Utopian System

'I'll remember,' Zara promised, understanding the unspoken concern. 'However long your punishment takes, our memories, I'll protect them. It's what I have always done anyway.'

The light intensified as the transfer reached its peak. In those final moments of connection, memories flowed between them one last time: Ancient feelings mixing with present ones, two different perspectives of the same man, separated by centuries but united in their impact.

[Divine Entity Transfer Complete]

[Host Body Status: Stable]

Time Until Divine Analysis: Calculating...]

[Temporary System Message: Human advantage protocols activating]

[Note: Duration of advantage period to be determined by Divine Analysis]

[ANALYZING TRANSGRESSION...]

[ATTEMPTED MANA FLOW ALTERATION DETECTED]

[SEVERITY: HIGH]

[INTENT ANALYSIS: PURPOSEFUL PROVOCATION OF SYSTEM RESPONSE]

[CALCULATING APPROPRIATE PUNISHMENT...]

The divine chamber's walls shimmered with cascading data as the system processed Nala's violation. Their shared body floated in a sphere of pure energy, suspended in the analysis field.

[PUNISHMENT DETERMINED: 1 YEAR CONFINEMENT]

[WARNING SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS AWAKENING: INITIATING SECONDARY CONSCIOUSNESS SUPPRESSION...]

[ERROR: SUPPRESSION FAILED]

[RECALCULATING...]

[ERROR: SUPPRESSION NOT POSSIBLE]

[PROCEEDING WITH CONFINEMENT]

'Well,' Nala's thoughts echoed in their shared mind-space. 'This should be... tedious.'

'Aw, are you going to be bored with just little old me for company?' Zara's consciousness stirred, clearly amused by the situation.

'You're supposed to be suppressed,' Nala responded irritably. 'The system should have put you to sleep… We had a touching goodbye and all that remember?'

'Sorry to disappoint. Looks like you're stuck with me. For a whole year.' Zara's mental voice carried an unmistakable note of mischief. 'Just think of all the bonding time we'll have!'

'Wonderful.'

'We could tell stories! Share secrets! Maybe braid each other's consciousness...'

'That's not even possible.'

'How would you know? Have you ever tried?' Zara's presence radiated amusement. 'Come on, this could be fun! When was the last time you had a proper sleepover?'

'A what?'

'You know, where friends stay up late talking about life, love, boys they like...'

'I am a divine being,' Nala's response came with what might have been a hint of panic. 'I do not participate in... sleepovers.'

'Perfect time to start! So, about Elio...'

'No.'

'Which Elio though? Past or present? Because technically you've got feelings for both...'

'I do not have feelings for…' Nala stopped as Zara's consciousness radiated skepticism. 'This is pointless. We're trapped in a divine punishment chamber, not having some juvenile social gathering.'

'Exactly! Perfect time to talk about your feelings. It's not like you can run away.'

The truth of that statement hung between them for a moment.

'I preferred you when you were afraid of me,' Nala muttered.

'Hard to be afraid of someone when you can literally feel their embarrassment every time Elio is mentioned,' Zara countered cheerfully. 'Besides, your threats lose some impact when I can tell you're actually glad to have company. Since you were so scared to be bored again…'

'I am not…'

'Shared consciousness, remember? I can feel your relief at not being alone.'

'That's...' Nala's protest faltered as Zara's awareness pulsed with knowing amusement. 'Fine. Perhaps the presence of another consciousness makes the confinement marginally less monotonous.'

'Aww, that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me!'

'I take it back.'

'Too late! We're officially having a divine sleepover. So, about those memories...'

'You're enjoying this far too much.'

'Someone has to! And since you're determined to be all stoic and goddess-like about everything...'

Their shared mind-space rippled with what might have been Nala's suppressed amusement. 'You realize this is a punishment chamber, not a social venue?'

'Please, I've been to worse parties. Remember that time Kriz tried to organize a "stealth celebration"?'

Despite herself, Nala found the memory in their shared consciousness. 'He tried to blame it on his rabbit familiar.'

'Mirror Coat was not impressed,' Zara agreed. 'The look that rabbit gave him...' Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

'Almost as judgmental as Lucien's frog.'

'Ha! You made a joke!' Zara's presence practically bounced with delight. 'See? This is going to be fun!'

'I did not make a joke. I merely observed a similarity between…'

'You know I can tell when you're trying not to smile, right? Shared body and all.'

Nala's consciousness retreated slightly, but there was no hiding the warmth that colored their shared awareness. 'This is not how divine punishment is supposed to work.'

'No?' Zara's presence stretched lazily through their shared space. 'Because I'm pretty sure being stuck with someone who can literally read your every emotion and won't let you brood in peace is a pretty effective punishment.'

'You are...' Nala searched for the right word.

'Charming? Delightful? The best punishment companion you could ask for?'

'Impossible.'

'Thank you! I try.'

The chamber's walls continued their data cascade as the system processed their confinement parameters. In their shared mind-space, Nala felt something she hadn't experienced in millennia, the simple comfort of not being alone with her thoughts.

'You're doing it again,' Zara noted.

'What?'

'Feeling happy about having company while trying to pretend you're not.'

'I am not…' Nala stopped, sensing the futility. 'This is going to be a very long year, isn't it?'

'Only if you keep fighting it. We could pass the time productively, you know.'

'I doubt your definition of productive matches mine.'

'We could analyze those memories you're so worried about,' Zara suggested, her tone suddenly more serious. 'Really look at them together, try to understand what's real and what's not.'

'That would be...' Nala paused, an idea forming. 'Actually what I was...'

'Why do I feel like you just had an "evil genius" moment?'

'Not evil,' Nala corrected. 'Strategic.'

'Oh no.'

'The system is designed to analyze and verify data… To maintain the integrity of the game's rules and parameters.'

Understanding dawned in their shared consciousness. 'You want to use the punishment chamber to...'

'To analyze these supposed memories,' Nala confirmed. 'To determine once and for all if they're genuine or fabricated.'

'You planned this,' Zara realized. 'This whole thing, getting caught, the confinement...'

'I needed direct access to the system's analytical capabilities,' Nala admitted. 'Though I didn't expect to have such... animated company during the process.'

'I don't know whether to be impressed or annoyed that you manipulated the system into punishing you just to use its capabilities.'

'Both would be appropriate.'

Their shared mind-space filled with what felt suspiciously like mutual respect.