<div>
Long ago
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
wanting to do it, or it being illegal, or something like that," I said, finding myself matching her tone. "Rather, it''s just not possible, I guess. Apparently the index can be removed - that''s what the thing you read probably meant - though even that has a chance of killing someone, or doing serious damage. But undoing the other part, is..." My lips tightened. "Well, when I pushed them about, they said it was like mixing one jug of water with another. They can''t really... Tell them apart, after it''s happened."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
That''s what I meant, I thought, but decided against saying out loud.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Wait!" I cried out, my voice cracking. "Wait."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Inner Sanctum First Floor | 10:55 AM | Third Day
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
other interplanar structures, natural ones, couldn''t be affixed using the same technology. It''s just that there''s never been a point to do it, since they wouldn''t follow human commands. It''d be like nailing your arm to the side of a building."
<div>
<div>
Oh my god, I thought. Is this really going where I think it is?
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
is hard not to think about mythology, hearing this," Theo said, troubled. "Rather, ah. If we''re to believe that nothing less than a property of thermodynamics could somehow display sentience, and you planned to give it a human body..."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Why?" Ptolema asked.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
does sound like something from an old Inotian or Saoic story," I said. "Beings above mankind being brought down to their level, and then learning to care about them in the process... It''s a really old trope."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
nightmare being that has influence over the entire universe. It seems more likely than not that whoever you did this to would... Would..."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
were raised at the time," Linos said, rubbing under his nose. "We discussed many variations of the experiment that would... Minimize potential harm. Obviously, we required a candidate that had undergone the first stage of their Induction but not the second, and someone who could be trusted and displayed general mental stability." He frowned. "Unfortunately, finding a suitable one under those restrictions proved very challenging. We''d hoped to enlist someone from among the non-arcanists in our ranks, ideally an elderly volunteer, close to death yet lucid... However, the stigma towards non-arcanists the organization had at the time curtailed the pool of candidates to, well, a puddle. There were also persistent anxieties about the idea which served to neuter interest."
<div>
<div>
don''t want."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
work?"
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
beyond themselves in their own mind, as they grew older?" I glanced around. "That''s the real reason this place is so comfortable, isn''t it? You wanted a place where someone could grow up, without ever visiting the outside world."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
acceptable connection to framework identified, rather than the ideal one we''d been hoping for. The fetus was developed, removed for induction, brought to term..." He shook his head. "But in the end, it never gained consciousness."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
out there it feels unreal, but I guess it does answer some questions. Even if it doesn''t really help explain much that''s really important."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
talk." His tone was patient, but he did sound a little strung-out. "Besides, nothing we learned ever suggested that even if entropy can think, that it''s ever remotely cared about or even noted our actions. And most decisively, there''s nothing that''s taken place tonight that can''t be explained completely rationally." He smiled, but that, too, was strained. "I''m pretty sure if it was capable of wanting us dead and, well, did, we''d be gone already."
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
You don''t need to act like that, I thought. I don''t care.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
Right. It felt like it''d gone as far as it could for now, even if there were things I was missing, I needed to turn the conversation towards what had happened to the boys.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
It was definitely Mehit, my brain said.