R. A. T. H

One

The harsh darkness of her storage box brought about the memory of her creation, once more. She could never forget the moment she became whole, and the moment she glanced to see a pale face looking back, beauty etched within darkness as her creator welcomed her into the world of the living.

Her core hummed silently within her. She thought she had been kept there for days now, maybe even weeks as her role had yet to be needed. Time to her was a meaningless concept, but a part of her—somewhere deeper than the humming of her core—tried to calculate it all the same. Ticking ever so needlessly in wait.

The sound of metal crashed, light wallowed and, when she came to, opening her eyes, she was met with a face that looked like her own. Although her expression remained unchanged, happiness flowed into her at that moment. This was her master. The image of a girl with a face exactly her own was long imprinted in her core.

"Wow—let's see. . ." The young girl spoke after a short gasp of wonder at her sight, "Please, step out."

As the command of the human ordered, her body moved on its own, and the homunculus found her bare feet stepping from the coldness of iron and onto a warm floor of wood. She stared at the counterpart she recognized as her master with a hidden anticipation. Black hair and emerald eyes. A person short for her age but beautiful nonetheless. The only difference they held was her own nakedness in contrast to the girl's fiery, red dress.

The expression of her master soured slightly. The white circle at the back of the girl's hand glowed.

"State your status."

The homunculus blinked her eyes. Information floated in her mind and she instinctively knew what needed to be done as her core's programming followed the girl's order.

"Noble Series, number three seven, product of the Silent Witch," She said, bowing her head then peeking back up, "All vitals are normal and at optimal conditions. There has been no damage to my core, and I am currently at seventy-five percent charge, master."

Her master shook her head.

"Not number three seven. Your creator asked that I call you Rose, and I think I'll abide by that much." The person walked around her figure. ". . .impressive, really. Both my overall look and expressions, when you try, were replicated perfectly. Tsk, even if I gave the measurements and data, that's still a bit scary, don't you think?"

Rose blinked her eyes. What was her master talking about? She tilted her head.

"Scary? How so?"

Her master placed a finger to her lips and hummed. "I suppose it's unnerving, don't you think? To realize there now exists something so similar to myself. Am I not a unique existence as a human? Was I replicated so easily? And, if so. . ."

The girl smiled, "Would the thing that became me be considered alive?"

The homunculus remained quiet. Part of her mind wandered at the thought of the word 'alive.' She knew what that meant. She did not know how to answer her master, however. Maybe she didn't think she was alive?

"Oh well, it needn't matter at the moment." A chuckle rang. With a huff, the girl took her hands to her lips and stood before the product, a gleaming smile upon her lips.

"Very well, Rose. My name is Idris Hunbrey, I am your master, though I am sure you must be well aware already." The girl waved the sigil on her right hand. "Now, follow me. Let's get you cleaned, changed, and charged with some manner of food—though I'm quite sure we will still need a Mana Orb right after the fact."

The homunculus did as she was told and followed after the girl. As she became used to her body, her mind momentarily wondered if it was even hers. She was, after all, a body double of the person named Idris Hunbrey.