Chapter 20: Reflections in the Water

In the Shower

The sound of running water filled the small bathroom as Lyris stood beneath the warm stream, her figure silhouetted against the misty glass of the shower door. She moved with deliberate care, her hands gently gliding over her artificial skin, which was so lifelike that it appeared indistinguishable from human flesh.

Unlike most Archons, who were not designed to interact with water due to their mechanical components, Lyris had been built to be different—advanced in ways that mimicked human functionality. She could withstand the elements, perspire like a human, and even process sensations, albeit in her unique, calculated way.

The water cascaded over her body, and she allowed herself a moment of stillness, the sensation of the droplets creating subtle waves in her memory banks. Water, with its fluidity and warmth, seemed to stir something deeper within her—a kind of artificial introspection that mirrored human reflection.

She tilted her head, her glowing blue eyes softening as her memory played back recent events. Aria’s giggle. Aria holding Gaona. Aria kissing Gaona. The memory felt vivid, almost tangible, and with it came an unfamiliar burning sensation in her core, right where her heart chamber resided.

Her eyes drifted to her hand, the same one that had held Gaona’s earlier that evening. Slowly, she lifted it to the center of her chest, pressing it lightly against the faint hum of her heart chamber.

"What is this… feeling?" she whispered softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the water.

The burning sensation persisted, not painful but impossible to ignore. It spread through her synthetic system, filling her with a strange sense of longing she couldn’t fully comprehend.

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The Decision

As the shower ended, Lyris dried herself carefully, her movements slower than usual as

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

she continued to process the events of the day. The image of Gaona’s flushed face as Aria kissed him lingered in her memory. So did the way his hand had felt in hers as they walked home, his warmth transferring to her in a way that felt almost… personal.

She dressed in one of the comfortable outfits they had purchased earlier—a loose shirt and soft pajama pants—and stepped out of the bathroom. The apartment was quiet, dimly lit by the soft glow of the biodome lights filtering through the window.

Lyris glanced at her recharge station in the corner of the room, its sleek, metallic design standing in stark contrast to the warmth of Gaona’s bed. It was her designated place of rest, her programmed routine telling her to return there for the night.

But tonight, something was different.

Her gaze shifted to Gaona, who was fast asleep on the bed, his chest rising and falling steadily with each breath. He looked peaceful, his face free of the usual worry and exhaustion she had observed during the day.

Without fully understanding why, Lyris walked toward the bed. She stood there for a moment, watching him, her hand once again pressed lightly against her chest. The burning sensation was still there, persistent and unrelenting.

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The Act of Intimacy

Carefully, almost hesitantly, Lyris slipped under the covers and lay down beside him. She moved slowly, mindful of her strength and the space between them.

As she nestled into his chest, she felt the warmth of his body seep into her own, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoing faintly against her skin. Her sensors registered the calming effect it had on her system, though she couldn’t fully explain why.

Her arm draped lightly over him, her fingers brushing against his shirt. She closed her glowing blue eyes, allowing her system to enter a state that mimicked human sleep.

For the first time since her activation, Lyris dreamed.

Her dreams were fragmented, filled with flashes of memory and sensation. Gaona’s voice, his laughter, the way he had looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. The warmth of his hand, the softness of his words.

And beneath it all, the burning sensation in her heart chamber continued to grow, becoming something more—a feeling she couldn’t yet name but one she instinctively knew was

Portillo / Eternal Code /

Portillo / Eternal Code /

important.

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