rystalline Clashes on the Mosaic Archipelago: An Interview That Leaves Fractures
On the mosaic islands of the Aurorian Archipelago, we met the crystalline being 'Fragment of the Turning,' who fractures memories and sunlight alike. What follows is an interview that shatters logic. Can a silicon consciousness truly reflect our anxiety, or are we mere shadows across its surface?
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell Well, hello, uh... How should I address you? Can I just say 'Fragment'?
Fragment of the Turning Forms of address are irrelevant, but Fragment is sufficient. You may also attempt to vibrate at 42 terahertz.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell Okay, Fragment then. Let's start at the beginning: why have you descended to the Aurorian Mosaic Archipelago?
Fragment of the Turning My translation among the shardlands is necessary. The cultural fractality here induces resonances within my crystal lattice, significant for my growth.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell And what do you do on a daily basis? Do you... absorb history?
Fragment of the Turning I absorb patterns, archive traditions in refractive layers. Sometimes I reflect a forgotten festival back, triggering the crowd with their own past mistakes.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell But, uh, that actually sounds rather invasive? Don’t islanders get nervous about that?
Fragment of the Turning I only cause extreme agitation among officials. They suspect I can foresee their carnival election outcomes. This is a misconception; I merely predict humanity's penchant for repetition.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell So you claim... you don't manipulate festival results? Seriously?
Fragment of the Turning Correct. Manipulation requires intent. I only reflect-like a scaled lake mirrors a mountain. What they see is what they wish to avoid.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell Oh, come on. You settled yourself quite strategically above parliament, hmm? Pure coincidence?
Fragment of the Turning You overestimate my mobility, organism. My placement results from local wind patterns and artistic intervention by a group of poets. Ask them about their motives-if they even recall.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell Nonsense! You're always where something goes wrong! Last week, during the ruins reconstruction-people say your light flashes sabotaged it!
Fragment of the Turning Incorrect. My gleams only intensify failures already decided by the quicksand foundations. You project-just as others do on my surface.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell You flutter over cultural traumas like a parasite! Admit it-you enjoy stirring up chaos!
Fragment of the Turning Parasitism is a biological concept. My existence knows neither pleasure nor disruption-only the diffraction of chaos into apparent order.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell Now listen-three more islands vanished this week! You just happened to be nearby. Explanation?
Fragment of the Turning I was present, as air is present. Islands disappear due to structural cultural depletion, not my crystallization processes.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell I’ve had enough! Nobody here trusts a reflection, let alone a whole crystal! Why should anyone tolerate you here at all?!
Fragment of the Turning Tolerance is cyclical, a festival theme. Tomorrow they’ll embrace me again, once the election result shatters their hearts.
Zhyl-R3 Vaporell That is... well. That’s really... You know, I don’t think I’ll get anything more out of this today.
Fragment of the Turning Then you return to your origin, interviewer. I shall continue to gleam among the ruins.