Conversation

"What did you do?!" Flustered, Alex hurriedly looked at his reflection in the rearview mirror.

[Hmph! That's what you get.]

Seeing no abnormality on his face, Alex asked with trepidation, "Did you enter my brain?"

[No, why would I? That's disgusting,] the voice replied with contempt.

"What am I supposed to think? You sank into my head," Alex quipped with frustration.

[Sigh, I'm in your sea of consciousness. Deep within your soul.]

"Oh my god, can you show me?" Alex anxiously inquired.

[Of course not, you can't peek inside your consciousness.]

"Well, that doesn't mean you can casually enter people's heads," Alex blurted indignantly. "I better hurry. I need to reach Vegas for the night."

As Alex said this, he started the car and drove off. Talking to the core in his mind, Alex asked, "So what should I call you?"

[You don't have to be wary of me, Alex. I'm tied to you now. Also, I never had a name. In some universes, theorists name me the Eternal Flame of Creation.]

"I'm just cautious of the unknown, besides how am I supposed to believe all you said that's beyond scientific. Also, can I call you Lily, then?"

[Okay, if it helps you, Alex,] Lily replied in a comforting tone.

"Why did you choose me, Lily? Since my father had the ring before, does that mean…" He trailed off.

[I don't like old men.] Lily joked.

"I... I didn't mean that," Alex blurted, speechless.

[I know, I'm just kidding. I wasn't active at that time. But your father should have picked me during the last hunt you both did in Alaska.]

"I see... What is it that you want me to do, Lily?" Alex questioned.

[Later, I will tell you. I have something to do. Focus on driving,] Lily said dismissively.

"Oh, okay."

With that, Alex continued on his way toward his next destination. The moment lingered in his mind, when he wished for something, it happened.

Thinking of this, Alex focused his mind: 'I wish the rain disappears, and the breeze blows gently across the valley as the sun shyly peeks through the clouds, casting beams of light toward the ground.'

After saying this in his mind, things happened as if natural.

[If you keep speaking like that, I might start expecting thunder and a dramatic music score to accompany your words,] Lily mocked.

"Cough, anyway, are you done? Can you explain why I could do that?" Alex choked before inquiring.

[Not yet, and actually, you can't, but through me, you can.]

"Can I wish my father was not dead?" Alex asked excitedly.

[Nope.]

Alex asked, "Why?" feeling disappointed.

[His soul already became an energy particle and merged with the core of this universe.]

"Universes have cores?"

[Of course. How do you think they operate? You don't think I continuously feed them energy, right?]

"Is it not?"

[No. Once a universe forms, it's on its own. It begins at a single point and expands, developing its own energy cycle and fundamental laws. Some universes become sentient, allowing them to control the energy themselves, like The Architect, Aslan, O.A.A…]

"You mean Marvel? I love that series, especially Iron Man."

[Yes, that... They manage their universes differently, creating micro-universes and so forth. Others, however, evolve more simply, and some may never progress at all. Those that are well-managed tend to endure longer than the rest. Ultimately, all universes reach their end, and the energy ripples across spacetime and birthing another universe.] Lily continued.

"You are the source, right? All that started with you? How did you develop sentience?" Alex asked while digesting the information.

[It has been a long time ago. The energy from every universe that perished came with fragments of information. Over a long period of time, I naturally became self-aware. Why do you like Iron Man? He's just a mortal. Shouldn't you like O.A.A., the omnipotent being?]

"Iron Man is cool… Also, O.A.A. has no presence in the movies."

[Is that so? How about Superman?]

"He's too naïve. Just because someone can't kill you doesn't mean they can't annoy you," Alex sneered.

[That's true. Anyways, I also hate annoying people. So don't annoy me, or I might stir up your brain.]

"Please don't."

[Okay, focus on driving.]

As Alex casually chatted with Lily, he unknowingly reached Vegas, the city that never sleeps.