((A/N: Chapter nine, everyone! We're nearing the end of the story, now.))

Smiles.

Forty-nine days have passed since I was first activated. Only one day is left… One day until my internal programming has finished its setup and Martel will be downloaded into my body. One day as a soulless vessel. I will experience only one more day… as Tabatha.

In the last six days, lord Yuan had come to see me only once. The visit had been brief. He'd stated that he did not enjoy the way the dwarves would grovel at his feet whenever he entered the room or tried to leave.

This day, I had awoken from my regeneration cycle to notice that there was something off. Something inside one of my subroutines seemed to be broken. I had run an internal test, but no results came. I tried again, and again, all attempts using slightly different scan options, yet nothing could be found.

After the fifth unsuccessful attempt, I had decided to report this to master Altessa. While doing so I had noticed that my voice seemed off. It sounded even more robotic than usual. This is how I ended up connected to a large processing computer, as a last resort.

"Hmm… Still nothing out of the ordinary." Master Altessa mutters under his breath, going through the results as they appear. "It is probably just some glitch, caused by the download program."

I nod curtly, still allowing the computer to finish its test. As one would say; Better safe than sorry. I am this laboratory's most valuable project, so mistakes cannot be allowed.

"Lord Yuan came by while you were regenerating." Altessa speaks idly, as if trying to make conversation.

I remain silent. Even though lord Yuan stated he dislikes the laboratories, he came to visit me a second time? How unexpected.

"I'm sure he's concerned about the outcome of this project. When he noticed you were on stand-by, he took a quick look at your statistics before leaving again." A look of surprise spreads across Altessa's face as he looks up at me. "… You're smiling!"

"My apologies, master." I relax my face muscles again, uncurling my lips. "I was under the impression one smiles when hearing that another cares about him or her."

For a moment, Altessa says nothing. Then, he starts to chuckle. "You truly are my most extravagant creation."

Master Altessa is the one who created my special software. Were it not for this software, I would not be able to learn, or imitate emotions. Were it not for master Altessa, I would not be myself. Therefore, Altessa is my creator. The other dwarves do not care for me the way that master Altessa does, nor do they have anything to do with who I am. Therefore, they are not my creators.

There is a soft beeping sound as the computer finishes its test. Altessa turns to the screen once more, his face remaining quite blank as he goes through the results.

"Still nothing peculiar here." He sighs. "I suppose that as long as it doesn't impair your system, there's nothing to worry about."

"Acknowledged."

I release myself from the computer's testing pod, stepping away from it. An automated doll does not suffer from diseases and therefore does not need to see a doctor. Automated dolls may only suffer from faults in design. Ironically, the one who runs tests on me is another machine. Technology is nowhere without other technology, and the humanoid beings who keep it in check.

"Tabatha."

I turn to Master Altessa at the mention of my new designation. He had grown quite fond of the name lord Yuan had given me.

"Perhaps you should go take a walk around the city. It is best your joints are operating to their maximum capacity tomorrow."

An excuse. A comment given to hide one's true intentions. Master Altessa knows that today would be my last chance to see Welgaia. I do not experience pleasure in 'taking walks', yet, for some unknown reason, the idea is appealing to me.

"Acknowledged." I state, heading for the exit. As I close the door behind me, I notice that master Altessa is smiling.

I make my way through the streets of Welgaia once more, observing my surroundings closely. As usual, the angels bow low as I pass, murmuring Martel's name. Despite my new appearance and name, they still see me only as the one who will harbour their goddess' soul.

After twelve minutes, I find myself face to face with Welgaia's very own Cathedral of Martel. That is the place where everything 'began'. It is there that I learned of lady Martel. It is there that I first truly met lord Yuan. As a human would say, the Cathedral holds important memories to me. Can memories be defined as important? What would define a memory as being important? The impact that the scene leaves on one's life, perhaps?

I find myself walking up the steps, towards those large wooden doors. Yet, as I push them open, a familiar voice reaches my sensors. I freeze, holding the door ajar as I listen intently.

"I still don't see why you are getting so upset about this matter." Lord Kratos' voice says, followed by a near impossible to hear sigh.

"Did that crystal truly dull your human emotions, or are you simply acting like another one of those lifeless beings?" Lord Yuan's voice asks. He sounds extremely irritated, as he often does when talking to his fellow Seraph.

"Yuan, honestly, she's a robot!" Kratos exclaims. "She was made for this purpose! You knew the day would come eventually!"

"When Yggdrasill used the word 'robot', I expected it to be something even dimmer than those precious angels of his. This girl is a completely sentient being! It would be murder!"

"So what? It's not like we haven't murdered anyone to revive Martel in the past." Kratos comments calmly.

"And it's never gotten us anywhere! Don't you see? What we're doing is wrong." Yuan's voice sounds almost desperate. Desperate to make his friend understand his emotions. To make him see his pattern of thoughts. Yet to no avail.

"Yuan! Do you realize what you're saying? To speak such words is treason! Yggdrasill will-"

"It has to be said!" Yuan shouts. A banging sound echoes through the cathedral. Presumably, Yuan has slammed his hands onto one of the benches. "We were fools to follow him in the first place! He isn't the hero he used to be! We can't let things continue like this!"

A long silence follows. Finally, Kratos decides to speak once more. Though his words are hardly comforting. They sound weary. "You're a fool."

"One day, you are going to find that shred of humanity left inside you." Yuan growls in a low voice. "You are going to find it and when you do, you will realize that I was right. Then, you will regret that you didn't listen to me and perhaps, you will pray that you're not too late."

"… Tomorrow, Martel will awaken inside that automated vessel and everything will return to how it once was."

"You're deluding yourself, Kratos. Even if the transfer were to succeed, nothing would be as it once was."

"What do you mean by 'if'?" the auburn Seraph demands in a harsh voice.

"It's still only a ninety percent chance. There is no full guarantee this will work." Yuan speaks in a warning voice. Yet, in a way, he also sounds mildly amused. Why is that?

"Granted, the guarantee is not absolute. Your math skills, however, should be able to tell you that the chance is extremely high."

"Perhaps. We will wait and see what destiny has in store for us." Though I cannot see lord Yuan's face, I do not need to in order to estimate that he is smiling. Yet, I am uncertain what sort of smile it would be.

"You're a fool, Yuan." Kratos comments one last time. Then, there is the sound of footsteps, echoing off the walls.

I step aside just in time to avoid getting hit by the doors as they slam open. Lord Kratos does not even seem to notice me as he strides past in a swift pace. I watch him move down the steps, across the square and turn a corner, before entering the cathedral myself. As I approach the front benches, I see lord Yuan sitting there, his hands folded together and his head bowed low, as though in deep prayer. He does not even need to look up to know it is me.

"We meet here again." He whispers. "Such cruel irony, don't you think?"

To encounter one another in this place could truly be seen as irony. The Cathedral of Martel, a place in honor of the one whose soul I shall receive. Lord Yuan's fiancée. Even now, the painting that depicts Martel is displayed on the altar, her eyes looking down at both of us.

"Yes, my lord."

"I wish you luck for tomorrow." He says, fixing me with an almost soulful gaze.

With that, he pushes himself to his feet and heads for the exit. Even long after his footsteps have faded, I remain where I am, trying to process this strange turn of events. Not only had lord Yuan wished me luck for an event that he dreaded… But he had smiled encouragingly while doing so. He had smiled as though he was sure that everything would turn out alright. He had smiled… as if he knew something that I did not.