this artificial island was crisp and clear. With no lights around except for Machina’s house, the night sky was ablaze with stars.
It was a strange sensation. They had only spent half a day together, yet a serene atmosphere had already settled between them. It felt as though they had known each other for years—a bond where thoughts aligned even in the silence.
As Alicia relaxed into that comfortable quiet with a smile, she heard Machina whisper a single question.
"I wonder... why was I born with a power like this?"
The words were heavy with emotion. It was a question born of a simple doubt: why was she different from other humans? It was a question of why she had been forced to live alone on a barren island for as long as she could remember. And it was a question regarding her very purpose, born with eyes that could see through the entire world.
These thoughts had likely been buried in Machina’s heart for a long time, and perhaps that was why she had finally voiced them to Alicia—a being who had lived far longer than herself and had witnessed so much more.
"Who knows? It’s pretty convenient, though. If I had that power, it would be a lot easier to find the things I’m looking for."
Alicia merely tilted her head. To Machina, it sounded as though Alicia had no interest in the mystery—as if there was no need to worry about something so trivial, and that she should simply take life as it comes.
"Alicia... do you want it? My power?"
"No, I don't need it. I've always felt that searching for things with my own two feet is the only way to go. That’s why I’m such an outdated traveler, after all."
The power of Clairvoyance, which so many would surely envy, held no appeal for Alicia. Hearing those words, a joyful smile spread across Machina’s face.
Alicia wasn't interested in her power. She had become her friend because she liked Machina for who she was, regardless of her supernatural eyes. Machina felt a surge of helpless happiness, knowing that Alicia’s affection was genuine and free of doubt.
"Heh... I really like that about you, Alicia. I’m so happy we could become friends. But... you’re a traveler. That means you’ll leave someday, won't you?"
"I don't know if I'll be the one to leave, or if you will... but I plan to stick around these parts for a little while longer. My journey doesn't have a destination anyway, and taking a detour every once in a while isn't so bad."
Alicia had originally intended to move on to another land, but meeting Machina had already derailed those plans. For someone living through nearly infinite time, the moments spent weaving bonds with someone she truly liked were precious.
Her best friend from the past, her precious sister, the comrades she had fought alongside, and the people she met during her aimless travels... they would all pass away before her. That was exactly why the time spent with those she loved—her "detours"—was her highest priority.
She truly liked Machina. She was even starting to think she might settle down on this barren artificial island for a while.
"I see... I'm jealous, though. I can see things and know things, but I can't actually experience them."
"Hmm... in that case, let's go for a walk!"
"Eh?"
"Don't worry, fooling a security system like this is a piece of cake. I am a magic user, after all. Well, it's late today, so we'll head out tomorrow morning."
"Okay."
Though she was bewildered by the casual suggestion, Machina simply felt grateful for Alicia's consideration and smiled again.
The next morning, after the two of them had shared the unnecessarily large bed, they set off for their walk just as Alicia had proposed.
"Eek! Whoa! A-A-Alicia!?"
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"What do you mean 'what's wrong'!? Y-You're running on the water!?"
Alicia was sprinting across the surface of the sea toward their destination, effortlessly carrying Machina—who was taller than her—in a princess carry.
Machina had been astonished when Alicia created a split body that looked exactly like her to fool the security system, but seeing her run on the waves as if it were perfectly natural left her equally stunned. Since the moment they woke up, Machina had been in a constant state of shock.
"Of course I can run on the sea. I'm a magic user... Oh, wait. I get it!"
"Eh? What’s with that mischievous smile? I have a bad feeling... a really bad feeling."
"I see! You want to say it, don't you, Machina? 'If you're a magic user, then fly through the sky!' Alright, leave it to me!"
"I didn't say that! And that look on your face... that's not the look of someone who's going to float up gently! Stop! Stop it!"
Ignoring Machina’s futile protest, Alicia poured power into her legs and kicked off the air, soaring up toward the heavens at a terrifying speed.
"Hyaaaaa!"
"We'll be piercing the clouds in a second!"
"Is there really a need to go this high!?"
"Oh, it's fine. I've put up a barrier, so the air pressure won't bother you."
"Nothing about this is reassuring!"
Alicia punched through the clouds at incredible speed, ran through the air for a bit longer, then came to a stop and looked down.
"Look, Machina. It's a beautiful view."
"Eh? Ah... wow. It’s amazing."
A carpet of white clouds stretched out as far as the eye could see beneath a sun that shone with dazzling brilliance. Machina’s eyes sparkled with wonder, but her awe was short-lived as Alicia spoke with a beaming smile.
"Anyway, we've arrived!"
"Umm? Arrived? Where?"
"At our destination. See, all that's left is to fall."
"Fall? Eh? Oh... oh no—Kyaaaaaa!"
The two plummeted like skydivers. As they pierced through the clouds again, a metropolis of towering skyscrapers came into view below.
"There it is! That's the biggest city in the region! Two minutes across the sea, one minute in the air, and for the fall... I'm adjusting the speed, so maybe another two minutes? That makes this the nearest city, reachable in just five minutes!"
"That's impossible for a normal human! Is this even safe!? Can we land properly!?"
"Ahaha, it's a piece of cake. I've even got enough room to spin around. Want to try a triple flip?"
"I don't! I really don't! So why are you actually doing it!? Alicia, you idiot!"
At the same time the two girls were heading into the metropolis, in a certain dark room, a piece of malice—or rather, a distorted goodwill—was beginning to stir.
"...Just a little more. Just a little more, and it will be complete. With this, finally... the world will be saved."
Operating a terminal in the dim light, a man murmured to himself. His eyes were hollow, yet his voice was filled with absolute conviction.
The man was a scientist. Once, he had been a genius of the age, a name known across the globe. He was the world's greatest scientist, recognized by all for possessing the talent to single-handedly advance civilization by decades.
However, outside of his scientific brilliance, he was a perfectly ordinary man.
Since childhood, he had loved building things, and he loved seeing people smile at his inventions. He had pursued science to create things that were useful and beneficial, and his talent had allowed him to produce countless wonders that helped humanity.
That man had a precious childhood friend who had been with him since they were young. She always looked at his work with eyes brighter than anyone else’s, her face lit by a radiant smile.
They grew up together, encouraging and supporting one another, and eventually, they married. He wanted her to be happy forever. He wanted her to keep smiling for the rest of their lives.
But fate is cruelly ironic. This kind man, who only wanted to help others and bring them joy, was met with the tragedy of his beloved wife's accidental death.
It felt as if everything he had built, his very existence itself, had been shattered. Even after he wept until his tears ran dry, the sorrow and the pain refused to heal.
The world that had once looked so bright, even the smiles of the people around him... everything began to look empty and faded. Slowly, that emptiness turned into resentment.
It was then that the man finally realized his existence could not stand without her. But realization brought no solace. Even for him, the greatest genius of the age, death was an immutable wall.
Eventually, even the sight of his only daughter—the memento his beloved had left behind—began to fade in his eyes. That was why he tried to distance himself from Machina. He feared that if they stayed together, he might eventually direct his growing hatred toward her.
Perhaps that was the final shred of reason, the last bit of conscience remaining in the man. But then, the gears of fate began to twist even further.
Immediately after deciding to place Machina in a facility, the man noticed a glimpse of the mysterious power she possessed. Upon investigating, he discovered her Clairvoyance... and he rejoiced.
By then, the man's heart had already become warped. He believed that by using Machina’s power, he could create it: a Messiah who could see everything in the world and erase all sadness and pain. A god who could save his own shattered heart.
He convinced himself that Machina was the material for changing the world that his beloved had left him for this very purpose. With this, he could save those who shared his sorrow, protect those who might suffer in the future... and finally save himself.
There was no one by his side to tell him he was wrong.
To the man, this was an act of pure goodwill. However, a distorted goodwill is often far more dangerous than simple malice.
And the ultimate irony was that he possessed the talent to actually realize such a delusion. He had the power to create a god.
If Machina hadn't been born with Clairvoyance... if he hadn't possessed such immense genius... the future that awaited them might have taken a very different form.
"...Just a little more. Just a little more, and I will... be saved."
But the gears had already begun to turn in their distorted state. As the man continued his work, possessed by madness, the half-assembled artificial god looked upon his back... as if in pity.
Alice: "Well, I guess that deep affection of yours is something you inherited from your parents."
Machina: "U-Umm. Maybe?"