The First Lie

As the runic lines danced around the lab like orbits around a moon, Arthur stared at the center of it all, where Ori was sitting in his chair with an overgrown messy hair, his hand dancing around a beating heart.

"The first step to creating life is to replicate it," muttered Oriole as he sensed Arthur's existence. "I've done it, Art. I created a functioning heart using runes only. This can save her at last."

Arthur stared at the lab, which had lines of light moving around it like snakes, as he realized that Oriole knew his real name. His eyes turned toward the heart, and he saw it beating with life. It filled him with nostalgia.

"I see that you are pursuing artificial life even in this timeline."

The words fell in the lab like meteors destroying the fabric of peace. As the runic lines began to shake, Oriole turned toward Arthur with shock.