CH764 Thera’s Perspective

From the gate network to her family home, to her uncle’s shop and from there the newest of Ben’s research areas, Thera found her uncle Ogilt exactly where she’d left him, sitting in a building filled with the trapped demons Ben was experimenting on the souls of.

The only real difference to be had was that there were more things around than when she’d last been there. It was obvious that Ben must have felt some guilt about leaving the great space spirit alone to stand guard for a few weeks and had tried to remedy that by leaving books and games and films to be enjoyed, with not a single one looking like they’d been touched since whenever they’d been created.

Despite that, the great spirit wasn’t entirely unresponsive and at least took notice of her arrival, lifting his head in acknowledgement of her presence.

“Ah, hello, my… niece?”

“Hello to you as well, uncle,” She greeted in return with a gentle nod. “Have you been well?”

“As you can see.”

That wasn’t an answer but she chose not to call him on that, instead looking around a bit to try and make it seem like what she was about to tell him wasn’t immediately obvious.

“You haven’t touched any of the entertainment Ben left you, have you?”

“I haven’t felt the need.”

“It could help you pass the time.”

“It will go by whether I spend it doing anything or not.”

“Sure, but it will be a lot more pleasant than sitting doing nothing.”

“…What would you like, Theta? I know you aren’t here just to say hello.”

“It’s Thera, and one of the space spirits is worried about you. Probably a lot more too. They asked me to talk to you.”

“Then we’ve spoken and there’s nothing else to say. You don’t need to force yourself, I know you have no desire to and I don’t blame you.”

Her mind flashed to how she’d voiced her own conflicting feelings about the new great spirit when they’d set up for Ben’s experiments and immediately regretted it. Whatever the truth may have been, it wasn’t going to make things any easier on her as she tried to go on.

“Uncle, you know the space spirits need you. The great ones too. When my father spoke to me growing up and told me about both you and the time spirits as well, he’d always longed to see you all again. One group may be lost to us because of the choice they’d made but you’re here and that means something to them.”

“Then you don’t need to worry, I shall not be taking the easy way out to free me of my guilt, they will have me forever more.”

“Not if you hide away from them all. They care about you, Ogilt, they see what you’re going through and they’re worried about you.”

“…I see. I know you’re right of course, bar a few obvious exceptions, so for their sake perhaps I should reconsider my position.”

“You’ll talk to them?” She asked, hopeful that things really would be that easy and immediately being betrayed for it.

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