The Quandary of Infinity

The temperature was approximately 120° Celsius.

Nana touched down gently, glancing around absent-mindedly. This was one of her favorite areas to visit, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sure, she could choose to make herself completely imperceptible to the mortals. And she could take a break from taking in the constant flood of all knowledge and information from around the world if she wished. But sometimes the stillness of this setting was simply what she craved. And the hostile temperatures proved no issue to Nana.

"I appear to have a guest."

Nana glanced off to the side. "Selene. You're looking as lovely as ever."

Nana approached her compatriot, her steps light and gentle. The goddess Selene stood in front of her, a small smile gracing her lips. Whereas Nana was all shimmering gold clothing with teal hair, richly adorned with beautiful green jewels on a golden necklace, Selene leaned towards darker and more muted tones. Selene wore a similar dress, but with gold swapped out for a deep midnight blue. Her hair was a sparkling shade of silver, with a silver necklace marked with aquamarine gems.

"How was the trip in?"

"No complaints whatsoever, old friend. Thank you for inviting me."

"Always a pleasure."

Selene conjured up a table and chairs for herself and her guest. "Do you have any fascinating new beverages created by the humans that you can show me? Or shall we revisit a previous choice?"

Nana took a seat gracefully, glancing off to the side and smiling, wistful. "The humans haven't created much of anything that I would call fascinating lately, Selene. Something that I can't help but dwell on. I'd say it's the host's choice this time. Pick what you will."

Selene clapped her hands, forming a protective dome around the two and summoning a piping hot pot of lemon ginger tea, along with cups. "Here you go, Nana. I feel like this would be a good choice for today."

"Thank you, dear."

"So what's been on your mind? You alluded to some frustrations with the mortals."

Nana took a sip, humming with satisfaction. "Excellent choice." Nana put her teacup down and nodded. "Selene. Let me ask you. Can you recall how long I've been doing this?"

"Drinking your tea? Only for the last couple seconds or so."

Nana stared straight into Selene's eyes, not reacting in the slightest, refusing to humor her. Ultimately, Selene was forced to chuckle at her own joke to play it off. "Please excuse me. I don't often get the chance to tease you, Nana. As I recall, you've been governing Earth for over 4 billion years."

"That I have. And when I began, I could not have possibly been more enthused."

Nana crossed one of her legs, and glanced up, recounting almost mournfully her early years.

"The ants that crawled across the ground. The serpents that slithered through the grass. The hounds that howled up to here. The bears sleeping peacefully as they awaited the change of season. So many critters to observe. So many to appreciate."

"But none of them, and nothing, approached my fascination for the humans."

Nana looked back down, meeting Selene's gaze.

"They'd sing. They'd dance. They'd build cities. They'd develop their own laws to help enforce and protect their values. They started to think in abstract and intriguing ways about which of those values they cared for the most. Or, to summarize more easily, they developed their study of philosophy."

"I loved that, Selene. I loved so deeply the fact that they kept searching for an answer to the question of what to value the most. A society that ponders these things even when their biological needs are being met indicate a society at its peak. Different groups, different cultures, would come to different conclusions. And as each culture thought tirelessly on the subject, they'd keep singing and dancing and building throughout it all. Human beings are wonderful, Selene, and even at their worst, my heart is full to bursting with my love of them all."

Selene listened attentively, drinking in Nana's account of viewing the human experience.

"But after all these years, Selene, something has changed. It seems that even a goddess is not immune to being desensitized. I observe the mortals, and my love for them is still there. But the love no longer gives me the same sense of invigoration. I am the tired mother conditioned to loving her children. And though her love is true, the mother still has cravings for a change at times."

"I have begun experimenting again. Experimenting with nature, with how the beasts act, with their patterns, their instincts. I am experimenting with the elements. I reversed the trajectory of a waterfall recently. I sent its water rising into the air as it passed over a cliff, instead of falling, and I did it when I knew a pair of humans were passing. Nobody will ever believe them."

Selene had no response.

"The problem here is that I know not if i will ever experience an end to my predicament. Even we as goddesses are uncertain if we will ever fade. The observation that nothing lasts forever may apply to everything, including us. But it may not. In a trillion years, Selene, will you and I be at peace? Or will I still be mulling over my existential quandary?"

"You don't think I'd be mulling it over with you at that point, Nana?"

"Please, Selene, you're far too stoic to let others see you troubled."

Selene laughed.

"What would you do in my situation?" Nana looked into her friend's eyes, carefully gauging her response.

"I would likely handle the situation entirely differently than you, Nana. The way our experiences work have largely no overlap. Human beings arrive here rarely. Relying on my interactions with and observations of others to find purpose isn't like me at all. At the risk of sounding judgemental, it seems your lengthy period of overstimulation has created a need to view new experiences."

Nana pouted. "If we weren't such good friends, I'd have to reprimand you for that one."

"But you see my point."

"I do."

Nana drank deeply, savoring the fine tea. There was silence between her and Selene for several seconds. Then Nana smiled and addressed Selene again.

"But enough about me. Tell me how you've been keeping. Anything new?"

"Oh, of course. There's so much to do up here on the moon. I've recently taken up counting grains of sand. Would you like to hear about it?"