My home is where my heart lies

On the run

"I suspect your name is Akali?" David snapped his attention towards the teenager immediately.

"Yes ... that is correct," the raven-haired girl replied after a short pause, hesitant about how to approach the strange artificial construct.

"How thrilling," the construct responded. "Shall we begin the trials, then?" he questioned, apparently seeing this situation as a mere repetition of the past.

"What are the rules of this trial?" Akali inquired, eager to verify whether Mister Winsome had been honest with them.

"I will ask you five questions," the AI retorted swiftly as if pleased with the question. "Some of them might check your general knowledge, while the others may be much more personal. If you pass this verification, I will ask you for a sample of your blood."

"Has anyone made it that far?"

"No," David replied casually. If he had a form, it was probable he would shrug nonchalantly.

"Let's begin," the dark-haired teen said, making up her mind.

As ridiculous as the concept of these trials seemed, it made her uncomfortable by putting additional pressure on her. As if someone had descended the world's weight onto her shoulders, Akali struggled wordlessly, trying to keep this conflict within her consciousness's boundaries. However, how long it would last remained to be seen.

"Let's begin," she repeated, feeling her mouth drying up.

"Splendid," the AI construct commented.

"The time of the Elves is over; my people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we've gone?"

"Could you name the source of this quote?" David asked. "The more details you can provide, the better."

"You are asking for the context?"

"Atta girl," the AI commented, apparently pleased.

"Fine," the teenager retorted, pausing briefly. "The quote comes from the Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring screen adaptation. As a context ... these words are spoken by Elrond, the Half-elf and Lord of Rivendell, during his conversation with one of Istari, Gandalf the Grey. It took place before the council that would decide the Ring's future," she added, relatively content with her answer. "The meaning behind these words can be translated in a few ways. However, the most logical implies what will happen with Middle-Earth when the firstborns inevitably leave it. The Elves took a great responsibility upon themselves to be its guardians, yet with each year, more and more would sail into the distance to see Valinor. As the shadows of the Dark Lord once again clouded the skies, they were at their weakest, incapable of fulfilling their vows."

"It is a detailed and correct answer," David deemed immediately. "Would you like to dwell on this topic, or should we go straight to the next question?"

***

Evelynn kept all her thoughts to herself. Even though a part of her urged her to step forward and stop the trial. As a matter of fact, it was extremely difficult to pinpoint where this feeling came from. Perhaps she feared that the AI construct would inevitably reveal some unsettling pieces of information regarding the past of Winter's family. Or ... perhaps she felt like a victim of this story for the very first time since she had adopted the girl. The diva was no saint that much anyone could figure after first glance. No, as much as she wanted to come clean before her precious protégé, she simply could not. There were many pieces of her life that the dark-haired girl was hardly ready to face. Not to mention her greatest sin in the making, one that she deluded herself into believing that it was no sin at all.