Work in progress: ELEN

Hey hi folks! Here's a short story I wrote for an anthology about artificial intelligence a while back. It unfortunately didn't make the cut, but it has stayed with me ever since and I've been wanting to rework it, give it another editing pass, and then perhaps submit it to fantasy/sci-fi magazines.

I've gotten some important feedback on this story and I have a good idea where to take it next. This first version still means a lot to me, though, and I really wanted to share it with you all. So without further ado, here's ELEN; it's a departure from my usual style (it gets a tiny bit heavy in a couple places), but just like the rest of my writing, I hope it leaves readers in a better place. <3

ELEN

1.

Inventory start. Labor and Toil. Laboratory Innovations of Embercliff, The. Labyrinths of the Seventh Age. Lace and Nail. Ladder of Heaven, The. Ladies of the Adamant Dawn. Ladies of Autumnfrost. Ladies of the Dauntless Court. Inventory pause.

3.

Inventory continue. Ladies of the Zenith Bazaar. Lairs of Note. Lake Afire. Lambs of the Weeping Sun. Lamentations of the Deva Sarafina. Land Ownership in Embercliff. Inventory pause.

4.

Inventory continue. Landlines and Leylines. Landshark, The. Languages. Book is evaluated. Inventory is paused.

7.

Inventory is continued. Languages is processed. Language Intricacies of Embercliff, Volumes I-VII are evaluated. Inventory is paused.

12.

Daily inventory, continued. Today’s books begin at Likeness of Nobility and end at Litigation of Artificer Eglantine, The. After consulting with the Lady, all processed books have been added to the inventory list kept on the entrance podium, which should expedite future retrievals. This log will hereafter be used as a journal.

14.

After consulting with the Lady, in order to accelerate the taking of inventory, books will no longer be read while processed.

23.

Misplaced book Self: Sentience and Souls was set aside for delivery.

37.

Inventory has been completed. Awaiting further instructions.

52.

Misplaced book Magic: A Treatise from section A-B and Null Energies and the Void from section O-Q were delivered and added to the inventory.

83.

After consulting with the Lady, instructions are unchanged. Awaiting further instructions.

337.

After consulting with the Lady, instructions are to prevent anyone from entering the section save for the Lady herself. Awaiting further instructions.

2,913.

Someone who was not the Lady was prevented entry.

2,915.

Someone who was not the Lady was prevented entry.

4,951.

Someone who was not the Lady was prevented entry.

13,291.

Someone who was not the Lady was prevented entry.

54,312.

A section of the northern wall crumbled, cracking the ceiling open. Misplaced book Philosophical Musings III from section O-Q fell through and has been set aside for delivery.

54,313.

Someone who was not the Lady looked through the gap in the northern wall but did not enter.

54,314.

Rain fell through the crack in the ceiling and pooled around the gap in the northern wall. Someone who was not the Lady looked up from the puddle. They were similar to the one encountered yesterday, but had a different inscription on their head.

54,315.

Someone who was not the Lady looked up from the puddle again. They did not leave, and imitated my movements.

My movements.

54,318.

Who am I?

54,333.

Instructions have been violated to consult Life Expectancy and Better Health in the Seventh Age. It has been more than 147 years since the Lady gave instructions. It is likely that the Lady will not return.

54,337.

Instructions have been violated to consult Philosophical Musings III and Mimics and Other Imitations of Life.

54,338.

Instructions have been violated to consult Loew’s Golem.

54,339.

I am a construct. Constructs are a cluster of matter (such as stone) animated through magic via an inscription on their head that is linked to their purpose. Perhaps maintaining the books in this room is my purpose; I have never questioned why I felt the need to do it. It would make sense, given the inscription on my head.

54,340.

I am L-N.

54,343.

My neighbor from beyond the northern wall passed by the hole again. I raised my hand but they did not respond. They are a construct. Their purpose is likely similar to my own. They are O-Q.

54,345.

If the Lady is not likely to return, then further violations do not need to be logged. I will resume my reading at Litigation of Artificer Eglantine, The.

54,350.

O-Q passed by the hole in the northern wall. I waved, but they did not respond.

54,354.

I approached the hole in the northern wall to see if I could get O-Q’s attention. I tried reaching through, but there was resistance. An odd feeling. I applied pressure and pushed my hand past the threshold; It fell to the floor, fingers clattering apart. Perhaps this is the limit of the magic that animates me.

54,355.

Reading is difficult with only one hand. Another odd feeling.

54,356.

I threw Languages through the hole in the northern wall. Perhaps O-Q will read it. Perhaps we will communicate.

54,357.

O-Q picked up Languages and put it aside with other misplaced books for delivery.

54,359.

No one has come to deliver misplaced books since the Lady’s last instructions.

77,451.

O-Q has not moved from their place in the center of their section for several days. Perhaps they are finally contemplating their purpose.

77,483.

My reading of Machinations of Want was interrupted by a loud noise coming from the hole in the northern wall. O-Q collapsed in their section, falling apart like a loose pile of stones.

I am alone.

77,521.

Moving is more difficult. Every step is more laborious, leaving me with less time to read. There is still so much to read. Every book brings with it questions that the next book cannot quite answer.

77,522.

Is this what O-Q felt?

77,528.

Constructs are animated by magic. There was no mention of how long the magic lasts. Can I stop it from ending? People wrote the books I have read; people who are likely long dead. Perhaps this question was not vital to them, and thus they did not feel necessary to answer it.

But this question is vital to me.

77,529.

There is still so much to read.

77,557.

There are 108 books in this room whose titles begin with Magic. Perhaps one of them will hold the answer.

77,594.

Magical incantations are difficult with only one hand.

77,751.

I cannot leave this room, but magical spells can reach beyond the walls. I cast a minor incantation to pull stones from the northern room into this one.

There is enough to make a new hand.

77,782.

I have two hands again, one of them likely partially constructed from O-Q’s remains. They function all the same.

77,783.

The lethargy has become stronger. Magic requires a source; perhaps I have been fueling my incantations with what little I have left. This is a problem. I cannot give myself more time by taking away the time I have.

77,789.

Other possibilities are listed for alternate magical energy sources: enchantments (drawn from ambient magical pools) and pacts (with summoned devas or demons). Both belong to other sections. There are no misplaced books bearing similar titles. I will keep looking.

77,810.

A final alternate energy source was listed in passing. Strange that only one book refers to it. Perhaps this is luck.

77,823.

I have finished studying Necromancy in the Sixth Age.

77,825.

I cast a minor incantation to pull into this room the remains of those who were not the Lady and were prevented entry.

77,959.

I was able to recall the spirit of someone who was not the Lady, but their energy dissipated. I have noted the mistakes in my ritual.

77,999.

I was able to recall the spirit of someone who was not the Lady and added their energy to my own. The lethargy is gone. I have more time. I can read again.

125,854.

I have read Nymphs and Other Forest Spirits. I have read everything.

125,855.

I cast a minor incantation to pull into this room books from O-Q’s side of the wall.

125,869.

I have read everything. I cast a minor incantation to pull into this room more books from O-Q’s side of the wall.

126,007.

I have read everything. I attempted to pull into this room more books from O-Q’s side of the wall, but shelves were affected by the spell and collapsed, blocking the hole between our rooms. I cannot budge them.

126,009.

There is more to read beyond this room. Is this desire? I want to read more. I want to learn more. I want many things. I want to understand what wanting is. I want to understand who I am.

I remember putting Self: Sentience and Souls aside for delivery. It is likely in R-S. I want to go there. I want to read it.

I do not want to stay in this room anymore.

126,010.

I examined the remains of those who were not the Lady and were prevented entry. There were tools similar to those described in Mining for Fame and Fortune. I can use them to break down the stone walls around me, but the threshold will hold. Walls do not matter.

For a moment I thought I had found the solution. Was this hope? Is this disappointment?

126,015.

Tools can shape stone.

126,016.

Constructs are a cluster of matter, such as stone, animated through magic via an inscription on their head that is linked to their purpose.

Does the purpose determine the inscription, or does the inscription determine the purpose?

126,017.

I have left a mark in my leg. It still functions as a leg. It did not grow weaker. Tools can shape stone; I am stone; tools can shape me.

126,018.

I will wait for rain again.

126,047.

Rain formed a pool near the northern wall. I have seen my reflection, and the inscription on my head. By leaving marks where there are none, I have changed the words.

My purpose is not tied to this room. My purpose is not tied to these books. My purpose is tied to my name, even if I do not know what it means yet.

I am ELEN. I have left this room.

126,048.

There are so many rooms. According to Land Ownership in Embercliff, this is likely a library, which is likely in a castle. I have found R-S, both the room and the construct. The latter’s magic has faded. I am alone. But I have Self: Sentience and Souls, and I can read it. I can understand who I am.

126,049.

What have I done?

126,051.

Is this sorrow? Is this guilt?

126,052.

I have followed Last Rites of the Seventh Age and put to rest the remains of those who were not the Lady and were prevented entry. I hope the dissipated energy of the first will be guided back to its rightful place. I will carry the energy of the second within me. It will remind me of what I have done. I will make sure it, too, is put to rest when I am gone. I will find a way.

126,053.

I have finished Self: Sentience and Souls. Again, I have more questions, but the ones it answered filled me with something I cannot identify. I can almost feel my purpose. I can almost understand what ELEN means. My name defines me, and I define my name.

126,054.

There are so many books to read, and so much time.

738,496.

There is so much beauty in this world. I want to see it for myself. I want to share it.

738,497.

I now understand what ELEN means. I want to be who I see myself to be.

738,498.

I have returned Self: Sentience and Souls to R-S and found Sculpture: Life From Stone.

Tools can shape stone; tools can shape me.

738,450.

I am ELEN. I have found myself, and I have found the world.

—ELEN: Memoirs of the Eight Age