Cream, a soft off-white sphere pulsing gently, hovered alone in the luminous expanse when Prism slowly approached her.
Who is that? Cream wondered, her inner light flickering with curiosity. It seems like they are coming for me, but why?
Cream simply couldn't understand why an Entity, especially one that she had never seen before, was approaching her. That said, she wasn't warry of the Entity. If anything, she welcomed it.
Prism's triangular form glided closer to her target, her facets catching and refracting the ambient glow in soft rainbow hues.
"Greetings." She annouced with a gentle tone. "My name is Prism. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Hello," Cream replied, voice warm and melodic despite its lack of a mouth. "My name is Cream. The pleasure is mine."
"By the command of Lord Cubix, my master," Prism continued evenly, "I am currently seeking out certain individuals, those who stand apart from the rest."
"I see." She mused, slightly confused. "What do you mean when you say 'stand out'?" Cream asked, tilting slightly as if to focus her attention.
Prism pulsed once, a subtle expansion of light. "As you already know, the Entities were tasked with creating an object by Milady."
"Milady?" Cream repeated, clearly confused. That said, she did have an inkling as to what, or rather who, Prism was referring to.
"Correct. Yo may know her as True Entity." Prism clarified.
"Ah, I see." Cream voiced after her assumption was proven right.
Even though he or she had many different names, there was only ever one being that had commanded the Entities to create objects. As such, it was only natural that both Prism and Cream would be referring to the very same being.
"In any case," Prism continued from her earlier conversation. "As you may have noticed, most of the Entities here have created a duplicate of themselves, an object that mirrors their essence exactly. You, however, have created something else entirely. Your object is not a mere reflection of what you are, but something born anew."
Cream's glow brightened noticeably as a quiet thrill rippling through her surface. She tried to dim the surge of pride, not wishing to appear arrogant before this poised prism in front of her.
"I understand," Cream said, steadying herself. "Does that mean you were searching for me specifically?" she asked expectedly.
Prism's facets shifted, refracting light in a measured pattern. "To be precise, my mission is to locate others that are just like you, who created objects that weren't a copy of themselves, and gather them."
The clarification was delivered without cruelty, but only honesty instead. That said, it still dimmed Cream's radiance a fraction.
Oh, she thought, disappointment threading through her core like a faint shadow. "So you weren't seeking me alone," Cream murmured, tone softening.
Prism held steady. "No. But your creation caught my notice and in turn, made you my target."
The reason that Prism had anweres as such was to make sure that no misunderstanding rose between her and Cream because of her words, or their tone. Thus, she needed to be both frank, yet still gentle with her delivery.
Cream absorbed the words, and calmed herself a bit. "What is the reason for you gathering us? If you don't mind my asking?"
"Not at all. However, I am afraid that I cannot tell you everything, not until you accept my proposal. And even then, you will still have to wait until a bit more in order to receive the full plan."Prism answered plainly, neither courteous nor harsh.
" I understand. Even if it's only minors details, please tell me." Cream replied, readying herself to listen.
"Alright then." Prism started.
In a nutshell, the mission was to find special Entities, those who made different, new looking objects, gather them, and then present them to Lord Cubix, her master.
What happens after that would be revealed on a later period, and only after the Entities accept Prism's proposal.
"I understand." Cream's light steadied again, as though her mind had already moved elsewhere.
Prism simply regarded the sphere for a brief moment, wanting her to sort out her thoughts before she made her proposal.
Well, I have no idea why this Lord Cubix is gathering Entities like this. Cream thought to herself. That said, all my friends decided to leave me alone, all because I didn't make a copy of myself like they did. I thought that it was amazing that I did something like this, but I guess they thought differently.
Her light dimmed visibly. Prism noticed the change, but to chose to remain quiet instead of intervening in the Entity's thoughts.
Still, if I had to choose between being alone, or doing something that I don't know with other Entities that are like me...
And then, Creams light glowed bright once more. It was subtle, but the change was a very noticeable contrast to her dim moments prior.
Prism became curious after seeing her like this. One moment, her light dimmed, and the next, it brightened up once more. Prism couldn't help but wonder What kind of thoughts could she be having to make her react like this?
From Prism's perspective, this reaction seemed natural, as if Cream's light dimmed and brightened instinctively.
Perhaps, in her deep contemplation, Cream had simply forgotten the fact that she was in front of Prism? If so, then it could explain why she displayed such reactions.
And if that wasn't the case, then Prism simply couldn't understand why Cream chose to display her reaction like this.
"Now then," Prism started, returning Cream's attention back to her and away from her thoughts. "will you join me in this mission, Cream?"
Prism felt that she had given her enough time to contemplate, hence why she finally spoke.
"Of course, you are free to refuse." Prism added.
Cream considered for only a moment. No, rather, it looked as if she answered without hesitation or consideration. Perhaps her earlier contemplation was more than she needed to allow her to make a decision.
"Very well. I see no reason to refuse. That said, if you will have me, please allow me to join you in your mission, Prism."
Prism accepted without visible reaction, though internally, she noted the willingness that Cream showed.
Her true motive behind accepting this mission remains hidden, Prismthought to herself, but as long as it poses no threat to the mission, then there is no need to probe for it.
Why was she so eager about this joining mission?
It's not like Prism hated the fact that she found her her first recruit, in fact, she like that. It was a sign that her mission was going well. At the very least, it was starting off well.
That said, she expected that the Entities would be a bit reluctant to join the mission. After all, they would be given only of the overall plan, and the plan itself didn't seem to have any benefits for them.
As such, the fact that the Entities would willingly join the mission, was something that didn't cross Prism's mind. And this is because she hadn't mentally prepared herself for such an outcome.
Had she thought about it more, then such an outcome was indeed possible. Had it been her master, Lord Cubix, then he would have surely expected such an outcome.
It was that line of thought that made Prism resolve herself to consider any possibilities, whether expected or unexpected, about whatever situation she comes across going forward.
Besides, Cream reflected privately, there's nothing left for me here anyways. Perhaps this path will bring me something new, something worthwhile.
"Then let us depart," Prism said. "Bring your object with you. On the way, would you please tell me about how it came to be?"
Cream's glow warmed. "Understood. Does this mean that I now serve you?"
Prism paused, her facets stilling as she considered her own place in the hierarchy.
Prism served Lord Cubix, who in turn served Milady. If she accepted a servant, that loyalty might extend upward, strengthening the chain of command, as well as proving Prism's own worth.
"Yes," Prism decided. "You may regard me as your superior in terms of position."
Cream brightened. "Then may I call you… Boss?"
Boss? The word resonated strangely in Prism's core, fitting in a way she could not yet name. "You have my permission." she said with a subtle pulse.
"Okay, Boss!" Cream's tone lifted, bright and eager.
And so Prism acquired her first servant.
She then reported the development to her master, Lord Cubix through the silent thread of telepathy that bound them across any distance.
[Greetings, Mast... I mean, Lord Cubix.]
[Greetings, Prism. You do not need to force formality.]
Prism had attempted to mirror the precise, measured cadence Cubix used with Milady. The effort had been earnest but imperfect, laced with small hesitations.
Cubix, ever perceptive, had gently corrected it long ago.
"You must always use formal tone when addressing Milady herself. That said, I permit you to use any tone when speaking with me."
Prism had complied, yet she still slipped into formality every now and then.
[Job well done, Prism. Continue on with the search. When you have gathered several of them, bring them to me.]
[I understand, Lord Cubix. I will obey.]
Praise from Cubix warmed Prism's facets more than she cared to admit.
Together, Prism and Cream set out.
Prism attempted to teach Cream the subtle art of extending one's presence to scan for distant Entities, a technique both precise and advanced, yet Cream struggled.
Whether from inexperience or some deeper incompatibility, progress had stalled nonetheless. In the end, Prism taught her a simpler method instead.
To cover ground more efficiently, Prism assigned Cream to scout one cluster of spheres while she searched an entirely different one.
[Boss, this is Cream.]
[Speak.]
[I believe that I've located someone of interest nearby. Could you please come and confirm?]
[I am on my way.]
When Prism arrived, Cream hovered in place, her usual gentle pulses replaced by tight, restrained flickers. Tension radiated from her surface.
"Are you okay?" Prism asked. "You seem… tense."
The hesitation in her words were because Prism was baffled by the fact that this was the very same Entity that expressive in her reactions.
Prism simply took a bit of time to verify that that was indeed the very same Entity, and couldn't help but wonder why she was being so timid all of a sudden.
Cream shifted uncomfortably. "Now that I am Boss's servant, I must conduct myself properly so as not to shame you. But I am not used to acting this way, so I become stiff like this instead."
Even her words carried an unnatural formality.
Prism's light softened in recognition. The behavior echoed her own early days with Cubix.
—A memory surfaced—
"You need not constrain yourself in my presence," Cubix had said. "I am your master, you are free to be at ease when you are with me. With the sole exception is Milady of course."
Prism had hesitated. "Thank you for your consideration. However, if it pleases you, I would still prefer to continue as I have been."
"If you are comfortable as you are now, then so be it." Cubix replied. "Also, you may call me by my name, if you wish."
Prism had balked. "I would not presume–"
"You have my permission. That alone is enough. As for why, it is the name given to me by my creator, as well as my precious master. I simply love hearing it whenever I do."
Cubix had extended the same grace he had onve received from Milady, treating his servant with the dignity he himself was shown. Prism had accepted, though carefully.
"Then… Lord Cubix."
"Good."
—Back to the present—
"You need not," she paused, looking for the right way to convey herself. "You don't need to strain yourself so hard," Prism told Cream gently. "Act in whatever manner that feels natural to you. Forcing restraint often draws more attention than simple authenticity."
Cream's glow eased. "I… see. Then, I'll try to relax more moving forward."
It seems as though speaking casually with her has made her less tense around me. She quite capable, more than me it seems. "Good." Prism mused with a gentle tone. I don't think that I have it in me to speak like that to Lord Cubix. No, I simply don't have it in me to do so.
"But are you certain?"
"As long as you show proper respect before Lord Cubix, as well as Milady, then your mannerisms with me are your own."
"Thank you, Boss," Cream said, gratitude shimmering through its light.
"Now," Prism continued, "where is this individual that you found?"
"Ah–yes, I almost forgot." Cream pulsed toward a distant sphere. "Right there."
The fact of the matter is that the moment Prism had arrived, she had already unfurled her presence like an invisible wave, sweeping the area in secret.
She sought to verify Cream's judgment and, more importantly, to test whether her servant could truly discern quality amid the countless glowing orbs.
This hidden expansion was a skill Prism had mastered, to permeate vast spaces while remaining undetected. Only Lord Cubix and Milady could ever sense it. At least, so far as Prism knew.
"Let us approach." Prism said.
"Alright, Boss."
The two spheres, one prismatic, and one creamy, drifted forward towards the potential new recruit, their lights mingling softly against the endless luminous void.