AI: Artificial Isekai

The scene comes back. Everything is bigger, magnified. The dragon is sitting next to a rickety table. Our heroine places a simple meal in front her and takes a seat on the opposite side.

"You expect me to eat this?" Our heroine's face falls. "How can I eat when there is none for you, little one." Our heroine's eyes widen in shock.

"My lady, this is all I have."

"Then, I shall right this injustice."

The dragon snaps her fingers, the sound echoing all around. In the next instant, the table is covered in a plentiful feast. Our heroine marvels at the glistening meats and shining fruits. Her hand reaches out, but she stops.

"I cannot. My people..."

The dragon lets out another hissing laugh. "You need just ask, little one. I shall right all."

Our heroine pleads, "My lady, please. Help my people."

The dragon smiles. "As you wish, little one."

The scene fades away. The last thing to go is the dragon's smile.

And in a snap, the scene returns. The village is once again whole. The houses are bigger and better. The fields are greener and denser. The people are healthier and happier. Our heroine is laughing alongside a friend, a smile on her face.

A shadow darts across the land. Our heroine looks up with glee. The shadow gets bigger and bigger, until it impacts without a sound. From the same impenetrable mist, the dragon walks out.

Our heroine rushes to her, and greets with excitement, "My lady, I've missed you so!"

"I've only been gone a few years, my little one. What was there to miss?"

Our heroine laments, momentary sorrow threatening to overpower the elation, "A few years is awfully long for one such as I."

The dragon's unshakeable confidence cracks. "Truly?" Her voice heats up. "How much I have missed." Her eyes narrow, resolve explodes forth, "Forgive me, my little one. I shall never make such a mistake again."

Our heroine beams, her cheeks blushing with happiness. "Oh, my lady." She smiles at the dragon.

The dragon's eyes are locked onto her, unmoving.

The scene fades away, replaced by another, and once again, magnified.

Our heroine is sleeping soundly in bed, a small smile on her serene face. Opposite her is the dragon, holding her tight. A gentle hand brushes away some hair, revealing more of her smiling face.

The dragon's eyes are locked onto her, unmoving.

The scene fades away.

Our heroine is slightly older, cooking a rich meal, in a big house, recounting a tale. The dragon is leaning on a table, listening to her story with absolute attention. Occasionally, our heroine glances back toward the dragon, the smile on her face growing wider and wider. She finishes the meal and plates it. The dragon springs forth with utmost haste, helping her carry the plates. They sit down, and the dragon takes a bite. Pure bliss flashes across her face. Our heroine smiles at her partner's joy. She skewers something with her fork and offers the dragon the bite. The dragon chomps at it playfully. Our heroine giggles.

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The dragon's eyes are locked onto her, unmoving.

The scene fades away.

Our heroine has some gray in her hair. She's looking at the dragon. There is no smile on her face.

"This was all a mistake."

The dragon starts crying. Tears flow from her shining eyes. Her confidence gone, like it was never there.

She manages to choke out between sobs, "How can you say that, my love?"

"My paltry life is nothing for you. A brief distraction."

The dragon collapses to the ground, all strength drained from her invincible form.

"My body, my soul, they all belong to you, my love. My very life is yours. It always has been, and it always will be." She lifts up her hands, a desperate prayer toward her everything.

Our heroine collapses with her. The two cry into each other's arms.

The scene fades away.

Our heroine is now old, sitting on a bench in front of her house and looking out into the garden. There is a serene smile on her face. The dragon is next to her holding her tight, lovingly. Our heroine places her hand onto the dragon's. The two grasp each other. Her smile turns even bigger as she rests her head against the dragon's shoulder.

The dragon's eyes are locked onto her, unmoving.

The scene fades away.

The scene returns, but this time, slower and slower to take shape. Vague details appear one at a time. We are inside the familiar house, but our heroine is nowhere to be seen. More and more is filled in. The house is wrong. There is dust everywhere, and signs of decay. The scene moves. Slowly, like someone walking through, afraid of what they might find.

The scene is now in the bedroom. The dragon is hugging our heroine in bed.

The scene gets sharper and sharper. Our heroine is wearing a delicate, white dress. But our heroine is gone. And has been for a long, long time.

The dragon's eyes are locked onto her, unmoving.

The scene slowly fades away, one final time.

And with a snap, the amphitheater returns to normal. The sky is darker now, and stars are twinkling away between waves of clouds. In the middle of the pit, all the actors have formed a line, clasping hands. Our heroine is right there, looking good as new. The dragon is next to her, her eyes are no longer shining, and her hair is much less vibrant. A normal human.

As one, they bow, and the silence lifts. The amphitheater erupts into somewhat restrained applause. Nexen is upright, clapping vigorously. Erysis is much more subdued, but her eyes are a little wet.

My eyes are locked onto the dragon, or rather, her actor. I am not like you. I will not become you. I...

Erysis almost shouts into my ear, the only way to be heard through the returned influx of sound, "You okay!" I nod my head. "Great play, huh!" I nod again.

There is more entertainment scheduled for tonight but my attention wanders. The announcer starts to say something I can no longer hear.

Eventually, the program comes to an end, and we slowly spill out of the building with the rest of the crowd.

Erysis and Nexen walk with me home—as it is on the way—and then, head home as well.

***

I lie awake, unable to fall asleep. Unable to even close my eyes for a moment.

Again and again, I come back to the same questions. Am I even needed here? Do I even deserve to be here? I try to help, but what if I am only making everything worse. What if I become the reason another world... Maybe my first true decision was correct, and I was just delaying the inevitable. I should say goodbye— Oh.

I can just tell them I am moving to another city or moving back home. People come and go, Erysis and Nexen are young, they'll... Ren is a grown man, he's lost a lot of people before, what's some kid he's known for less than a month. And I am sure Attendant Ania will find a new favorite adventurer. I know Miv, Pemik, and Sini would be happy that I am gone. Right? Yes, they are all better off without me. They are.

There's this new place I wanted to show Erysis. Maybe I'll leave her a letter. Nexen was curious about my unarmed martial arts. I could find him some manuals. Ren's just taking pity on me, sparring and training. There's lots of others that can occupy him. Someone else will encourage Attendant Ania to continue pursuing her creative side. It's obvious she has talent. And the Rangers are on the right track now. Who needs a constant reminder of what they did floating around.

I am an insignificant speck in everyone's lives. They might be sad for a little bit, but I'll be forgotten. I...

The clouds move away, and the twin moons' light bathes my room. I get up, stumble over to the window, and look out. As I look out, I also watch.

The clouds move again, and the light disappears. But I am not consumed by the darkness, the numerous lights of the city creep into the room, holding the shadows at bay. However small, they illuminate my face, reflecting off two wet streaks.

I go back to my bed and go to sleep. Even as the last bits of my consciousness slip away, I continue to watch over everyone.