Thirteen looked at Strange curiously. "The development of your skill was...unexpected?"
The mage looked away, the inner mechanisms of their artificial mind working hard to comprehend this. "As a conduit created simply for the destructive properties of magic...this concept is...difficult for me."
Still Thirteen listened with avid interest as Strange related his abilities and his place in both magic, and his universe. It was clear that Thirteen understood very little, but they were determined to try.
After a long pause, Thirteen spoke again.
"What you say seems to align very clearly with the words used by the guardians of this place. My assumption then, was correct...but...your ability, your purpose seems so much more complex than my own."
Thirteen moved to the nearest shelf, brushing the fingers of a leather glove over a row of book spines, with something akin to fondness.
"My existence is simple, limited by one purpose. Your existence is limited only by the confines of the reality in which we are. It is like...a clock. I am a cog, used for one purpose, an object that has no other place but the one for which it was created, yet you...you are the maker. The one who comprehends what the clock should be, before it is, and the ability to make it just so."
Thirteen selected a tome arbitrarily and brushed the cover, thumbing the title as they pondered.
"I am not experienced in the capabilities of humans. My creators look like you. They wear the appearance of humans, but they hold no responsibility for preserving the balance as you do. If this is a fundamental part of being human, I do not think they merit the title. I think...balance is good."
They turned to strange then, a determined set to their soulless eyes. "I wish to transcend my simplicity. I wish to become more than a cog."
Xen6n
The mage looked away, the inner mechanisms of their artificial mind working hard to comprehend this. "As a conduit created simply for the destructive properties of magic...this concept is...difficult for me."
Still Thirteen listened with avid interest as Strange related his abilities and his place in both magic, and his universe. It was clear that Thirteen understood very little, but they were determined to try.
After a long pause, Thirteen spoke again.
"What you say seems to align very clearly with the words used by the guardians of this place. My assumption then, was correct...but...your ability, your purpose seems so much more complex than my own."
Thirteen moved to the nearest shelf, brushing the fingers of a leather glove over a row of book spines, with something akin to fondness.
"My existence is simple, limited by one purpose. Your existence is limited only by the confines of the reality in which we are. It is like...a clock. I am a cog, used for one purpose, an object that has no other place but the one for which it was created, yet you...you are the maker. The one who comprehends what the clock should be, before it is, and the ability to make it just so."
Thirteen selected a tome arbitrarily and brushed the cover, thumbing the title as they pondered.
"I am not experienced in the capabilities of humans. My creators look like you. They wear the appearance of humans, but they hold no responsibility for preserving the balance as you do. If this is a fundamental part of being human, I do not think they merit the title. I think...balance is good."
They turned to strange then, a determined set to their soulless eyes. "I wish to transcend my simplicity. I wish to become more than a cog."
Xen6n