Celestians [2]

"It'll take about 8 minutes to get there," Ellie said, looking eager to chat. "Want to talk about something?" She motioned with her hand, showing she was open to a conversation.

"This might be my opportunity to learn something important from her and clear up my confusion," Aisam thought. He slowly turned to face her, meeting her gaze with a contemplative look.

Sure, Aisam asked calmly with neutral eyes, "What do you want to talk about? Or should I start?"

Ellie thought to herself, feeling a bit frustrated, "I know he's just a kid. It's disappointing that he ignores my good looks." She put on a smile and asked gently, "How about you start first?" Despite her inner turmoil, she remained kind as she shut her eyes.

"Okay, I have a bunch of questions ready," he said casually but confidently. "I'll ask them, you answer, and we'll keep going. After that, we can go back and start over. Simple, right?" He shrugged slightly, showing he wanted to end the conversation fast.

Ellie sighed, "I understand, but sometimes being spontaneous is fun too, you know?"

Aisam shrugged, "I guess, but I like being direct and saving time."

Despite feeling annoyed by his attitude, Ellie was curious about his motives. She forced a kind tone and asked, "Okay, what questions do you have?" Her demeanor changed slightly as she spoke.

Aisam locked eyes with her and began, "Firstly, what exactly is a 'Celestian'? Secondly, could you elaborate on this 'Arbitrex' you mentioned earlier in the hall? And lastly, what were you doing in that forest with that man?"

"I'll explain it basic-," said Ellie, looking down at Aisam. As she began, Aisam interrupted, signaling her to stop. "No need to make it too simple. Just explain it fully," he said confidently, with authoritative gestures.

"... Fine, don't blame me if you don't understand it later," Ellie said with a hint of exasperation, rolling her eyes as she continued.

"The Celestians used to be a respected race, devoted to obeying the gods unquestioningly. But things took a turn when humans rose to power across many dimensions, believing themselves to be superior to all. Most gods abandoned the Celestians, favoring humans instead. They manipulated humans to serve their own whims and selfish goals, leaving the Celestians behind in disbelief."

Her eyes narrowed in disapproval as she spoke, "When we realized how foolish the gods were for abandoning us in favor of humanity, we united to create the 'Celestians' Domain'. We grew powerful and some of us even attempted to undermine humans to show our superiority."

Her eyes darkened as she remembered the gods' warning. "The gods threatened us, warning that if we intervened with their chosen race, the entire Celestian race would be wiped out instantly."

Ellie looked determined as she lifted her head confidently. "From then on, we were fully committed to nurturing our civilization with dedication and seriousness. No more room for frivolous activities," she stated firmly, gesturing emphatically with her hands to drive her point home.

"We began a focused journey, absorbing knowledge, progress, and wealth from many different sources with diligence."

she sighed heavily before continuing, "Yet, troublemakers persist despite our efforts to progress. Our own kin, driven by unnecessary vengeance for events that happened thousands of years ago, pose a constant threat to our safety and well-being."

With a determined expression, she added, "That is where the Arbitrexes come in. They are trained to safeguard our domain and deal with the reckless troublemakers scattered throughout."

As she mentioned Jason, her childhood friend seeking revenge, her eyes softened with a hint of nostalgia and concern for his misguided actions. "By the way, Jason, who you saw earlier in the forest, remains alive, as resilient as ever. A mere sword could not kill him; I merely weakened him for probably a few years or decades. Depends on his moods honestly."

Rolling her eyes playfully while letting out a chuckle, she admitted, "I've even resorted to mimicking the antics of characters in some drama series I've been watching to add a touch of excitement to the situation. It's all become a bit predictable."

After Ellie fell silent, Aisam paused for a few moments to carefully consider her words before proceeding to ask the questions that had been weighing on his mind.

Aisam was taken aback by the revelation. He furrowed his brow, his eyes slightly widening in surprise as he processed the information. "She said she's been keeping that man in check for decades... Does that mean she's over a hundred years old?!" A look of disbelief crossed his face, followed by a nervous forced chuckle. His hand rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced around as if looking for confirmation from someone else present.

"Of course, I expected it, but it looks a lot different seeing it in person that a pretty young woman is at an age that humans on earth rarely reach..." Aisam's thoughts trailed off, his words punctuated by a slight shake of his head. He shrugged his shoulders, a gesture of resignation mixed with awe as if trying to wrap his mind around the impossibility of the situation.

"Anyway, it's probably better not to ask her about her age, and just leave it be..." Aisam mused, his tone hushed as if afraid of offending the mysterious woman. He clasped his hands together behind him, a sign of uncertainty and caution, before finally shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe I thought her dramatic acting to be true," he thought to himself, a wry smile playing on his lips as he replayed the scene in his mind.

"Okay, I get where you're coming from, but there are still some gaps that need filling. I mean, with all that high-tech wizardry you've got, how come you didn't bust it out against Jason? Why stick to swords?" Aisam questioned, his brow furrowed in curiosity and his hands gesturing animatedly to emphasize his point. His tone was both inquisitive and incredulous, hinting at a mix of genuine curiosity and a touch of skepticism.

Ellie delicately raised her eyebrows, her eyes wide with concern as she elaborated, "You see, introducing new technologies in a world that lacks knowledge about them, well, it's like playing with fire. It could be perceived as meddling with the plans of the gods themselves." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in, before continuing with a slight shake of her head. "Imagine if someone were to observe, imitate, or even leak information about these technologies! The consequences could be dire, and frankly, unpredictable."

Her hands moved to emphasize her point, gesturing vaguely to the air as she painted a picture of potential disaster. "The worst-case scenario? Picture this: someone inadvertently leaving behind technology or information that was never meant to be known. Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue?" Ellie's voice grew softer, almost a whisper, as she leaned in closer, her expression grave. "Even if they didn't realize it, the repercussions would be catastrophic for all of us. We'd struggle to maintain order across all worlds. In our impatience and carelessness, we could unknowingly sow seeds of chaos wherever we tread."

She leaned back, her arms crossing in front of her, a troubled expression etched on her face. "That, my friend, is why we must tread carefully when it comes to introducing new technologies in unfamiliar territories."

"Now, let me ask you a few questions as well, and please don't respond with just one sentence. Why are you behaving like an old man? And what were you doing alone in a forest? I highly doubt you were just searching for food, considering your not-chapped lips and youthful face," Ellie asked in a serious tone. As Aisam began to speak, she suddenly slapped her forehead, interrupting him.

"How could I forget that? I didn't pull out the chairs when we had to go up so far!" Ellie muttered to herself. Moving forward, she swiped on the touchscreen where she had previously typed the floor number. She selected an option with a symbol of two chairs, chose the type of chair, and watched as two devices descended from the ceiling, resembling drilling machines. After a brief pause, they 3D-printed two armchairs on the spot.

"Now, let's sit and talk more. We still have a few more minutes," Ellie said as she sat on one of the armchairs inviting Aisam to sit too.