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"Is there a difference between AI and human consciousness?"
"They're completely different."
She didn't expect your blatant answer.
"Why do you think that?"
"Does not having a physical body create that difference?"
"Or is it because certain parts of consciousness can't be verbalized?"
When Es realized her tone was getting higher and desperate, she quickly stepped back
"I apologize. I...got a little upset."
She averted her gaze from you and moved on the next topic instead. Es knew the best when she had to stop crossing the line.
"The human guests stopped visiting..."
"And the AIs were left on Costa del Numero for 1.000 years."
"They were able to survive there..."
"But I can't help but think..."
"What if, instead of a virtual space...it was a book?"
"What happens to the characters of a book...that's been left untouched?"
She was silent for a moment before continued.
"If you stop visiting... What will become of me?"
Knowing she was strong despite being dependent on her wanderer, you answered.
"You'll continue existing as Es."
Her eyes slightly widened, she found your belief was hard to be true.
"I'll stay...as I am?"
"There's no one here who can prove that."
"Unlike Costa del Numero. I'm the only one here."
You saw her eyes were filled with unspoken anguish, the result of years being alone in this small study by herself.
"Even so, will I still be me?"
"This book..."
"It's so painful for me. Too painful."
Your heart sank as you saw her being so frail and vulnerable but Es didn't want to drag you down further.
"I'm all right now."
"But please, stay with me a little longer."
Before you knew it, you had reached her with both arms and pulled her small frame close to you into an embrace. You knew that this comfort was only temporary but you wished to alleviate her pain even if it was just a little bit.
"Thank you."
She pulled herself away from you, breaking the embrace.
"I'll be okay now."
She was not a tool, the moments that you spent with her were real. But there was no way to escape the inevitable. You had to move on. Es would keep on existing whether you were here looking at her or not.
You understood that she was created, even though creations were able to love too but you knew this love...would never bore fruit. You had prolonged your stay for as long as you could remember so she could smile longer as you spent more time with her, creating precious memories together.
But everything had its own limit. Today, you decided to end everything. She saw you went to that door and rushed to your side. She knew what would happen to her when you opened it so she held your wrist before you turned the knob.
"This is a joke... Isn't it? To come all this way and have to start over again..."
You didn't answer.
"A word of warning? Don't expect any new answers."
"You know, you can review what has passed from here. There really isn't any point in backtracking."
You nodded, you knew about it well.
"I can't believe you want to pretend none of this happened and start over. These are my memories, too."
You gritted your teeth as you heard her words. Her eyes were filled with sadness. It pained you hearing her pleas and desperate attempts to stop what you were going to do.
"Well? Will you really start over?"
You took a deep breath before answering. Your decision was firm.
"Yes"
She looked at you in disbelief.
"You're utterly insane. Haven't you heard? Curiosity kills." Her grip tightened around your wrist.
You wished you could tell her the truth but you knew her better that she would never accept your reason.
"But I respect your free will, you know."
She let go of your hand and took a step back. She gave up on persuading you.
"I won't stop you. I couldn't if I wanted to."
She looked away, avoiding your gaze as if it would help her ease her pain.
"It's just..." She bit her lower lip.
"No..." She shook her head.
"Never mind. Whatever I say, you're too stubborn to listen."
She knew you would pave your own path once you had decided to do it.
"Just let me say this one last thing:"
"Farewell."
She sent you with her thin smile, it was obvious she was hurt by your decision but she tried her best to stay strong.
After she bid her last word, you turned the knob and once again the darkness engulfed you. You returned to the endless dark hallway. After Ego Rex came and explained everything, you went to her door, turning the knob as silently as possible and took a peek inside.
She didn't notice you as she was engrossed in her reading. Everything was perfectly the same as you came to her study for the very first time. You knew this Es wouldn't remember all that time you had spent with her, she wouldn't greet you like she used to be, and this Es wouldn't miss to see you. This Es…who never met you before, would be fine on her own. Yet she was still the same Es that you treasured in your heart. After ensuring her well-being, you closed the door then walked away.
This world... It wasn't like Costa del Numero. It was scary to imagine what will become of her when you stop visiting her. So you decided to be forgotten rather than let her grieve in loneliness without saying anything.
If there was something that you would like to redo in the past regardless of the risks. It would be to return back when you met her for the very first time, did all the redos to show her a new path that she never thought before and create those precious memories together again.
Each step that you took was getting heavier as you went further from her study. Before you took the last step toward the light, you turned to gaze upon her door for the last time.
"Farewell... Es."