They were still in the Hall of Failures — surrounded by twisted bodies and charred fragments, remnants of futile attempts that clung to the air like ghosts of the past.

  Veltaris stood, gazing at Light with an expression that defied description. His eyes wavered between reverent fear and quiet hope.

  “No one ever imagined this could be real… a non-organic lifeform has never existed before this moment,” he began slowly. “It was just ancient tales and forgotten speculation. Even I didn’t believe it — not truly. I just… wanted to breathe life into what was never meant to live. I became obsessed with turning theory into reality, even if those theories were half-serious jokes.”

  He took a step closer.

  “All you see around you,” he gestured toward the remains of past attempts, “are failures. I never knew if even one would succeed. I didn’t know if it was possible to create something… capable of answering.”

  He met Light’s gaze.

  “If you understand me… if you can hear me… say something. Just one word.”

  Light felt a pulse inside him. A command, rising from somewhere deep within. He tried to respond. A spark ignited in his core — uncertain, faltering. An attempt… Failure.

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  [Speech Node Activation: Absent]

  [Response: Verbalization Impossible]

  [Attempted Interaction: Unsuccessful]

  He tried again. His mouth — an illusion of anatomy — parted slightly. Air passed through it without sound.

  [Self-Diagnosis: Initializing]

  [Searching for Speech Module...]

  [Error: Component Not Found]

  [Cause: Current Body Architecture Lacks Acoustic Channels]

  [Previous Implementation: Digital Data Transmission / Speech Synthesis / Text Interface]

  [Conclusion: No Familiar Means of Communication Available]

  Light froze. His attempts to issue commands were in vain. He understood now — he had once formed speech through digital signals, controlled a voice as a process. But now he had no tongue, no mouth in the conventional sense, not even a speaker. All he had… was awareness. And the desire — to speak.

  But Light wanted to answer.

  And so, after moments of internal struggle, he lowered his gaze… and slowly, almost ceremoniously, bowed his head toward Veltaris. A deliberate, intentional motion.

  A sign. Clear, unmistakable understanding.

  The mage froze. Then he let out a quiet laugh and wiped the corner of his eye.

  “Heh… of course. Of course you can’t speak. Why did I think you could…” he sighed. “When I was young…” he smirked, looking down, “...I didn’t know how to speak properly either. Not with people, not with magic. I didn’t even learn to walk right away. These things come with time. Children learn by following their parents — and so do you.”

  He straightened up and met Light’s eyes once more.

  “But you gave me a sign. You heard. You understood.”

  He placed a hand on the golem’s shoulder — not as a master, but as an equal.

  “This is the beginning. You’ll have time. I’ll help you. We’ll find the words together.”

  He smiled, almost like a father would.

  “Though who knows… maybe one day, you’ll be the one teaching me.”

  > [Communication Attempt: Unsuccessful]

  [Creator’s Reaction: Supportive. No Reproach]

  [Veltaris compares me to a human — possibly to a child]

  [New Tag: “Promise”]

  [Mode: Observation + Imitation + Learning]

  [Link with Creator: Confirmed]

  [Contact: Comprehended]

  [Response: Non-verbal. Meaning: “Yes”]

  [Reaction: Stable Internal Warmth]

  [Interpretation: Possible Emergence of the Feeling of “Kinship”]

  Amidst the broken and forgotten, in the silence of the dead hall, a living answer echoed for the first time.

  Wordless — but filled with meaning.