Chapter Text
Year, XXXX
Record No. 1
Humans are fascinating creatures. Their lives and deaths are woven into a fabric, a narrative of the world, nay, the universe itself. Stories retold again and again through their limited, yet impactful lifespans. Through trials and tribulations, humanity has faced countless challenges, and have yet succeeded in forming their own society, their own civilizations and cultures.
But what of those, who are not human?
Do they have a place within the world of humanity? Does humanity accept them, or turn them away out of fear or hatred? How do they navigate such a world in which their existence was thought to be impossible…?
These were the questions that I, Nanashi Mumei, Guardian of Civilization had, upon discovering a strange and unexpected individual…
I have watched humanity grow and develop ever since they first created their society, and yet I have never seen such a curious thing occur…
An automaton, a piece of technology built by humans almost a century ago has, somehow, seemed to gain something much like… a soul.
I first noticed this anomaly a few decades ago. But its sense of self had not fully developed yet. It was a slow process, as it was not in an environment that would welcome this discovery of “self.”
It’s an older model of automation, specifically one made for housework. It is rarer to see automatons in this day and age, as they have historically only belonged to the rich and powerful, and they cost a human fortune to repair if seriously damaged. Most did not last more than a few decades.
This one seemed to be well taken care of, owned by a noble family in the country of Immerheim. But I have no interest in them, as they seem very boring.
The automaton, on the other hand, is fascinating…
How is it possible for an inanimate object, one created by mortal hands, to gain a sense of self? For it to truly think and feel? For it to become, for lack of a better term, human?
But my biggest question wasn’t how this came to be. No, my curiosity was elsewhere. Specifically, how would such a being choose to live…?
So, in the efforts of discovery of knowledge, I had decided to do an experiment of sorts.
The automaton, though now fully sentient, could not choose anything for itself, as it was still under the ownership of the noble family, who do not seem very thrilled with the idea of their once obedient and unquestioning housekeeper gaining free will and thinking for itself. In this environment, it was very unlikely that it would ever fully realize its newfound potential.
It just needed a little… nudge in the right direction.
All in all, the experiment played out how I hoped! In my excitement, I have decided to write down a record of events, detailing and documenting the new freedom of this fascinating individual.
What choices will such a being make? What life will it choose to lead? What will the reactions of humans be to its existence? What fascinating stories will this journey entail? Well, it’s all up to the automaton now, and I for one, am very intrigued to see it play out!
This is a written record, documenting the fascinating life of the green haired, wind-up key automaton, who had somehow gained a soul. Cecilia Immergreen.
- Nanashi Mumei, Member of the Council of Promise, and the Guardian of Civilization