AI: Artificial Isekai

Book 3, Chapter 12



Elisa squeals happily. "That was the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Mark is a genius." We are watching episode number seventy-two of the tabletop role-playing game show I recommended her. "Can you add that, too?" she asks with great expectation shining in her eyes.

"Well, yes, but wouldn't that remove some of the magic?"

She scrunches her face at me. "Good point." Then she smiles innocently. "When we finish up the game, why don't you make a campaign yourself. Total freedom."

"Hmm... I'll have to think about it."

"No you won't. You're probably halfway finished already, aren't you?"

"Fine, you caught me." I lift up a finger and wait for a few seconds. "Done."

"Showoff." Elisa softly shoves me with her shoulder and remains there, fully leaning against me, her attention back to the show. "Maybe when you tell Erysis and Nexen, they could join us. Make it a weekly thing."

"I would like that."

"But don't worry, we can always play together, just the two of us. We have the sequels to go through, after all. And the other similar titles in your archive." She chuckles briefly. "Also, Dad's been making good progress."

"I would like that, too."

We continue watching, with Elisa thoroughly enjoying all the hijinks the players perpetrate. But as the episode draws near its end, she slowly turns silent, merely waiting for the conclusion. When the credits roll, she shuts off the screen with a thought.

Still unmoving from her, allegedly, most comfortable position, she says, voice hushed, "Her name was Arka." I feel her relax even further against me, almost as if trying to push me over. Or needing me for support. She waits for me to say anything in response. When nothing comes, she continues once more, "My first and only apprentice... student... whatever you want to call it." She then jerks upright. "Sorry. She really got to me, didn't she." The elf exhales sharply. "Curses."

I find her hand and grip it with my own. "Please."

Elisa makes a small fragile smile and leans on me again, taking a hold of my hand with her other one too. "When I was telling you about my past, I did not mention her. But you knew, didn't you."

"I did."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I don't decide what you tell me, Elisa."

She forcefully exhales some air in amusement, not in the mood for an actual laugh. "Do you even want me to tell you about her?"

"Yes."

A soft sigh escapes her lips. "Why?"

"Because I want to know more about you." Her grip around my hand tightens, and so does mine.

"Okay... The real reason I became an Archmage was not because I felt it calling to me, it was because Mom suggested it. And I understand why she did. I needed a purpose, any purpose. She tried everything, until something stuck. Just so happens it was magic.

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"What an idiot I was. Throwing myself into it, obsessing over it, hoping the results would earn her approval. Of course they didn't. Mom never wanted results or achievements. She just wanted me to be happy. And I was too fucking stupid to see it. Lashing out like everything was her fault. Dad tried to make me see reason, only for some of my aimless anger to be redirected at him too. So, I left, finding nothing of value among my own.

"That's when I came to the newly formed Union. Where I found nothing but approval and praise. A powerful archmage, and a wise elf. What a fucking joke. I don't know why I chose Arka. Maybe I thought she would validate me the best. Or that her natural talents would let me improve her even further, earning myself even more praise. ...How I loathe what I was...

"She was amazing. Soaked up everything the Academy and I taught her. Became an archmage even faster than me. Flourished like no one before her. I didn't know it back then, but I know it now. She was my best friend.

"As she got older and older, I knew what would happen. I knew that I would lose her. So what did I do? I fucking left again. Why bother with problems and feelings when I could avoid them, right? Just a human that had no more to give. I left the Union and wandered around, trying to find something, anything. I never did.

"But a few years of wandering later, I did find one thing. I found out that Arka had died. It shouldn't have been a surprise really, but for some reason, it was. The moment I found out, without even knowing it, I was already home, startling my parents out of their sleep. ...They were so happy to see me... I don't think I've ever cried so much before, or after."

She wipes away a tear and remains silent.

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Elisa."

She starts to hesitantly say, "Do you... Do you know where she is?"

"Yes."

"Can you show me?" I send the location to her.

Elisa and I stand up together, the elf refusing to let go of my hand still.

The interior of her warm home is replaced by the darkness outside, illuminated to a palette of gray by the falling snow. The space around us is overgrown and wild, a thick forest filled with brush, nearly untraversable, were it not for the coldness of winter.

A weathered stone juts out from the snow, covered with more, joined by many others like it.

The snow in a ten-meter radius evaporates into steam. A transparent dome eats up any snowflakes that dare approach it. Brush is incinerated into ash, blown away by a momentary gust.

"Hello, Arka," Elisa says. "I'm sorry it took me so long to visit you. And I'm sorry I wasn't there. This is Lucius. You would have loved him. An even bigger pain in my ass than you were." She laughs through a soft sob. "I hope you can hear me, and even if you can't, I want to say this, thank you for being my friend." Elisa sighs deeply, simply staring at Arka's grave. After some time, the elf turns to me. "I know you would never hate me, Lucius, but... Do you think less of me?"

"No. I do not. You are a good person, Elisa. You've more than proven that to me."

"Thank you." She hums softly and asks, "Are there any pictures of her that still remain?"

"There are."

"Can I see her?"

A projection of a grumpy-looking woman with frilly white hair appears in front of us. She is old but strong, wound up and ready to go.

Elisa chuckles. "That's her alright. Don't let the gruff exterior deceive you, though. She was one of the sweetest people I've ever known. Her husband always used to ask me what gifts he should get her for one thing or the other. And I always told him she would be happy with a rock he picked up. One time, I made him test it out, too. That gift was proudly displayed ever since. I even caught her petting it a few times. Goddess, why do we sometimes only see what we've had after we've lost it..."

"I carry a lot of memories with me," I say. "Of people. I used to see it as something twisted, something revulsive. But I don't anymore. These memories used to bring me nothing but pain. And while the pain remains, it doesn't hurt anymore. It simply reminds me of how much they mean to me."

"A pain that doesn't hurt..." Elisa smiles. "I think I feel it too."

As she stares deep into Arka's eyes, the projection slowly fades away. When it's fully gone, we are back to the warmth of her home.

We sit back down on the couch. Elisa leans against me and closes her eyes. The next episode of the show starts playing. For around half an hour, she occasionally laughs as the wacky situation the players have currently found themselves in unravels. But then, she stops.

The screen turns off. I carefully slip away, making sure not to let her fall. Taking her into my arms, I carry her to her bed. I tuck her in.

As I am making my way home, under the drifting snow, I let the memories play once more.


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