"You have my attention."
Fire danced in my eyes—not metaphorically, but actual flames reflecting from braziers. My hair shifted as I moved, carrying the scent of sandalwood.
"I would like to propose a test of humanity. But I need the cooperation of you, ███████, and ████████."
As if my words were an invocation, the air shifted. Pressure changed. Ozone intensified until it drowned out everything else.
"You speak my name as if you understand order, ███████."
███████ materialized in a cascade of light. Emerald eyes—brilliant, clear, hard as gemstones—fixed on me.
She smelled of clean linen and sharp herbs. Crisp. Ordered.
[DATA CORRUPTION: 47% of dialogue lost]
[Fragment jumps forward approximately 3 minutes]
The air began to shatter.
Not metaphorically. Space cracked. Fractures appeared in reality with sounds like breaking glass. Through the cracks poured silver light that smelled of nothing—absolute neutrality.
████████ stepped through. Silver eyes held depths that reflected everything and nothing.
"You have nerve putting these two in the same room and daring them to defy their own nature."
He paused. Something clicked behind those silver eyes.
"Ah... I see what you desire now."
His laughter filled the chamber—warm, genuine.
"I will be on board with this under one condition. You must allow a horror into the realm... so that ███████████ can have her screams of agony. For ███████, you must allow her something she can control."
"And what do you want?"
His smile contained multitudes. "I want you to create me the ultimate monster of neutrality. But you must make him love order, love chaos, and choose to defy both."
Perfect.
The parameters were set. The experiment could begin.