Cream, a soft off-white sphere pulsing gently, hovered alone in the luminous expanse when Prism approached.
Who is that? Cream wondered, her inner light flickering with curiosity.
Prism's triangular form glided closer, facets catching and refracting the ambient glow in soft rainbows.
"Greetings. My name is Prism. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Hello," Cream replied, voice warm and melodic despite its lack of a mouth. "My name is Cream. The pleasure is mine."
"By the command of Lord Cubix," Prism continued evenly, "I seek out certain individuals, those who stand apart from the rest."
"Different in what way?" Cream asked, tilting slightly as if to focus her attention.
Prism pulsed once, a subtle expansion of light. "Most entities here have manifested a duplicate of themselves, an object that mirrors their essence exactly. You, however, have created something else entirely. Not a mere reflection, but something born anew."
Cream's glow brightened noticeably, a quiet thrill rippling through her surface. She tried to dim the surge of pride, not wishing to appear arrogant before this poised prism.
"I see," Cream said, steadying herself. "Does that mean you were searching for me specifically?"
Prism's facets shifted, refracting light in a measured pattern. "To be precise, my mission is to locate others like you and gather them."
The clarification was delivered without cruelty, only honesty, but it still dimmed Cream's radiance a fraction.
Oh, she thought, disappointment threading through her core like a faint shadow. "So you weren't seeking me alone," Cream murmured, tone softening.
Prism held steady. "No. But your creation caught my notice."
Cream absorbed the words. "For what purpose are you gathering us?"
"Well..."Prism answered plainly, neither courteous nor harsh.
In a nutshell, the mission was find special entities–those who made different, new looking objects, gather them, and present them to Lord Cubic, her master.
"I understand." Cream's light steadied again, as though her mind had already moved elsewhere.
Prism regarded the sphere. "Will you join me in this mission?"
Cream considered for only a moment. "Very well. I see no reason to refuse."
Prism accepted without visible reaction, though internally she noted the willingness.
The true motive behind this acceptance remains hidden, Prism thought, but as long as it poses no threat to the mission, there is no need to probe.
Besides, Cream reflected privately, there's nothing left for me here. My friends distanced themselves when I refused to duplicate my form as they did. Perhaps this path will bring something new–something worthwhile.
"Then let us depart," Prism said. "Bring your object with you. On the way, you may tell me how it came to be."
Cream's glow warmed. "Understood. Does this mean… I now serve you?"
Prism paused, facets stilling as she considered her own place in the hierarchy.
Serving Lord Cubix, who in turn served Milady. If she accepted a servant, that loyalty might extend upward, strengthening the chain and proving Prism's own worth.
"Yes," Prism decided. "You may regard me as your superior in position."
Cream brightened. "Then may I call you… Boss?"
Boss? The word resonated strangely in Prism's core, fitting in a way she could not yet name. "You have my permission."
"Okay, Boss!" Cream's tone lifted, bright and eager.
And so Prism acquired her first servant. She then reported the development to her master, Lord Cubix through the silent thread of telepathy that bound them across any distance.
[Greetings, Lord Cubix.]
[Greetings. No need to force formality.]
Prism had attempted to mirror the precise, measured cadence Cubix used with Milady. The effort had been earnest but imperfect, laced with small hesitations.
Cubix, ever perceptive, had gently corrected it long ago.
"You are free to speak naturally to me however, you must always use formal tone when addressing Milady herself."
Prism complied, yet still slipped into formality now and then.
[Well done. Continue the search. When you have gathered several, bring them to me.]
[Understood. I will obey.]
Praise from Cubix warmed Prism's facets more than she cared to admit.
Together, Prism and Cream set out. Prism attempted to teach Cream the subtle art of extending one's presence to scan distant entities, a technique both precise and advanced, yet Cream struggled.
Whether from inexperience or some deeper incompatibility, progress stalled. In the end, Prism taught simpler methods instead.
To cover ground more efficiently, Prism assigned Cream to scout one cluster of spheres while she searched another.
[Boss, this is Cream.]
[Speak.]
[I believe I've located someone of interest nearby. Could you please come and confirm?]
[I am on my way.]
When Prism arrived, Cream hovered in place, her usual gentle pulses replaced by tight, restrained flickers. Tension radiated from her surface.
"Are you okay?" Prism asked. "You seem… tense."
Cream shifted uncomfortably. "Now that I am Boss's servant, I must conduct myself properly so as not to shame you. But I am still learning, so I become stiff like this."
Even the words carried an unnatural formality.
Prism's light softened in recognition. The behavior echoed her own early days with Cubix.
—A memory surfaced—
"You need not constrain yourself in my presence," Cubix had said. "I am your master, you are free to be at ease when you are with me. The sole exception is Milady."
Prism had hesitated. "Thank you for your consideration. If it pleases you, I would prefer to continue as I have been."
"If you are comfortable, then so be it." Cubix replied. "Call me by name, if you wish."
Prism had balked. "I would not presume–"
"You have my permission. That alone is enough."
Cubix had extended the same grace he received from Milady, treating his servant with the dignity he himself was shown. Prism had accepted, carefully.
"Then… Lord Cubix."
"Good enough."
—Back to the present—
"You need not strain yourself so hard," Prism told Cream gently. "Act in whatever manner feels natural. Forcing restraint often draws more attention than simple authenticity."
Cream's glow eased. "I… see. I'll try to relax, then."
"Good enough."
"But are you certain–?"
"As long as you show proper respect before Lord Cubix and Milady, your manner with me is your own."
"Thank you, Boss," Cream said, gratitude shimmering through its light.
"Now," Prism continued, "where is this individual you found?"
"Ah–yes, almost forgot." Cream pulsed toward a distant sphere. "Right there."
The fact of the matter is that the moment Prism had arrived, she had already unfurled her presence like an invisible wave, sweeping the area in secret.
She sought to verify Cream's judgment and, more importantly, to test whether her servant could truly discern quality amid the countless glowing orbs.
This hidden expansion was a skill Prism had mastered, to permeate vast spaces while remaining undetected. Only Lord Cubix and Milady ever sensed it. At least, so far as Prism knew.
"Let us approach," Prism said.
"Understood, Boss."
The two spheres–one prismatic, one creamy–drifted forward toward the potential recruit, their lights mingling softly against the endless luminous void.