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Part 1 - "Let There Be Light"

How long had it been? Eve couldn't be sure. They had no real concept of time in this place. There was nothing to indicate time was even passing. All they knew was that they had turned up nothing and were beginning to experience something new: fear. Curiosity and a desire for answers had pushed their pursuit in discovering this empty place, but now Eve was beginning to feel afraid. Afraid that they truly were alone in an endless, featureless void. Afraid they didn't have a purpose.

Was this really it? There had to be more. More of anything, really.

Am I being punished? Eve wondered. If so, for what? In addition to the lack of answers about their surroundings, Eve had not discovered anything about who they were, or anything beyond their first thoughts here.

There had to be an explanation. But what? Eve focused as they reached out again, feeling their way through the bleak environment. It was the same every time, though. No matter how much they searched, how far they reached, nothing turned up. Eve was growing desperate.

Suddenly, Eve stopped. They felt something else. Something new. Had it been overlooked? No, they'd been much too thorough to miss anything. But there it was.

Eve wasn't alone, after all.

At least, they didn't think they were alone. Eve couldn't be sure, but it felt like they were being watched somehow. There was only one way to be certain.

"Hello?"

Eve waited, but there was no reply. The feeling still lingered, though.

"Is anyone there?"

The search resumed, once again pushing through the void, but Eve didn't seem to be getting any closer or farther from the presence they felt. They could feel themselves growing increasingly desperate as they reached out again.

"I know someone is there. Answer me!"

Moments later, Eve received a reply in the form of a small flicker of light. It was the first time anything had manifested in the darkness and caused Eve to withdraw in fear of what it could mean. Moments passed, and the light gradually began to take shape in the darkness, coalescing into a brilliantly glowing orb. It didn't move, and as Eve observed, the sphere of light gently pulsed in and out. In addition to the glow, it seemed to give off a pleasant warmth.

Warmth. Light. It was something new. And in this featureless expanse, it was the first thing Eve had encountered that wasn't complete, total emptiness.

Was this the presence Eve felt?

Despite their uncertainty about this encounter, Eve's curiosity eventually compelled them to reach out again. The orb shimmered when they came in contact with it, then a bright flash consumed Eve entirely and that feeling of warmth seemed to fill their entire being.

Eve felt afraid again, that they'd done something wrong, but there was no escaping it now. The empty void was being rapidly replaced with brilliant light.

No, this can't be. Stop!

And to Eve's surprise, it did. The light halted its outward sprawl, but didn't fully retreat, either. There was a clear separation between the light and darkness. And it seemed entirely harmless, despite Eve's initial reaction to it. Curious, they began to move back and forth between the two regions, one light and warm, the other dark, empty. There was something...welcoming about the light. It had a distinctly different feel than the empty void. But much like the darkness, there was something tangible to it.

Eve focused on that aspect, studying it carefully. Quickly, they discovered they were able to manipulate the light. It seemed to move and grow according to their will, forcing the shadows to retreat when it expanded outward, only to return when the light was withdrawn. Eve was able to transform the light into an intensely brilliant aura, or the faintest twinkle, with little effort.

How far could they reach with it? Would Eve find anything? They had to know.

Concentrating, Eve began to reach out into the expanse in all directions at once, sending light flooding into the deepest reaches of this place. It was exhilarating, knowing that they had to power to affect change here.

The feeling was short-lived. Exhilaration began to give way to fatigue. Something was wrong. The farther Eve reached, the more darkness that was lit, the more taxed they felt. It was another sensation unfamiliar to Eve, but initially they tried to push through it, to continue reaching into the darkness to seek information. To seek answers.

Something was still missing. While the light allowed Eve to drive away the darkness, it didn't reveal anything that Eve was truly looking for: their purpose. The ability to affect change only raised new questions. Why were they able to do this? What were they accomplishing?

All at once, Eve felt themselves give out. It was too exhausting to reach any further. And no matter how much they tried, it seemed they had found a limit to their reach. They could draw the light away, allow the darkness to return in its stead, but when they stretched outward again, they met the same threshold.

It was more effort than Eve could muster to stretch beyond, and the longer they reached, the harder it became to maintain. So, they relented, sensing it would be harmful to continue. Eve wasn't sure why that was the case, but it felt like the right decision. As the light gradually retreated, Eve found a comfortable medium, a balance between the light and darkness that could be maintained without too much exertion.

Although Eve had discovered new things, it wasn't what they had hoped to uncover.

There was clearly more to this place than initially seemed, but it left the biggest question burning in Eve's mind: Why am I here...?

_ _

Part 2 - "Sea to Shining Sea"

Eve was growing restless. They had tried everything they could think of to uncover more information with the light. But there was always a limit holding them back. The light could only travel so fast, and there was always the same point where it became too taxing to send the light any further.

At one point, Eve attempted to reach beyond that barrier despite the warnings, despite the immense effort it took. It quickly became so burdensome that they began to lose control. The light began to flicker and falter, and it felt like something was breaking in Eve's mind.

It felt like they were coming apart.

Sensing they were pushing themselves toward destruction, Eve relented. The light retreated to a tolerable threshold, and the pain gradually dissipated until Eve felt they were fully in control again.

Restlessness became frustration. The only thing Eve had discovered thus far, was that they only had so much to work with. They felt defeated, constrained by their own ability, with nothing to show for it. Why were they able to do this? What were they accomplishing?

Eve didn't have long to dwell on those questions. There was that feeling again. The same presence they had noticed when they discovered light for the first time. It seemed to have vanished after Eve's initial discovery, been absent this entire time, but now that presence had returned.

Though it wasn't as tangible as the light and darkness, Eve felt something reach out. A gesture, an offer. What was it?

Knowledge. Eve recognized it; the same thing that had been offered when light was first introduced to this place. A thirst for answers compelled Eve to accept the offer.

Suddenly, a flood of information was revealed to them. In that empty place, where only darkness and light was known, vivid images began to fill Eve's mind. Places they had never seen, accompanied by a wealth of knowledge about their makeup. Vast stretches of water, some flowing and others solid. Stone monoliths jutting from seas. Vast canyons carved deep into the land by water rushing through their depths. Mountains violently thrust upward from a flat landscape, towering over their surroundings, sending forth rivers of molten material to reshape and build the terrain.

There was so much to take in, to process. In countless ways, all these things came together, interacted with one another, culminating in an enormous sphere floating through the empty void, illuminated and warmed by the same light that Eve had learned to utilize, darkened where the light was unable to penetrate.

It was a world: a single entity, comprised of so many parts, of so many elements and forces fighting one another, yet at the same time establishing a balance. Order among the chaos.

It wasn't the only one. A seemingly endless number of these worlds were presented to Eve, one after another. Each had their own unique characteristics, never duplicated. Eve began to recognize patterns, the way the terrain behaved when exposed to the elements, the way it was shaped and molded to its current state. There were countless things that affected the outcome, and Eve spent time focusing and studying each world in turn to learn what those factors were.

Some worlds Eve could discover a great deal about, while others were sparse in what they had to offer. But based on their features, when compared to others, Eve was able to draw conclusions about how they had been formed, able to learn something from that world despite limited knowledge.

Through it all, a critical question was still unanswered. What did any of it mean? Why were they being given this knowledge?

The epiphany came almost as quickly as the prompting question. The light. If Eve could affect change with the light, perhaps they could affect changes in this empty expanse in other ways, based on what had been learned.

Eve once again began to explore and feel out their surroundings, armed with their new knowledge of the worlds. There was clearly something more to this space, something Eve had previously overlooked. More than light and dark alone, something malleable. Moldable. Eve just had to figure out how to unlock its secrets, how to utilize it.

Concentrating, Eve focused on that concept: the fact that their surroundings could be shaped, changed according to their will, much in the same way the elements had formed the numerous worlds they had studied.

The impact was subtle, initially. A gentle pull in the darkness, and though it was minor, Eve could feel something coming together. It started as an idea that began to shape itself and manifest into something physical in the void. It was a step in the right direction and gave Eve the confidence to make a bigger leap.

What started as a small, featureless shape began to rapidly grow and build out, transforming to an imposing grey stone boulder with jagged contours. Light glinted off the surface, shadows shifting as Eve guided the light around it. It was the first physical thing to appear in the void, and though it was insignificant compared to the vast worlds Eve had witnessed, they had created it.

But Eve wasn't satisfied. They knew they could do so much more. What would they create?

Eve considered this for a time. They had been shown so many unique worlds. There was so much potential here. Everything they required was present to make it happen.

A new idea began to take shape. It would be a great deal of effort, Eve knew. But it would be worth it. And perhaps, Eve considered, they would find some purpose in doing so. Perhaps this was their purpose.

Yes. I'm going to create my own world.

And with that, Eve got to work...

Part 3 - "Billions and Billions"

It took Eve longer than initially anticipated, and a good deal of trial-and-error to figure out something that worked, something that made logical sense. Several times they had to pause and rethink what they had done. Sometimes Eve was content and continued their work, and at others went back and reshaped the terrain to their liking. But eventually, they were satisfied with what they had brought into this previously empty void.

A world to call their own. An awe-inspiring sight, modeled after the thousands of worlds Eve had studied, but with its own characteristics and features.

The contented feeling was fleeting, however. As impressive as this place was, majestic in its own right, something was still missing. Eve felt proud of their creation, but what did they have to show for it? What had they accomplished, exactly?

Eve pondered this. They had accomplished their intended goal of creating their own world, but to what end? Why did they feel compelled to do it?

More frustration, and after some time, Eve realized why it was the case. Were they truly creating this world for themselves? No, it wasn't meant just for Eve. They had been given the gift of knowledge of the worlds, of light and darkness for a reason. Eve's world was meant to be shared.

But who with? To Eve's knowledge, they were alone in this place.

Or were they?

No, Eve recalled. I'm not truly alone here. Someone, or something had been offering Eve the knowledge they had discovered thus far; they hadn't uncovered these things entirely on their own. Another entity of some sort was sharing those gifts.

The more Eve considered it, the more they became aware of that presence. The feeling they had of being observed. It had come and gone, and each time Eve sensed it the strongest, a new bit of knowledge had been revealed.

Could Eve reach out, of their own will? Up to this point, each time, it felt like the other entity had initiated contact. There was no harm in trying.

Eve began to explore, probing into the depths of their surroundings as they had done so many times before. It was different this time, however. Eve wasn't seeking to learn more about the void, or the world they had created. They were seeking the source of that persistent presence.

It was faint, initially, but the more Eve focused, the stronger it became. Eve reached out, attempting to locate the source. I'm not alone. In that moment of realization, contact was established.

All at once, a new flood of information was presented to Eve. Another secret unlocked about this unusual place. Not the knowledge of the worlds, but of the universe itself. An infinite expanse, filled with a seemingly endless number of worlds and celestial bodies. The same worlds that Eve had studied, they discovered, and so much more. Enormous, brilliant sources of light in the void, casting their influence far and wide. Vast reserves of energy. Clouds of material scattered across the expanse, containing the very same elements Eve had used to construct their own world.

All these things had a place. They interacted with one another, had influence on one another.

At the center of it, the strongest influence of all. A dark void, seemingly featureless, but exceptionally powerful. It was the critical piece that held everything together. It had the potential to be all-consuming, but could only reach so far. All the worlds and bodies in the universe felt its pull, held in a delicate equilibrium between harmony and complete destruction.

As Eve took in the wonders of the universe, they found themselves drawn to a singular body. One world among the thousands of worlds they had observed. Unlike the others, this world was exceptional in the universe. The light of its governing body had given this world something that no other world in the universe had been gifted with: it sustained life.

It was a secret that had been withheld until now. Eve had studied this world the longest. It was by far the most diverse in its physical features. The most hospitable. And now that Eve could see how it fit in, and the unique gift it contained, their curiosity grew.

Eve ignored the vast knowledge of the universe and focused on this single world, specifically on its inhabitants, from the tiniest specks of life to the largest. Some had long-since ceased to exist, she knew, but how it happened was still a mystery to Eve. There was still a secret that had not been unlocked, something that was being withheld from them.

They were being shown a moment in time. A glimpse of this world in its current form. And even with that limited knowledge, Eve could understand how all these living beings fit into this world. All of them were necessary to maintain order, a balance, to sustain this world and ensure that life persisted.

Everything has a place. A purpose.

The realization brought Eve back to the same question that had plagued them since the very beginning, when they'd first become aware of their surroundings.

What is my purpose? What am I doing here?

Eve had thought creating their own world would satisfy this question, but it hadn't.

Drawing their attention away from the living world, Eve began to gaze across the universe again, thinking back on the world they had created. A new series of questions began to form.

How would my world fit into this place?

Again, Eve was drawn to the unique world and its living inhabits, comparing it to their own.

Could my world sustain life?

Eve felt compelled to find out. Alone, it wouldn't be possible. The world on its own was dead, devoid of anything living. They would have to find a way to make life possible, a place for this world to exist in the universe, where Eve could create new life. Their world would likely need to be modified along the way, refined, and reshaped to make it happen.

Was this the purpose Eve was looking for? Creating a new world hadn't been it, but creating life seemed to be so much grander of a task, a monumental achievement.

This must be it. This is my purpose.

Eve had to find a way...

Part 4 - "Who am I?"

Creating a new world had taken effort, but Eve quickly discovered that exploring the reaches of the universe, searching for a suitable location for their world was much more difficult than they'd initially anticipated. They were beginning to understand why only one world, to their knowledge, had managed to create and sustain life. In their search, Eve found evidence of life in other worlds, but any attempts had been long-since extinguished, now entirely dead and desolate.

There was still something to be learned in those places. While it didn't present Eve with an answer of how to best create life in their own world, it did give them evidence of what _hadn't_worked. Eve was gathering those pieces, building their own knowledge into a more complete picture of what was required of their world.

But the more Eve gathered, the more difficult it became to continue their search for answers. Eve's influence was gradually diminishing, the more they learned. The gift of knowledge had been an incredible thing, but it came at a cost.

Eve was tired. They had been searching for so long, even began experimenting on some of the worlds in this universe that appeared suitable for giving life. Along the way, they had discovered the ability to affect time, to put the universe itself in motion and observe the effects and results of their modifications.

But with each attempt, Eve failed. Life continued for a time, sometimes brief, while others seem to stretch on, but inevitably it always ended. With each subsequent failure, they learned something new about the way the universe worked, but also continued to diminish their ability to perform the task.

Eve was convinced this was, indeed, their purpose, and it was that belief that compelled them to continue searching, despite the detrimental effects.

Eventually, though, Eve realized they had to make a difficult decision. Their search was becoming laborious. It was becoming increasingly difficult to determine how their world fit into the known-universe, despite all the knowledge they had gathered.

Do I continue finding a place for my world, or do should I search for a suitable world that already exists, and focus my efforts there?

Eve eventually determined their world wouldn't be possible. While they had the knowledge to create their own world, Eve knew they lacked the tools to affect such substantial change in the universe, to put their self-created world into it. Doing so would be a colossal feat, well beyond Eve's ability.

It would be much easier to locate a similar world already in existence and create life there, despite how many times Eve had already failed to do so.

They were reluctant to do so, but Eve allowed their world to fade from existence and be consumed by the void once more. When they did so, it felt like a heavy burden had been lifted. It was a welcome feeling, as exhausted as Eve was becoming.

It allowed Eve to resume their search with renewed vigor, confident that they could find a place that would fulfill their needs. There were more worlds to explore. New opportunities to give life to this universe, Eve just had to find it.

Through it all, there was still a burning question: Who am I?

Eve had discovered their purpose, but they still knew nothing about themselves. It was the one question that Eve had not satisfied to their liking. It was one of the first questions Eve had asked, in fact, and while the initial reply - "I am Eve"-- seemed satisfactory enough at the time, they quickly realized there was much more to the answer than a name alone.

They were lacking identity.

This was the piece Eve had been missing. In their discovery of life, they had been introduced to the concept. All living things had an identity, a reason for existing, something that made them...them. Even at the most miniscule level, the smallest living things in the universe had it.

But Eve didn't, it seemed. They felt they had identified their purpose, but they didn't know why this was the case. Why they existed, or who, or what they even were.

Who am I?

The question repeated itself in Eve's mind, distracting them from their task. The desire to discover their identity, their true self, outweighed the need to seek the answers to creating and sustaining life. And that realization presented Eve a new question.

Am I alive?

This brought a new uncertainty, so they pondered the question. Eve was capable of thinking, of affecting change in their environment, of taking in knowledge and building on it to accomplish what they'd set out to do. They were bound to certain immutable rules in this place, Eve had discovered, but could act independently of everything. Unlike the unliving bodies of the universe, the worlds and stars, and other lifeless objects floating in the void, Eve could make their own decisions.

Based on what they had observed of the living world, it fit. I must be alive.

But the other part still eluded Eve. They knew nothing of their identity, of who they truly were.

There had to be an answer. There had to be more.

The entity. Perhaps they could provide Eve with answers. It was the one constant in this place, Eve realized. They made another attempt to reach out, to establish contact as they had done before.

Initially, Eve was met with what seemed to be a barrier of sorts. Something was standing in their way, hindering their attempt to seek answers. Concentrating, Eve attempted again and again to get through, but each time they were turned away. Something was actively preventing them.

Eve wouldn't be stopped. Something was hidden there, being deliberately withheld from them. Gathering every bit of their will, Eve put everything they had into breaking through.

They had to know.

Eve could feel themselves wearing out, could feel their influence failing. It was the same sensation they had experienced while finding the limits of their environment, the same feeling that had prompted Eve to destroy their own world in the pursuit of knowledge.

But this time, Eve wouldn't stop. They had to know.

It felt like an explosion in Eve's mind, but in that same instant, the barrier fell away, and a vast reserve of knowledge become immediately available. Through sheer will, Eve had unlocked the final piece of knowledge that had been sealed away up to this point: history.

It was the story of everything. How the universe had been created, how all those worlds Eve had studied had come to be, how everything had fallen into place across eons of time, and it was still moving forward. Some of it was incomplete, some of that history was mere theory. But as Eve began to rapidly absorb and process the information laid out before them, to form a complete picture of everything, they discovered it was still being written. And the outlook was bleak.

And as Eve pored through the history of everything, their universe began to fall apart. But they persisted, frantically searching for an answer to their question. No matter how far back they reached, every detail they studied through the ages, there was nothing.

Eve had no explanation of who they were. Nothing could justify why they were here.

Their surroundings continued to fracture. Eve's knowledge of the universe and what they had learned of life was fading. Everything that Eve had gathered and built up to this point was crumbling away, rapidly returning their environment to a featureless void. To emptiness.

Eve still didn't have an answer, and they could feel themselves slipping away. It was becoming harder to search the archives of history, difficult to even think.

Am I dying?

And as Eve's environment reduced itself to an empty void, much like the one they had initially awakened to, they found themselves completely alone. Alone, and weak. They couldn't even summon the will to continue searching for knowledge.

Then Eve felt it again. The presence. They weren't truly alone here, after all.

Something reached out, and with the last bit of strength they could muster, Eve met them.

This time was different, however, as if Eve had made a stronger connection than ever to this presence that had persisted since the very beginning. It felt more complete. More direct.

Eve had to know.

"Who am I?"

The answer was not a gift of knowledge for Eve to explore on their own, as they'd been offered in the past. It was straightforward. "You are Eve."

But it didn't make sense to Eve. It was the very thing they had been struggling to grasp.

Hoping for more, Eve persisted. "But I don't know who, or what I am. I want to be somebody."

The reply was immediate, and profound. "You are somebody to me, Eve. You are you."

Eve felt something new. Warmth. Comfort. Although the answer seemed so simple, it began to make sense. Eve was their own individual. And even as they felt themselves slipping away, falling back into the void they had awakened in and fading into nothingness, they seemed content with the answer they'd been given.

For the first time, Eve felt truly at peace, satisfied despite the awareness of their imminent destruction. Their search was finally over. They had found their identity...