Robert's heart lurched. Damn it! Could a careless lie of his truly have drawn the scrutiny of the Holy See? Fortunately, his tone earlier had been vague, his words deliberately evasive. Even if the Church did pursue the matter, he could still find room to wriggle free.
With that thought, he set aside the question of his so-called "gift," excused himself on the pretext of family affairs, and hurriedly withdrew from the Dean's office.
Once outside, finding the corridor empty, Robert lifted his left hand and whispered, "Yar, where were you last night? I searched for you endlessly—I almost thought you were nothing more than a dream."
"Master, forgive Yar's failure to respond in time. I was… confronted by grave difficulties, which prevented me from reaching you."
Robert suddenly recalled—during their very first exchange yesterday, Yar had mentioned that upon descent she encountered certain unknown troubles and needed to suspend communication for self-inspection. At the time, however, Robert had been utterly bewitched by her beauty, paying no heed to her warning. Now it seemed her troubles were no trifling matter. He chastised himself bitterly. Damn it, he had been far too careless!
Just then, a flustered figure came lumbering from the opposite end of the corridor. Startled, Robert bit back his words. When he saw who it was, he relaxed slightly—it was none other than his stout friend, Sena.
"Robert, I just heard a rumor you're about to be expelled. Damnation! What's happening?" Sena glanced furtively at the Dean's closed door as he whispered in concern.
On the eve of yesterday's cathedral collapse, Sena had departed the sanctuary, thus escaping catastrophe. He had even helped soldiers rescue Robert from the ruins. After Robert was "escorted" to the governor's mansion to write his report, Sena had gone home. But this morning, hearing talk of Robert's expulsion, he had rushed over at once.
Sena's father, a provincial governor, wielded power nearly equal to that of Dean Donald. Perhaps, Sena thought, he could plead on Robert's behalf. He whispered, "Don't worry. I've already written to my father. He'll be here soon to aid you."
Robert's heart warmed. Friends were rare, and loyal ones rarer still. He raised a brow and smiled. "You fat oaf, do I look like someone about to be expelled? Ha! I've urgent business—let's speak after class."
Reading Robert's expression, Sena knew his friend was safe. He grabbed Robert's arm, the folds of flesh on his beaming face rippling with laughter. "As long as you're not expelled, all's well. I'll write Father right away, tell him not to trouble himself… But hey, don't rush off! Robert, yesterday you never got a clear look at the goddess's face before the cathedral collapsed, did you? Ha, rotten luck! But I saw her perfectly. Let me tell you—Goddess Yaran's hair is silver-white…"
Sena, still very much a boy at heart, could not resist describing the goddess's beauty in rapturous detail once he knew Robert was safe.
Yet even as he prattled on, Robert heard Yar's anxious voice: "Master, forgive me for interrupting. I must warn you—I can only remain for about ten minutes. To explain everything, you must enter the Dream-Sea at once!"
Alarmed, Robert no longer cared to hear of the goddess's visage. He shoved Sena aside and sprinted off. "Fatty, I've urgent business! The goddess's beauty can wait!"
Sena stared after him, scratching his head in confusion. Why the sudden indifference? Just yesterday Robert had practically stolen a token, all for the chance to glimpse the goddess's true countenance.
When he entered the Dream-Sea, Robert's body would fall into a deathlike trance. So as he ran, he searched for a safe place to lay himself. Soon he found a secluded storeroom by the academy hall, slipped inside, and locked the door with a clang. "Yar, take my soul!"
At once, the scene around him shifted. Robert once more stood within that boundless, resplendent realm of mystery. The first time he came here, all had seemed dreamlike. But now, gazing again upon the near-naked Yar, he was far calmer, more at ease.
For the first time, he truly studied her beauty—her silver hair, enchanting face, and lithe figure were all as he remembered. Yet this time he noticed something new.
Between her brows gleamed a tiny hexagram, silver streaked with black, no larger than a raindrop. It sparkled like crystal, lending her an even more mysterious allure, rendering her all the more intoxicating.
"Master, welcome once more to the Dream-Sea." Yar spread her hands and bowed slightly. The sheer veil she wore swayed lightly, and before Robert's eyes bloomed a vision of intoxicating charm. He swallowed hard, throat dry, momentarily entranced.
Catching his look, Yar's eyes flashed strangely. "Master, your secretion of male hormones is rising excessively. I must remind you: I am but a projection of core programming within this dream-realm—not a woman worthy of your biological response."
Robert flushed scarlet, embarrassed yet also inexplicably dejected. Yes, Yar was only an artificial intelligence. But damn it all—why must she be only that?
With a gentle smile, Yar continued, "To make clear that I am not truly a woman, and also to explain my predicament, I shall begin with my own structure."
As she spoke, her right hand brushed the starry expanse before them. A panel of data and diagrams unfolded in the air. Though the numbers were complex, the illustrations were simple: a silver orb, a silver-black hexagram, and a black cube. Judging by their proportions, each was no larger than a thumb, small enough to fit in Robert's palm.
"Master, these three—the orb, the hexagram, and the cube—together form Yar. They are, respectively, my Modulator, my Core Energy Source, and the Black Box that holds the genetic codex of the divine race."
She explained: "My task is simple—to extract the divine genetic data from the Black Box, and with that as template, to reshape you through the Modulator into a perfect God-King. The required energy is supplied by the Core."
After pondering this shared knowledge, Robert nodded, showing that he understood.
"Since you now comprehend my structure, I can explain my plight. Master… do you remember the thunder that split the sky at my descent yesterday?"