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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 0:42:30 GMT -6
> Xentus, accompanied by...
This new seed began differently than the others. This one was wrapped in a cloth as it was handed to him with care by the laboratory technician, who had claimed the lump of glass to be the offspring of his golem. Xentus accepted this of course, and held the strange object close to his chest as he made his way home. The culmination of nine parts delicately merged into one was in his hands.
Astraea was curious more than anything about the lump the man looked upon so dearly. It was.. A part of her, she felt that much. A part of her apart of her. She was well aware of her own creation, Xentus told her of the merged golems who came before her. This seed was something different. She was still there, after all, and the seed existed on its own despite this.
(How?), the hollow voice asked, shell-head tilted at the golden nugget.
'Ah.. The short answer is technology or magic. Or both, perhaps. The long answer is.. Well, Xentus is not fully certain. Something like... Part of Astraea taken, as well as part of Mashiik and a donor shijin, combined to make new life', he explained in return, grasping at what little knowledge he had about the inner workings on the labs in this place.
(... Is it? Alive?)
The man's blue eyes wandered to the glass golem and inspected her carefully, 'As alive as you, dear Astraea'
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 0:54:35 GMT -6
It was often hard to figure exactly what made the golems 'alive'. Their version of living was different than his own. He needed to draw breath, eat, rest, and stay warm. The golems did not. Not in the same sense as he did. They drew in breath through that carapace-encased seed, as did they draw in 'element'. Rest and warmth were optional as far as he could tell. And even if they managed to fail at any one "necessary" element of living, the creature would simply revert to its simplest form - a vulnerable seed. A seed which could again be nurtured and give form to itself once again, albeit without memory of what it once was. The important part was that these things could never truly die. That is, unless they merged with another of its own kind. And even then, it was less death and more.. Becoming one's own child.
The concept was one that Xentus had put forth much research into, trying to understand the workings on the golems. They were utterly fascinating. As was this new seed he clutched dearly. It gleamed with a certain radiance that he couldn't quite describe, aside from captivating. Astraea seemed to remain silent in quiet contemplation, and the leopard was left to wonder what 'element' this new seed needed to grow.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 18:48:04 GMT -6
It was bold of him to assume that the hybrid seed would even need some kind of elemental fuel like golem seeds did. All this time he could only think of it as identical to the countless little seeds he'd nurtured before. It was only now did he stop himself and think beyond such a narrow view. The golden nugget might be self-fueled, like an egg with its yolk. That would fit quite well with the alurook heritage, in which case warmth and time were the only necessary components for growth. Part of him didn't want to think it so simple, yet he couldn't deny that it was the most likely case.
'Astraea dear, do you remember what spurred your growth as a young seedling?', the question was pressed to the glass golem after some time of comfortable silence. A few clacks sounded from the creature's carapace-head as she tried to gather memories of her seedling state.
(... No, I can't.. Earliest memory I have is being clutched by you, under the open sky. And the.. Growing pains of that moment)
Xentus blinked in surprise, then his expression softened to an apologetic look. That would've been when he'd thrust the chaos ring into her core. A both horrific and enchanting moment to behold. It was a high point of his curiosity, which he hadn't expected to be at the golem's expense.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 19:13:41 GMT -6
A pang of guilt rattled his heart, unsure of how to reply. Astraea tilted her shell-head at him, seeing the evident displeasure on his face. (I state such as only a matter of fact. Does it bother you?), the thought chimed in a pure tone within the leopard's mind. The golem pressed herself under the man's arm, trying to comfort him as she was beginning to feel a bit guilty herself. There was something wrong in what she'd said, yet she couldn't understand how so. Perhaps it was the response was simply unwarranted.
'No, ah.. Well, yes. Xentus is ashamed of himself. For causing that', he admitted solemnly and stoked the golem's smooth body.
(It is not a moment of shame), Astraea stated firmly, (Whatever your desire, I too desire)
The words only encouraged further mixed feelings within him. That a being of free thought would want nothing more than his own wants satisfied was... Strange to accept still. The golem was his pride, his curiosity, his creation. And also a friend, a guardian, a ward. A long exhale escaped the man as he allowed his weight to now fall onto the creature, letting the contact comfort him. His mind was fully distracted from the golden nugget despite his eyes resting on it.
'Of course'
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 19:40:03 GMT -6
(... What am I?)
It was almost like she could actually hear the deepest innerworkings of his mind droning on. Xentus lifted himself upright in surprise, mouth agape as if trying to form words in reply. The question was one he'd often tried to answer for himself. The golem was a lot of different things, yet no one specific thing. A companion, he would say fit most precisely, but truly she was something far more meaningful than that word alone could say.
'Ah you are many things, dear Astraea. Xentus thinks you his friend, his pride, his curiosity fulfilled. The best word he likens you to though, is aegis', the leopard responded after careful contemplation. His aegis. He liked that. A smile (on the verge of being a smirk) rested on his face now.
(It gladdens me to hear this, o' bonded mine), the golem responded, craning her neck to face the leopard, (But I mean this question more exact... Am I me only from your gift? Did I lose some of me to the seed?) She had been contemplating her own being. What made her, her. Was it that ring wrapped around her core? Recollection brought some uncertainty. As did that strange, part-of-her seed the man now owned.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 20:00:32 GMT -6
"Oh, Astraea...", the man cooed verbally now, breaking the silence of the study. He hugged the golem's squishy-yet-hardbody tightly. 'You are you, complete and whole. The gift - the ring - only magnified what was already there. And this new life...' The thought paused, his eyes fixated more firmly onto the gold egg. 'Is born of your essence, though not as if it had taken something away. Xentus is ultimately not sure, truthfully'
Whatever process which the laboratory used was certainly kept secret from public eye, and especially from the eyes of a rival lab worker. Sanctuary's processes were claimed to be 'more natural and safe!' when compared to the original dormant lab's, though he was still not privy to any exact information being a mere field researcher. With his limited knowledge of how golems functioned for procreation, she certainly shouldn't exist if the seed did. Yet, here they both were.
The golem stayed quiet for a moment, soaking in the embrace while contemplating the man's words. The answer filled some of the hole left by existential crisis, and for that she was thankful.
'Now, a question for you, dear', the man started slowly after a moment of careful reflection, 'What is it that you feel for Xentus?'
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Post by Xentus on Nov 9, 2023 20:16:13 GMT -6
The answer was likely a simple one, he'd always guessed there was that innate bond which tied the golem to him which dictated its feelings for him. But, he supposed now was the best time to delve into it for certain. (Devotion beyond word or measure, o' bonded mine), the golem answered confidently, (I am quite literally yours. I want for nothing else)
'Hmm... Yet what of your own curiosities or desires, like in our time apart?', he asked, trying to pry something more.
(There is little else of interest. But.. I do like to contemplate how things work. Like you. Maybe for you), the golem admitted carefully, (I think.. I may feel something for the seed. It is of me, but not me. Not sure if jealously or kinship...)
It was a similar feeling that she had for the other golems. They too were devoted to the leopard after all, and if the man deemed they must cooperate, they would. Still, if they got in her way, she wasn't afraid to push them out of the way. The courtesy extended to the strange golden seed-egg.
The response wasn't too far from what the man anticipated, but hearing it outright did settle his mind. His efforts in kindling some kind of sense of self in Astraea was evident, even if weak.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 11, 2023 23:59:48 GMT -6
A desire to wonder was a marvelous thing. It was one of his own driving forces in life, to learn about the strange world he lived in. The places, the people, the creatures. Everything held a point of curiosity. Wanderlust sparked from this, though it had been stifled by his research interests here in the city. And knowing his own desires were the golem's desires too.. Yes, she would undoubtedly learn to wonder. And hopefully, wonder to sate her own curiosity and not a curiosity impressed upon her. Given the strength of the bond she had with her keeper, it was an unlikely outcome... Yet if he merely desired her own will to override said bond, wouldn't that make it so? This was a question that bounced in his mind every time he spent time with the golems.
--
The first day with the golden seed proved fairly uneventful. Xentus kept it in his midst while attending to his nightly chores, sparring a glance at it every now and again to observe for any changes. Astraea did much the same, though she did pass questions to the leopard about the thing every now and again - relating to how it compared to her own formation.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 12, 2023 1:04:29 GMT -6
The first thing to note was that it was much slower to progress from its egg phase. Despite him placing it near the fireplace with various elemental sources (that being, a cup of water in a glass cup and a plant in a clay pot...), it still didn't have any notable change. After a day, a golem seed would already have fully grown its carapace in comparison. The leopard reminded himself frequently that it was not a golem and therefore behaved differently.. Though that didn't calm his anxiety regarding its growth. To see how it formed and what it would become! How he wanted it dearly.. Astraea took to watching the egg intently, occasionally venting 'glass' from her pores to potentially stimulate its growth. It was an act she thought of all on her own, seeing Xentus' less-than-thrilling attempts to provide the egg an elemental source. Even if it didn't seem to do anything, the attempt felt rewarding enough with the leopard's praise alone. He hadn't expected the golem to show any form of maternal care. Astraea was quick to inform him that she did not see herself as the egg's mother - she was simply trying to provoke some kind of development.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 12, 2023 1:49:01 GMT -6
'Ah.. Of course', the man's inner thoughts came to her sounding dejected. Some part of him was saddened the golem didn't see reason to perform motherly duties for the egg; that would've been an interesting chance for the golem to develop beyond its innate bond. Yet part of him was relieved, though he didn't want to admit it. It meant the golem's affections would be all his still. It was oddly selfish of him, thought he likened the feel of something like a father watching their kid grow independent from them. A feeling quite bittersweet. One he wasn't ready to have happen to himself yet.
(The well being of this object is evidently important for your happiness, o' bonded mine), her tone came to him in its usual matter-of-fact fashion, (Therefore I too seek to provide any means to encourage its development)
The core which resided within her shell-head drifted toward an opening to eye at the man carefully. Reading his face, discerning his wants. At first, his face told that she was right. Then it softened to a look of appreciation. A hand came down to pat her carapace. 'Xentus thanks you, Astraea. Such diligence cannot be rewarded with little more than this simple affection'
Simple affection was all she needed.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 12, 2023 2:01:33 GMT -6
It wasn't until the third day that a change was noticed -
The egg was leaking.
This threw Xentus into a panic. His morning was upended, going from a relaxing break from errands and work to running through a list of what might had gone wrong. Leakage was always a bad sign in eggs, a sign of damage and rot manifesting. His heart dropped at the thought. The man's hands struggled to reach for the nugget to inspect it more thoroughly. There was the looming risk of damaging it further. Yet.. If it was already rotten, there was no further damage to be done, was there? Astraea watched him, pained to see him so distraught. The thought crossed her mind to take it upon herself to look at the egg closer, but her form was ill suited for such a delicate operation. She watched on and hoped for the best.
Xentus took a moment to steel himself before taking the seed from its resting spot. Upon his hands touching its surface, he immediately was alarmed. It was nearly cold to the touch. Sitting here next to the fire, and it was cold? But not only that, this leakage wasn't quite liquid like he expected. It was hard and glassy. His panic shifted to befuddlement.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 21, 2023 18:18:52 GMT -6
The question regarding whether or not he should be touching this strange liquid roused his mind once again, this time out of fear of harming the apparently developing creature. On one hand, he'd already touched it and began handling the now glass-encased egg. On the other, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Even if he wasn't harming it, there was no telling of whether or not it would harm himself. He did feel fine though, aside from the headache of trying to figure out this ongoing development. "This one might be thinking too hard...", Xentus muttered to himself, then placed the egg back in its resting spot.
(Why does this trouble you?), the question came to his mind, in a voice not his own. Astraea nudged the man's leg to help put his mind at ease. 'It is a strange thing, much unlike your own development, dear Astraea. Xentus only wants to ensure this seed's growth...', he answered slowly, seeming to already move past the initial scare.
(It is not I. Treat it differently)
A sigh escaped the mammalian. It was a good point. One that he'd tried his hardest to bear in mind for the past few days. It was hard to get past his conditioning with the golems.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 21, 2023 21:02:21 GMT -6
The following days were spent in observation of the hybrid core's development. The seeping continued until the core was encased in several inches of cool liquid glass on all sides. It was tinged blue with an opalescent sheen, much like Astraea's body. At this stage, it did react to touch, sluggishly repelled by any prodding fingers. That was the first hint that it was alive. The next stage seemed to be growth and feature definition. Spikes, clawed feet, and the outline of feathers emerged within the glassy body, all tightly bound to an ever growing egg shape. It was akin to the fetal stage of chickens, minus the egg shell. Which, the lack of any kind of shell was the most interesting part of the whole ordeal. Not even a hardened carapace like the golem's.
After five more days, it seemed the core grew into its finalized form. Definitively avian in shape, with wings, two legs, and a beaked head, the creature stayed tightly bound into a rough ball. Its body, despite having well-defined features, was entirely made of that glassy material. And, it was huge. The mass reached up to his chest. Astraea circled around the roosting bird curiously, a bit awestruck at how much larger it was than herself.
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Post by Xentus on Nov 21, 2023 21:31:08 GMT -6
(Why doesn't it yet stir?), the golem curiously asked her bonded keeper. But just as she suspected, he had no answer for her. The hybrid creature was beyond whatever reason akin to golems that he could come up with. If anything, he figured it still needed to 'hatch'. Following the logic that the bird was akin to a developing chick, it needed to gather its strength and break free. It would do so in due time.
For now, though, Xentus felt free to marvel at the glass bird in its inert state. It was beautiful. A prismatic fire swirled within the glass skin, reflecting in the glint of his own eyes. It was mesmerizing. A careful hand traced the cool surface, outlining the details of feathers on its wings. The malleable body warped away from his touch, rippling like mercury. Xentus withdrew himself for now, letting out a long breath. He was full of anticipation of its awakening. There was little else that could keep his mind occupied.
(What will you name it?)
The question rang in his mind, one that he'd already asked himself across the past week. It wasn't until now that he had an answer.
'It will be named... Elysian'
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Post by Xentus on Nov 21, 2023 22:05:15 GMT -6
Elysian, describing that of bliss or heaven. While he knew not of the nature this glass bird had, he felt it could be nothing short of its namesake. He thought of its heritage - the soul-bound shijin, guardian-hearted golem, and the empathic natured alurook. All three were beings which bonded with their keepers in some deeper way than most other animals would. And so for that, what better word to suit the glass bird than one of heavenly nature? Xentus was sure to not feel overly confident about this assessment, a child was not its parents after all. Yet that was probably the thing he'd been having the most trouble realizing..
The man shook his head to clear his mind and glanced down at the golem. She seemed to think about the name for a moment, then gave him an approving mental hum. Not that she would find herself disapproving of whatever name he chose. He could've named it buttfarts for all she cared, and she would've approved of it all the same.. As long as it was what he truly desired, of course. There was a pause as it seemed to dawn on the golem that she might not approve absolutely anything after all.
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