The Core (6)

In many myths, humans discover genies living in inanimate objects like bottles or oil lamps. If a human disturbs the artifact, the genie within will be released.

Genies become servants to humans who free them from their vessels, and they use their immense magical powers to grant the wishes of whoever they perceive as their masters.

However, the genies are not like how humans expect them to be.

Genies are supernatural creatures who lose their physical bodies for some reason. They live inside an inanimate object to preserve their soul from expiring. Once it is disturbed, it doesn't mean that they are freed from being locked inside the object. They will just willingly go out of it to prey on whoever it may be.

The humans will be unaware that they are being preyed upon, but the three wishes granted to them are simply a requirement for the genie to take over the human body as its own, and the original soul will vanish into nothingness.

At first, Aileen and the Genie's relationship was like that too, but the genie became attached to Aileen, and he changed his mind about taking over Aileen's body.

Unfortunately, the contract was done, he had already granted her wishes years ago, and her soul is not the same as the other humans, so if a priest purifies her, she will surely perish.

"Wolf! You too! Aren't you scared to get purified? " The deformed genie escaped the hand of Randell, who is showing off his claws.

"He is fine. How about you? You circle around me as if you're not scared. "

Nida stepped forward and gestured to Randell to hide his claws because she was wary that others may have seen him.

"I am fine! I am not a dark creature!" the genie answered.

"You're taking someone else's body, but you're not evil."

Nida doesn't get how the law of nature works.

"Guard your vessel instead of talking to us here. So tell her the truth so that she won't meet an unexpected death. " Randell advised

"I can't do that! She will be angry with me! "

"Is that even my problem?" Nida indifferently stated as she walked out of the meeting room.

The Genie has a lot of things to say but Nida was uninterested that convinces the genie that he doesn't have to worry about Aileen getting purified.

"A-are you done talking?" her coworkers cautiously asked while the others stopped whatever they were doing and looked at her.

"Everyone," she loudly called out, then she wore her usual business smile. "Sir Lobo already explained everything to me. There is no need to apologize to me. I understand. "

She meant it. She doesn't want to take so much hassle in reconciliation.

"But we really need to make it up to you." Her manager stood outside his cubicle and walked toward her.

"No need, sir. Let's work together without a heavy heart. Help me clear out the rumors instead. "

Everyone looked up to her with admiration and, one by one, talked to her and personally sent their apologies and excuses.

The now invisible genie and Randell just watched this scene.

"You have to be thankful that this was solved easily." Randell said to the invisible genie.

"Yes, I am thankful, sir." The voice of the genie still sounds anxious as he cautiously said his next sentence. "Aileen is at the door now. Please make sure she won't contact the priestess. "

Randell didn't respond, and just let out a long sigh.

He walked towards the door to welcome the vessel, Aileen.

"Ah!" Aileen was surprised because suddenly he went out the door before she could turn the doorknob.

"Sir Lobo, How's the field? " She greeted him awkwardly.

"Genie grants three wishes in exchange for a human body. Your body is his now. Also, Nida is a priestess. You will die if you touch her. Ask your genie for more details. " Randell said, apathetically.

"WOLF! What are you doing? " The genie became furious and was about to attack Randell, but he paused once he sensed that Nida was approaching them. He then used the wind to carry Aileen, and they ran away.

"Wow, that's too cold." Nida commented as she peeked out the door to watch the genie storming out of the hallway with Aileen.

"You heard?" 

"My hearing is enhanced with my power."

"Ah." Randell responded shortly and turned back inside the office. 

"You should have mind your own business. Its obvious that the Genie cares for Ms. Aileen. " 

Randell stopped walking but didn't face Nida. He clenched his fist and his expression darkened.

"No. Ms. Aileen was his prey. There's no other reason why he is hiding the truth. "

Nida tilted her head. "Is that how you see it?"

"Yes."

"Hmm. The way I see it, the Genie kept this secret to protect her and their relationship. "

"No. Keeping secrets is more dangerous."

"How come?"

"Things won't be complicated and nothing will go wrong if both parties involved are well informed. Keeping a secret is a selfish act; it is not to protect. " 

Randell knows how it feels to be kept a secret. He knows how that type of secret could harm someone. He knows that nothing will be kept safe with secrets.

He knew it perfectly well that his old self flashed into his memory.

"Okay?" She answered back, clueless as to why Randell was suddenly worked up.

She just returned to her seat and resumed her piled-up work. Even though some of it was already taken back by her other workmates who were reconciling, her work was still in a pile and seemed to have no end.

Hours passed and it was already 7 o'clock in the evening. 

Randell and Nida were the only ones left at the office.

Click, click, Click.

Only the sound of keyboard tapping serves as the background music for their overtime work.

Randell is helping her with her encoding, though he has been silent since their last conversation about the Genie.

Nida noticed that he was in a bad mood, but she shrugged it off and didn't put her nose to his issue.

"There's no end to this! I give up! "she shouted as she threw two folders on the floor, which she instantly picked up again. "ha-ha-ha Just kidding. "

She's been compiling papers and arranging folders so that the alphabet song in her head plays on repeat.

Finally, "Aren't you getting hungry?" he asked.

[I bet his breath will be really bad now,] she commented internally.

"I'm hungry. Let's just eat cup noodles or fast food. We still need to pick up your things and my things at my apartment."

They need to pick up changing clothes for them to stay at Daniel's house. Nida decides on her own that they will be sleeping there.

She won't be comfortable to stay another night at Randell's unit.

"Okay."

The two stood up after shutting off their computers, but the lights suddenly flickered on and off.

"What's wrong with the lights?" she nonchalantly asked while packing her things to go home.

"Nida." 

"What?"

Randell moved closer to her as he made a stance to defend as he briefly mentioned who came to them.

"The Genie"

"Tsk. He might be angry." Nida clicked her tongue as she already expected that the Genie would be angry about what Randell did.

Swwissshhh

With no windows open, the wind lightly surrounded the room.

To be fully prepared for whatever the genie would do to attack, Randell partially transformed into his wolf while he hid Nida on his back.

His golden eyes became brighter as he growled with his fangs.

His human ears disappeared, then his wolf's furry ears came out putruding, and his arms are now covered with fur while he shows off his claws.

Nida watched this sudden transformation too closely, which made her shudder in fear again.

She subconsciously took a step back as she hugged herself, trembling. 

Her body remembers the same event that happened ten years ago. 

She watched as Randell transformed again into his fearful self.

Nida feared the wolf in front of her more than the invincible genie trying to harm her as well.

[No need to fear! I now wield power!]

She shook her head, convincing herself that she didn't need to fear anymore.

Clueless, Randell was too focused on locating the Genie to notice Nida's reaction now that the lights were completely shut off from too much flickering.

Once the office became completely dark, an invisible punch landed on Randell and Nida.

"Nida!" he shouted as he could not get away from the continuing attack and decided to wrap her in his arms, making him receive all the blows.

He could not fight properly since he couldn't release his aura into this place because it would surely destroy the place and he didn't know if there were still people working on the other floor of the building. 

"Fuck." 

He heard Nida cursing inside his arms, but he never let go of her as he strengthened his muscles and gritted his teeth.

He could feel Nida's body trembling in fear, but he thought this was because of the attacker genie.

"I worked an hour just to alphabetize that," she said as she finally looked up at him. Her body still trembled, but he could see the annoyance in her expression. 

"What?" he asked, as he didn't know what she was talking about.

"The papers are all flying out!" At the same time, silver dust flew out of her body, brightening up the place. The entire room was filled with silver dust that made Randell feel like he was drowning in it.

He didn't want to let go of her, but he couldn't help but flail, his body being drowned by the sudden surge of silver dust.

His werewolf transformation has dispersed and he is struggling with his human body.

  "blrghsrhgrhe,"

He tried to open his mouth to say "be careful" but silver dust got into it.

Snap!

In an instant, the silver dust dissapeared as he gasped for air and felt like throwing up.

He looked around to see where Nida had gone.

"FUCK," 

he heard her curse again.

Nida is crouching in front of some scattered papers on the floor.

"I fucking work for this shit!" she grumbled while looking up at the ceiling. If you want to fight, do it outside!

"Is the genie there?" Randell asked while also looking up the ceiling, assuming that the genie was there. 

"You're angry with that wolf, right? Then attack him alone! Asshole! " Nida started to pick up the papers to rearrange them again.

The genie remains silent as he stares at Nida.

"She's right! Let's fight only the two of us! "

Without any adieu, the genie brought out Randell with teleportation magic, leaving Nida alone in the messy office.

"Stupid! Don't Leave Me Here! " She stood up and panicked by the sudden disappearance of Randell.

"I CANNOT BE SEPARATED FROM HIM!"

Seconds later, her fingers started to fade, turning transparent.

"SHIIIIIIIIIIT!" She runs out of the office and starts looking for the two.

"I AM DOOMED!"