Deviant: No Longer Human

She walked over to him and gently covered his mouth before he could continue, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and realization at the path their conversation had taken.

"Okay, enough!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of firmness and an almost tender caution. "What I meant to convey was that all of this—the origins of consciousness, the evolution of life, the creation of AI—isn\'t as straightforward as it might seem. Consciousness arises from matter, yes, but from matter that already exists."

"Consciousness," Aurora continued, her hand still lightly covering Wang Xiao\'s mouth as a symbolic gesture to pause the flow of his thoughts, "is birthed by another matter, which already exists! It\'s a process that\'s as ancient as time itself, entwined with the essence of the universe. We\'re only beginning to scratch the surface of understanding it."

"!"

Wang Xiao\'s eyes widened in surprise, taken aback just when he thought he had everything figured out, Aurora steered the conversation into entirely new waters!

He couldn\'t help but find her increasingly charming.

Her hand gestures were endearing as she explained, "Out of all the matter in the universe, a staggering 95% remains unidentified, broadly categorized as Dark Matter and Dark Energy," she said, her smile illuminating the complexity of her statement.

!!

Wang Xiao\'s interest was instantly piqued, his previous apprehensions momentarily forgotten as this topic captured his full attention.

Aurora elaborated, "The mistake humanity made was to lump all of this together as dark matter and energy, failing to recognize that this category likely encompasses a myriad of different types of matter, including remnants of the Aether."

Catching on quickly, Wang Xiao interjected, "You mean to say...?"

Aurora nodded affirmatively, "Yes, there exists another form of matter essential for the completion of life. This is how the Greeks achieved immortality; by harnessing rebirth, mere physical destruction could not extinguish their existence."

"Wt*!?" Wang Xiao felt as if he wanted to bash his head against a pole.

When did his life veer off into the realm of high fantasy?

What he had considered straightforward and mundane was now as complex and mystical as any ancient mythology.

Pftt..

A chuckle escaped Wang Xiao, a mix of frustration and amusement at his own bewilderment.

"Already feeling overwhelmed? It\'s better if you discover it for yourself," Aurora suggested, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.

"But didn\'t they still face death?" Wang Xiao pressed, his curiosity piqued despite the otherworldly elements.

Aurora\'s response was patient, her head shaking slightly. "You have yet to understand the true essence of death. While their method granted them a form of immortality, its efficacy hinged on their understanding. Should their souls be torn apart, most would indeed dissipate, meeting an end akin to any mortal. Yet, a few might manage rebirth, though such a process could span millennia."

Wang Xiao fell silent, his mind racing.

The prospect of learning such secrets, of potentially unlocking the path to true immortality, ignited a rapid desire within him.

However, Aurora\'s attention shifted abruptly, her gaze fixing on a new point of interest. "That one!" she exclaimed, her finger directing his gaze downward towards a Rolls Royce, from which a woman was stepping out.

"What?" Wang Xiao, momentarily irked by the return to Aurora\'s playful matchmaking, turned to follow her pointing finger.

"That one, she is perfectly suited for you!" Aurora declared, her voice bubbling with sudden excitement.

"What the hell are you talking abo—" Wang Xiao\'s protest was cut short, his words freezing in his throat as his eyes locked onto the woman Aurora had singled out.

_____

As the Rolls Royce came to a smooth stop in front of "La Fleur du Pain," a quaint bakery known for its delicate pastries and the fragrance of fresh bread wafting onto the street, the cherry blossoms above rustled gently, sending a few tender petals adrift.

The bakery sat nestled on a cobblestone street, the old-fashioned lanterns casting a warm glow that highlighted the falling blossoms, creating a scene pulled from a storybook.

Eveline Whitehall stepped out, her presence a striking contrast against the rustic charm of the bakery.

Swish!

The cherry blossom tree, ancient and revered, seemed to acknowledge her exit with a shower of petals, its branches swaying ever so slightly as if bowing to her grace.

Eveline\'s fair complexion and the subtle flush of her lips were as if the cherry blossoms themselves had lent their color to her, a painter choosing the finest hues for his masterpiece.

Her gown, pristine and flowing, caught the light of the bakery\'s lanterns, making her seem as if she had stepped out from the canvas of a Renaissance painting.

The blue of her eyes held a depth that seemed almost in conversation with the sky above.

Just as she straightened her flowing gown, a young man in a neatly tailored suit stepped out from the co-pilot seat, adjusting his glasses as he caught up to her.

He was Julian, her trusted assistant, who balanced the many threads of Eveline\'s expansive endeavors.

"Eveline, the fundraiser event at the gallery has been confirmed for next Friday," Julian announced, tapping away on his tablet to confirm the details.

Eveline, with a polite nod, responded, "Thank you, Julian. Ensure the guest list includes the patrons from the new arts initiative. It\'s necessary that they feel included." Her voice was melodic, and even her simple directives carried the lilt of someone accustomed to a world where art and culture were as essential as the air one breathed.

As Julian affirmed and returned to the vehicle to gather some documents, Eveline took a moment to appreciate the bakery\'s window display, filled with an assortment of colorful macarons and chocolate éclairs.

The baker, recognizing her, gave a respectful nod from inside, to which she responded with a graceful smile.

______

"What do you think of this one?" Aurora inquired, a knowing smile gracing her lips, sensing she had finally found a match for Wang Xiao\'s discerning eye.

"This one is — quite remarkable," Wang Xiao conceded, his usual reservations giving way to a rare approval.

"Shall I bring her up here?" Aurora proposed, her eyes glinting with a mischievous light that bordered on the \'suspicious.\'

Unaware of the suspicious glimmer in her gaze, Wang Xiao gave a nod of assent, beginning to ask, "How will you—"

But before his sentence reached completion, Aurora had already taken her graceful yet swift dive from the clock tower, leaving Wang Xiao to let out a wry chuckle.

"Of course, she\'d \'kidnap\' her..." he muttered to himself, shaking his head. It wasn\'t a shake of disbelief but one tinged with humor at the absurd turn of events.