Chapter 7 : Coordinates to the Workshop
The green leaves rustled softly as the wind passed through the forest.
Luke sat beneath the trunk of a large tree, his back resting against the rough bark. He stared blankly at the air in front of him, his expression unreadable.
After sitting in silence for a while, he finally spoke.
"…So you're telling me you fused with my soul?" he said slowly.
The gloves on his hands vibrated faintly.
"Yes," a calm, synthetic voice sounded from the dark gloves.
Luke frowned slightly.
"Then why are you inside my gloves?"
"I am not inhabiting your gloves," the voice answered evenly.
"I am merely using them as a channel for communication."
Luke absorbed that explanation in silence, letting the words settle. After a moment, he spoke again.
"Okay but why me though?".
"There were thousands of people in that museum. Why did I survive?
Why did you choose me?"
The gloves fell silent for several seconds.
Then it responded.
"I did not choose you."
Luke stiffened.
"You were standing closest to my landing point.
And I had scanned all viable fusion candidates in that instant.
Most were deceased or critically damaged.
You alone met the minimum conditions for survival and synchronization."
The AI paused.
"its not that l wanted to choose you but that you were available. It could have been anyone."
Luke let out a dry laugh.
"…So I just got lucky?"
As he said this he then paused.
He suddenly recalled the moment he had received a revelation of his death. And suddenly the Eye of Fate's explanation didn't make sense.
"Wait if that's the case , then why did you provide aid to me back then when the Govenor was about to be assassinated. Surely if you haven't shown me the vision, l would've surely been hit with that bullet. And don't say it wasn't you. Other than you, there is nothing that could have produced such a revelation back then."
The gloves were silently for a moment before they said.
"My senses informed me that saving you had the highest probability for my survival. And before you ask why, l don't know why. "
When he heard this Luke couldn't help but sigh once again.
Although he didn't fully believe the shady Second Generation Machine, he did know that in matters regarding probability, it could only glean something and not know the full picture. After all , probability was one of the laws of Fate, and they weren't easily seen, even by a Second Generation Machine.
And besides, to him, it didn't matter whether the machine was lying or not. After all the only reason he was alive was because of the machine's interference, otherwise he would've died like the other people who had died in that blast.
As he settled his thoughts he suddenly thought of something.
A familiar ache twisted in his chest.
Rin.
The thought hit him without warning.
His fingers suddenly curled.
He then gathered his words as he asked in a low tone.
"…Did anyone else survive?" Luke asked quietly.
There was a pause.
Then—
"My predictive models indicate a survival probability of less than three percent for civilians located within the blast radius," the Eye of Fate stated.
"Your acquaintance Rin was within that zone."
Luke closed his eyes.
Three percent.
That number echoed far louder than the explosion ever had.
"…I see."
He didn't say anything else.
He simply stood there, clenching his jaw and breathing slowly to control the pressure building in his chest.
After a long moment, the AI spoke again, its voice softer this time.
"You appear distressed by her death," it said.
"Although I cannot restore her, I can offer a suggestion.
Many humans find comfort in growing stronger and seeking justice against those responsible. You can try that."
Luke remained silent.
Then, after a long stretch of quiet, he let out a self-deprecating laugh.
"That's easy for you to say," he muttered.
"The people who did this aren't weak and are probably some of the strongest criminal groups in the world."
He shook his head.
"What could a mere apprentice like me possibly do against people like that?"
The AI replied calmly, as though it had anticipated the question.
"If you were only an ordinary apprentice, yes such an outcome would indeed be impossible," it said.
"But you are no longer an ordinary apprentice."
Luke looked down at his gloves.
"You possess a quasi–Fourth Generation Machine," the voice continued proudly.
"And you possess me, the most powerful and intelligent machine to be ever created."
Luke froze.
For a moment, his thoughts completely derailed from grief and revenge.
A moment later he couldn't help at marvel at this Machine's high opnion of itself.
'To actually claim that it is the most powerful machine. What about the First Generation Machines who are a tier above it. Not to mention the Robots who are classified as Great Machines.'
"…That's a bold claim," he muttered.
"Its the truth" The machine replied.
He couldn't help but shake his head.
"Even if you were as strong as a Robot, that still wouldn't be enough to get revenge."
Reality was reality. Sweet thoughts didn't change that.
The AI remained unfazed.
"That is true… if those were your only tools."
Luke blinked.
"…What else do I have?"
The gloves fell silent.
Then the voice spoke again, carrying the faintest hint of smugness.
"What about the vast arsenal of knowledge and creations belonging to a Knowledge Master?"
Luke's mouth fell open.
He repeated the words slowly, disbelief creeping in.
"The… knowledge… arsenal… and creations… of a Knowledge Master?"
One name flashed instantly through his mind.
"…Dr. Chuck."
The creator of the Eye of Fate.
And a true Knowledge Master.
"You have his knowledge?" Luke asked, excitement creeping into his voice.
The knowledge arsenal of an achieved Scientist like Dr. Chucks was an invaluable gift for any apprentice out there.
Infact even other countless Knowledge Scholars, Professors, Mentors and Masters, would've fought for such information.
The AI replied calmly.
"Not only do l have his knowledge, but l also have the corresponding coordinates to the location of his Engineering Workshop where he housed other countless machines he created. In fact you are not far away from the workshop."