The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 54: The Universe is Massive Don’t You Know?

Chapter 54: The Universe is Massive Don’t You Know?

One hundred and twenty hours of flying through space–it wasn’t the first time I had been suspended in space, but it was the first time I had been out this long.

The feeling was weird. Parts of my body tingled as I floated; honestly, the faster I moved, the better my body felt.

(“ Five days have passed, are you still having fun? ”) 

If you must know, yes.

I needed to enjoy myself, otherwise I would just be wallowing in my failure to return home immediately. 

I knew that there was little I could do. I know that. I had prepared to face immense numbers of Hood goons; I prepared to face a collection of wild and powerful items; I prepared to face multiple powerful individuals with wild and potentially fatal skills.

However, when the portal allowed some of them to jump over to Earth and endanger my family appeared… Deep inside, I felt my heart sink. I did expect one, maybe three people, would have some way to reach Earth, but the portal that tore apart the sky was on another level.

A part of me wanted to jump through, except if I did that, my fighting prowess would drop considerably and I would be further endangering everyone.

That was the first point when I felt the tides turning. I had confidence I’d live, but leaving unscathed was a different story.

Then the crimson beast emerged, and the commander's final resort to take both of us down occurred.

But even with my energy drained, I could’ve at least done something to be prepared for the suicidal teleport.

There were many things I couldn’t prevent that day, they were simply out of my control, but there were just as many things I could’ve prevented if I had done things better.

(“ Do you have any plans to dodge that asteroid field? ”) 

Espoiramissa asked, interrupting my thoughts, only curious if I would adjust my flight path.

Due to my state of just flying in space, I could see plenty ahead of time what was coming my way. There was a large asteroid field that I would collide with in about twenty-seven hours.

Not really, if anything, I hope I can find something useful within it.

(“ I doubt anything will come up, it seems to be a regular asteroid belt and not those ones filled with trash ”) 

How… Do you know those?

(“ I’m always paying attention you know, you passed by many on your way back home initially from me ”)

…Right.

I didn’t doubt Espr’s claim, but ever since I started to think about how Espr would even get a ship near me once they figured out where I was, I wondered how else they got their information and spread their influence.

Sigh, “Do you have an estimate of how long it will take for me to get back?”

(“ No idea ”)

“Thank you for your great help; even an unsure guess would’ve been fine.”

(“ Be thankful you're on this side of existence. Because you will make it back home to your family unless you belong fully to me in that time ”)

I ignored Espoiramissa's jab and focused on the first part of her statement.

You mentioned that before, are you sure you don’t mean the universe?

(“ No I was correct with what I said, but in a way, this side of existence does mean the universe ”)

Now you have just confused me.

I had no idea what Espoiramissa was talking about and honestly didn’t care for the time being.

I understood the universe was a large complicated beast, and that was what I needed to know. I knew enough, and maybe in my peace time I could learn more, but that was all a hypothetical future and for the time being, I didn’t need any extra information!

(“ You know what? I will enlighten you, this knowledge will be important when you work full time for me ”)

I swear I could feel Espoiramissa grin and laugh as it spoke.

In truth, I already knew a lot about the universe. Of course, I did; my favourite pastime was stargazing. But I had deep dread about whatever Espoiramissa was about to tell me, as if it was something humans weren’t supposed to know yet.

(“ So let’s start with the basics, the universe has existed numerous times ”)

What…

(“ Don’t be confused, just listen. Humans have thought about this before: The universe expands for an untold amount of years before it finally collapses in on itself and eventually the process repeats when the universe is born again”)

Sigh… So what does this have to do with ‘this side of existence’?

I gave up trying to fight and let Espoiramissa spew the knowledge out. There’s not much else to do while floating in space.

(“ Well I’m glad you're excited, well that has to do with the ‘will of existence’ which is an important topic that you're a little too young to know about. ”)

Thanks, that doesn’t make it any easier.

(“ I know, that’s why I’m only telling you that much on that part of the topic. But a question for you, would you call the universe infinite? As it goes through the process of continually growing and restarting? ”)

That's… an interesting question.

Espoiramissa was realistically asking me this question because it related to the topic at hand but I was at a loss at what to answer. Depending on how you look at it, one could say either, I thought.

I’m going to cheat and say it depends.

Espoiramissa’s voice loudened and laughed.

(“ But if you had to give an answer, even if every single spec of the old universe is used to create the new one, is it infinite? ”)

I had a feeling Espoiramissa wouldn’t let me go without a proper answer, but what was even the right answer?

If… I was to die… and my remains continued to become something else; that wouldn’t mean I would be around infinitely. My deceased specks of dust may be eternal, but I’m not around forever. So for the universe… it is not around infinitely because it can’t expand infinitely, and so the new universe is a separate entity.

(“ Such a perfect answer from someone so afraid of but understands death ”) 

Espoiramissa's words sounded kind as if consoling me.

(“ The question neither had a right or wrong answer, but the will of existence would have agreed with you if it had a sentient mind. So it split existence itself and each side became something completely different. One whose goal was to become the base that would last forever, and another became a new form of creation. Each side lacked what the other had, but neither could complete their goal if they started as one ”) 

Espoiramissa’s vagueness very much didn’t help me understand what they were talking about. I wasn’t completely lost, but this was a lot at once.

“We are on the side that was designed to last forever.”

(“ Correct, glad you were paying attention ”) 

Espoiramissa then went silent. I was confused, so I asked, Are… you done? 

(“ Yes ”) 

A simple answer.

Will you give any actual descriptors on what the hell the ‘will of existence’ is?

(“ No, it's best if you experience it yourself one day if you ever get the chance. Unless you want to give up now and give yourself to me, and I’ll tell you right away. ”)

Never.

With that, our conversation ended, and the revelations generously donated by Espoiramissa plagued my mind for a long time after. I knew they left out some key details, but I wasn’t going to get more answers out of Espoiramissa if they didn’t want to tell me.

Worse of all, I didn’t end up finding anything useful in the asteroid field.