Ena was standing on the palm when she moved.
Two steps forward. Her body leaned down, arms opening.
She hugged her.
Yaoshi smiled more deeply.
Ena pulled back and stepped away.
She looked at the face below her. 'What was that'
'...what am I feeling right now?' She pressed a hand to her chest.
'Warm... why...' she closed her eyes.
'Why am I feeling like this. No memories. No purpose. No reason.'
She took a deep breath.
Then exhaled.
'Look again, Ena'
'No... not that one... not this one... not that either...'
'...why... can't I remember her'
Ena slowly opened her eyes.
Yaoshi was smiling.
Ena looked away. 'I can't... remember you...'
She took a deep breath.
Her lips pressed together.
After a moment, she exhaled.
"...Yao-" her mouth closed and she looked down.
Then slowly she looked at Yaoshi.
"...Yaoshi... Can you give me some blessings before I go to the next area?"
Yaoshi was still smiling.
One of the arms lifted slightly toward Ena, then stopped.
The arm lowered.
'One without constant virtue-'
Ena blinked repeatedly.
Her eyes slowly focused on the face before her.
"...Thus shall abundance be granted unto thee" Yaoshi said softly.
Rows of notifications appeared in front of Ena.
'One star. Two star. Three star. I will read-'
Her eyes found Yaoshi.
She immediately looked back at the notifications.
'...I have to read all of them. I need to know these abilities.'
She read every single one.
Yaoshi did not leave.
Ena sat in the center of the palm and watched the path clear before her.
The next area came apart cleanly before she fully took it in.
Ena looked at the recently cleared area. '...This is not necessary. I've taken worse. I've healed worse.'
She looked at the palm below her feet.
'...why is she... she's an AEON... why does she do any of this...'
Ena hand tightened. 'These warm feelings... I know there is... something here...'
Her hand loosened. '...I want it to be mine'
She looked at her own hands. '...I have nothing to show...'
her gaze stayed there.
Several areas cleared ahead.
Ena slowly looked up.
The exit appeared.
Ena stood on the palm and looked at the exit.
She slowly turned around.
Full height. The antlers. The six arms. The smile still there.
Ena looked at Yaoshi's face.
"..."
Ena mouth closed slowly.
"...Thank you"
She waved and turned toward the exit.
"...Ena"
Ena stopped.
'...Nothing to show. That had not changed'
Yaoshi reached out.
She walked through the exit.
The Divine figure in the Simulated Universe did not follow.
Yaoshi remained still, looking at the place Ena had been standing.
The hand slowly lowered.
The palm closed around nothing.
The smile was still there.
Then slowly, compassion returned.
Directed toward the suffering of all living things equally.
TBC
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Hey hey. Readers, Nilvan here.
This chapter is… quiet.
There's almost no dialogue. Almost no movement.
While writing it, I kept wanting to explain things.
Every time I did, the scene felt weaker.
So I had to keep cutting. Over and over again.
(╥﹏╥)
Did you feel something here?
Or was it too unclear?
I'm genuinely curious.
That's all for now. Good night.
It's 12AM here… I'm going to take a shower first, then sleep.
ᓚ₍⑅^- .-^₎ -ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁