>>5516308 >>5516368 >>5516392 >>5516527 >>5516529 >>5516606 >>5516666You don't want to go back to sleep. It scares you. You will mobilize what spiritual energy is left in order to draw attention.
A moment later, a cone of spiritual energy shoots forth from the ring, dissolving into the heavens above. The leaves nearby are scattered and the treetops shaken, an unfortunate looking avian crashing to the ground nearby. It is not what you are looking for, however. If there is intelligent life nearby, particularly life that can detect spiritual energy, then it should be coming. Hopefully.
It is scarcely a unit of time before you return to worrying. It can't be helped. When you were sent out, hope was distant, and your chances of surviving perhaps one in a billion. It is easy to throw your worries away when you feel that you're giving up your life. But with hope of a new life, hope of reviving your people close, you naturally ponder the what-ifs, how things can still go wrong.
But before long, you see something that alleviates your worries. Through the device's sensors, a bipedal creature can be seen approaching. It is roughly four antenna high, with a thin pelt of black hair densest around its cranium. Covering its torso and limbs are what appear to be manufactured garments. Uncommon among your people, but a sign of intellect regardless. Even more promising is a sharp tool you see fastened to its garments. It is shaped out of metal! Metal! Metalworking is a sign of not just intellect, but civilization! It is almost certain that this is intelligent life!
The creature approaches slowly, examining the area closely with its visual organs as it does so. A series of utterances can be detected from its cranium in the form of acoustic waves. Unlikely to be echolocation. Training suggests acoustic wave based communication. Eventually the creature passes near you. But you are too small, and it is unnoticing. You must draw attention once more.
You expend a small amount of your soul's energy to forcefully gather spiritual energy and send it out. The leaves near you are sent flying, and the creature's visual organs focus on you. It reaches out with one of its appendages. 「えぇ?何これ?指輪?」 You cannot decipher the creature's acoustic waves.
A great warmth can be felt as the creature's flesh rubs against your casing. Not of the literal kind, although you can detect temperature. No, the warmth of mind against mind, that you have not felt for so long. Through physical connection, a mental one can be formed, even if the creature lacks the ability to properly communicate. Instinctively, you share your feelings.
Joy. Overwhelming joy.
You are immediately dropped. The creature shows signs of fear. No no no no no no. You wish to tell the small creature that there is nothing to fear, but without a connection it is for naught. Instead, it just stands a mere step away, staring at you.
