Fragment: Intelligent

███████████ stood in a realm of infinite possibility.

In his hand, a small orb. Glowing. Pulsing with potential.

He crushed it.

And from the fragments... life.

Creatures poured forth. Wings, scales, fur, feathers. Beautiful. Terrifying. Perfect in their own way.

But none of them could speak.

He tried again.

Another orb. More power poured into it. More intention. More will.

Surely this time...

More chickens.

Frustration crept into his features.

He had been given unlimited power. The ability to create life itself.

███████ had told him: "Whatever you want to do... you may."

But what he wanted was something that could think. Something that could choose. Something that could look at him and understand what he had created.

"Why can I not create what ███████ demands?"

The orbs gave him animals. Beautiful, yes. Alive, yes.

But not conscious.

He sat on the ground, surrounded by his creations.

Hundreds of creatures. Thousands, perhaps. All beautiful. All alive. All... simple.

They looked at him with animal eyes. Innocent. Instinctual.

But they didn't see him.

Not really.

What am I doing wrong?

And then... a realization.

The orbs gave him potential. Raw life force that took shape according to his will.

But consciousness wasn't in the orbs.

Consciousness was in him.

He reached for his own essence. Not an orb this time. Not the power given to him by the three great forces.

His own magic. His own will. His own soul.

He tore it from himself in strands.

147 pieces of his very being.

"My King."

The words came from her lips—the first of the 147.

Intelligent. Conscious. Aware.

She looked at him not with animal eyes, but with understanding.

She saw him. Truly saw him.

And ███████████... smiled.

Finally.

Something that can think.

Something that can choose.

Something... intelligent.