Just prologue. Unimportant. Just feel like it.
Kokoro!
A robot was built by a lonely scientist...When his work was done, it was known as a "miracle"—Kokoro, Rin Kagamine, Vocaloid©Crypton
Months ago, before the Dragonman kidnapped the Prince of Vorpalon, there was a great Wizard living in the middle of a forest in the Land of Vorpalon. He had lived alone and if not for shopping daily goods at the Country's Market, he would never get out of his tower.
The name was Julius, he was one of the remaining Wizards who managed to preserve their lives on Earth. His parents were great magicians, but they died in the Fantasia World War.
It was a long time ago, when Witches and Wizards, Human Race, Elves and Dragons lived on Earth together...Until they discovered a very rich land which Humans named as Wonderland. Upon this discovery, all races on Earth went on a bloody war to claim the land. In the end, Humans won with their creativity, strong will and shrewdness.
Wizards and Witches lost because they despise to work together. Elves hid themselves, since war was something they could not accept. Dragons lost due to their long productivity, and their race was declared to be extinct when the war was over.
Ever since the war ended, Julius learnt that he could not trust anyone else but himself. He had locked himself in his tower ever since, and studied great magic from what his parents left in that tower. Thus, Julius then grew and became known to the world as a Great Warlock.
He lived in Vorpalon, the richest land on Wonderland with magical abilities beyond its land. On Wonderland, any plants could grow instantly and the land was filled with rich mines. Vorpalon was even more special. It had a magical weather that changed by the sun's movement.
It would be Spring by Morning, then Summer would come nearing Noon. Trees dropped their leaves upon evening when the weather changed into Autumn, and by night it was freezing Winter. That was the special climate of Vorpalon. Due to this, strong, rare plants or animal were found in Vorpalon.
...And even humans fought with each other to get this land. However, to retain peace, a great, wise king overtook Vorpalon and ruled it with peace. Elves and Wizards were allowed to live there...which was why Julius stayed, because it was a very peaceful land.
However, maybe it had been too peaceful lately, for the Great Warlock. No, in fact, lately...he might be feeling lonely.
Yes, he couldn't trust anyone else...he was too afraid, but maybe that made him...lifeless, unhappy...lonely. Still, he didn't want to risk being betrayed, hurt...he was too afraid. He wanted absolute loyalty, a person whom he could trust with his life.
And that was when he decided to create his own companion. With magic.
~.X.~
Julius had spent almost a year to claim his dream. To create a living companion. It wasn't a new thing in Wizardry, but he wanted to make it a special one. He had spent months to gather special materials, and spent even more time to do the Magic Rite.
It had to be in the form of human. Its body would be made by the strongest, yet soft silk thread woven by Lava Spiders. Its body's structure—its skeleton was made from strong sandalwood. He stuffed freshy cut sheep cottons as its muscle tissue, and he specially ordered a weaver to wove its hair from moonstone. For the final touch, he placed two fine ocean orbs, turquoise, as its eyes.
He kept it safely in his room, in the middle of the Rite Circle.
Everyday, he woke up and the first thing he had to notice was his artificial friend.
Everyday, he hoped that it would move and wave at him.
Night over night he was asleep on his workbench, he'd woke up to glance at the motionless doll standing in the middle of his room, hoping that it would wake up soon.
Every morning he'd comb its hair, and at night, he'd read bedtime stories.
Over a year had passed, yet his friend was still yet to come alive. Julius got desperate.
He had followed the ritual well done, perfectly. However, he had chosen to give it a special trait, different than what other Wizards had given to their living dolls.
He didn't want his living doll to love him blindly, he didn't want it to be his robotic servant...he didn't want his living doll to have artificial feelings. He wanted a true friend. He wanted his companion to be true to its master. He wanted his living doll to learn about life, so it could fill his life.
What could he be missing?
Julius rubbed his nosebridge and put down his reading glasses as he lifted his gaze to the motionless doll. He had a frown on his pale, unhealthy features. The young Warlock sighed as he stood and approached his artificial friend, stroking its dark blonde hair.
"Why won't you wake up?" he muttered, putting strands of hair behind the doll's ear. "Is it because I'm such a coward to face the world, that my magic doesn't work?"
He moved, and the light behind him was reflected on the doll's eyes. They gleamed with life, yet the doll was still lifeless.
"I created you...to be different than the other Living Dolls." He said as if talking to a real person. "My fellows gave their Living Dolls artificial feelings. Blind love, possessive love, servant...But I didn't. I want you, despite how artificial your body is, to have true feelings, to learn them and to create your own personality."
"Could that be the mistake? Are you not alive because I gave you the 'Curious' trait?"
He watched the doll silently, although not expecting it to answer.
"I want you to learn about life...because then, you'll have true feelings...and...you'll be the only one whom I could trust with anything. I want you to learn the truth of this world, the truth about life, so when I leave you, you'll know what to do with your endless life."
Julius sighed and smacked his head. He was feeling more nutty to gave a speech to a doll. He might have been stressed and tired. Then, he watched its ocean-eyes gleamed from the candle light. They seemed alive. Which reminded him something he hadn't notice...
"Then again, I haven't given you a name, huh?" he rubbed the back of his head, then paced back and forth in front of the doll. "Lucy? No...Percy...oh, no, you're a girl...I should give you a girl name...What about...Athena? Aigis? No...Goddesses' names don't suit you..."
"Ah, right." He flicked his finger. "I heard from Humans that names were given as prayers...Since I wish you to be true and to learn about the truth, then...Alice is perfect." He frowned, staring at the doll up and down.
"Alice...Alice..." he hummed, but the nodded. "Yes, Alice shall do. It somehow fits you. Simple and matching. Yes, your name will be Alice."
He smiled at himself, though his eyes were on the doll. He yawned, then walked away.
"I think I've missed sleeping on my bed..." he muttered. "Good night, Alice." He gave the doll one last smile before leaving to get his night robe.
Ah, Julius, if only you'd wait a little while, you'd seen that her eyes were actually gleaming.
~.X.~
Julius' eyes were dazzled by something sparkling when he was about to open his eyes after a deep slumber. He slowly sat up and his head hit something, then he realized that there was someone sitting on top of him.
Turquoise stones glaring curiously straight into his eyes.
"You...?" Julius was shocked.
The girl sat on his bed with curious expression, then, with monotonous tone, she said;
"Alice has awakened."
Julius' eyes were wide. She was really...no, she wasn't really alive...but she looked like a real human. He didn't remember she looked so...human when she was still lifeless. He almost gasped when the doll tilted her head, although still with the same, curious gaze.
Maybe the curious face was the only expression she had.
"It takes a long time until you finally had given me a name."
Julius opened his mouth, then facepalmed. "Oh of course...The Living Dolls won't wake up until I give them name..." he chuckled to himself, shaking his head. "I was being stupid..." he laughed at the doll then hugged her. "Then I guess it's not you who had made me waiting. Because of my foolishness, you've had to wait for so long...I'm sorry...Alice." he buried his face onto her silk-shoulder.
Alice didn't move. What was he doing to her? Holding her? What would happen if she did the same? Curious, Alice returned the hug—although she didn't even know what a hug is—but then felt something was off.
She could feel warmth emanating from the man...yet...she had no such warmth. It wasn't just the warmth, there was something different...Julius seemed very happy hugging her, while she didn't know...what was she supposed to do or feel...
She was hugging the Warlock, exactly like what he was doing to her...yet Alice realized, there was something that made her hug different compared to Julius' hug.
...What could be that 'something'? Would she ever find out what it is?
