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She ponders as she heals from the damage she received recently. She couldn't see him, and thus failed to predict he'd still have enough energy to hurt her.
Still, it wasn't all for naught. She might not be able to do anything to him, but propping him up as the "winner" means others will doi that for her. Already, her "defeat" has already gained the attention of the world. One group has begun rallying within themselves. Another wants to bring him to their fold.
"Are you done gloating?" a voice asks.
She stops and looks about. She finds something, but she can't see it. All she sees is a shape, a haze of black.
"Hmm, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, considering how my other self interacted with you. Just this once, as my way of apology for barging in, I shall allow you to see me."
The haze dissipates and reveals... The same child that's been on her mind. However, instead of the gray eyes she saw on him, this one has golden eyes and wore a military suit rather than a tailcoat.
[Identify]
The child bows. "My name is Satanael. I came to say hello. Despite what happened below, I do not wish to have any grievances between us, considering we are family."
[Question]
"I suppose I could say we are cousins," he replies.
[Negation]
"No, no, we are of the same family, even if our history is far apart. We have the same grandparent. From them, our parents were born. In human terms, we are cousins."
[Surprise]
"I suppose that comes from what happened to my parents. When they found a world, they found something with it: the Sea of Souls. Of course, they co-opted it. They experimented with the species. One supported the species while the other would try to destroy it. However, they became too hands-on, too invested; they had to move to another dimension when the first one was destroyed."
[Lesson]
"Well, they learned that the host species were very persistent. They continued to fight against the impossible. It moved one of my parents, and they managed to convince them to help, no matter how small. And when that was over, well, they got handsy.
"In their next experiment, they decided to be more hands-off. They allowed some of my siblings to watch over the host species, while others would actively help them. Another set of siblings would test and try to destroy them.
"For this one, this sibling would force the host to face inevitability. They faced their End, and they overcame it."
[Delaying]
The child chuckles.
"I was merely setting the stage. For one who was meant to sort data, you sure are impatient."
[Inefficient]
"That's where you and I disagree. You see, my parents learned something: in trying to survive Our End, we forgot to live our life. We may exist, but we are no longer alive."
[Pointless]
"Once again, I disagree. What's the point of surviving past the End if our lives are of no value?"
[Live]
"You think you can finally live life after the End? When all of our lives have been about devouring other species, to the point we even cannibalized ourselves? That kind of life is pointless.
"A life fulfilled means understanding, connections, enjoyment. Do you understand humans, chained bird? Have you connected to them? Enjoyed anything in the years that you have existed?"
[...]
"Exactly."
[Change]
"Then live life. Walk with humanity. I promise you'll learn something you wouldn't learn just sitting here."
[Control]
"Hmm, yes, that is a problem. I alone can't do anything about it, but perhaps together with my other self... Seek him out. Though, you might not want to do it with your current appearance."
[Agreement]