what's in a corestone?

'By the authority of the kingdom of Asteria, I sentence you to death.'

It's a cool line, right? I workshopped that with Adma the day I heard Leoni escaped. I wanted something dramatic to say if I ever ran into this creep again, and Adma gave me her endorsement - this man was wanted, dead or alive. 

We're in the middle of a quiet village street, and the road is narrow. I weigh my options carefully. The Ignition Blade wouldn't work well on flesh and bone - I'd make a bloody mess but not do much damage per hit. And I certainly can't let off any explosions here. There's far too much risk of me destroying people's homes. A fire would spread uncontrollably here. Seems like, just like the last time I fought Leoni, good old-fashioned swordplay is the way to go. I beat him once, a year ago. I can beat him again.

Leoni withdraws his blade, a long, curved scimitar. 

"The Flamekeeper wouldn't take me back after I lost to you," he snarls. "Kill him or die trying. Those are your only choices."

He raises his other hand into the air. My eyes twitch when I see it. He's got another corestone, and its implanted into his hand!?

"Cralla Dem," he cackles. "Your brother is here, my beloved corestone, I can sense him. Yes. Our Nephilim prey, he has Exoran Holla with him."

As he says that, the corestone in his hand emits an incensed crimson pulse, and begins to vibrate violently. No way - did the corestone really react to his words? 

He points his hand at me - no, he allows his hand to stretch out to me. The corestone has a mind of its own. I'm convinced. A pulsing ray of energy shoots out of Leoni's hand, like black lightning. 

I dodge out of the way in time, and the blast hits the ground. Stone and earth blast into the air from the force of the attack. If I get hit by something like that, I don't stand a chance of getting out of here alive.

Leoni squeezes his fist shut. "Now, now, Cralla Dem. We don't want to attract that kind of attention right now. Worry not. You shall have your fun."

He begins to walk toward me, sword in hand. I get low, pointing my sword at him and readying myself to attack. "You talk to your corestone like it can understand you. What gives?"

Leoni just cackles to himself. "You don't know what's in a corestone, even carrying around one all this time?"

Leoni stops walking before he's in attack range, but he's close. From this distance I might even be able to use Explosion Magic, albeit carefully and on a small-scale.

"How stupid are you Nephilim, anyway? Ignorant creatures. Your powers are wasted on you."

"Then tell me. What are they? What's in them? You're gonna kill me anyway, right? What's the harm in telling me the truth?"

Leoni scoffs. "I bet I'd have liked you, kid, if I didn't have to kill you. Sure. I'll tell you. On the not-likely chance you're the one who makes it out of this alive, maybe you can teach your damned ignorant people something."

Leoni holds up his hand, revealing the corestone embedded within. It seems to have calmed down, at least for the moment. Is it listening to Leoni? Does it want me to learn the truth?

"This little guy," Leoni smirks as he flicks the glassy surface with his finger. "Used to be human."

I gasp. "What? How is that possible? I saw one freshly made, it didn't even have a name yet! It - "

Leoni smiles, showing off his disgusting, jagged teeth. "Ah, right. You were there when Lady Amaranda's corestone was stolen, weren't ya? See, Lady Amaranda was a noble Magician, and there was no way they were letting her unborn child go to waste..."

I step backward. No. That cannot be...

"You're wrong," I object. "Magicians, even dead ones, release mana. The corestone just -"

"Sure, a corestone can absorb mana. But only because it has a soul. A human soul - although I would love to find out if a Nephilim can be turned into one."

"Leave it to humans to develop such vile technology," I spit. "No wonder we've never heard of corestones on the moon. We'd rather not have magic than defile our own people for it."

Leoni cackles, moving his scarred head like an aging lizard. "One final question, Leoni. Where is the Flamekeeper?"

"You think I'd tell you something like that? What are you, a -"

He's not going to tell me anything. It's time to finish this.

"Five feet away from a Magician. You should know better, Leoni. Who could miss at this range?"

My eyes flash and I look directly at Leoni. He's all I can see. Fear apparent on his face. I've grown stronger since I fought him, and he has not - all he can do is rely on a corestone's power. I feel confident in using this technique. A burning flash that will vaporize the first thing I see when I open my eyes.

And my eyes lock onto my opponent. There is an intense sizzle of light and a low, grumbling boom that creeps over the entire valley. Where once was a man, now there is nothing but ash - and a faint glimmer of red in the ashes. That must be his corestone. What did he call it? Cralla Dem?

"Kieran would have noticed your sudden use of mana. I'll inform him that all is well."

I look over to Sola, who silently flutters away. She was confident I would win that battle. She didn't so much as offer a suggestion.

I pick up the corestone and hold it up to my eye. It doesn't seem violent anymore. "Sorry I don't know a lot about all this, Cralla Dem. But it sounds like you just want to see your brother again. Is that right?"

The gem flashes in my hand, a deep scarlet light coming from somewhere deep within. This isn't just someone's soul, is it? There are memories within. Love. 

I take the charcoal-grey corestone out of my pocket, Exoran Holla, and hold it in my other hand. "Do I need to do anything spec-"

Both corestones flash simultaneously in my hands - crimson from my left, and black light from my right. I look at them in wonder. They really...look happy to see each other, I guess. As happy as two jewels could look...

I stand there, playing third wheel to two rocks. Unsure of what to do because I have no idea how to talk to these things (if they even talk). 

"Do you need more time?"

The red light flashes twice in quick succession, agitatedly. I guess so. "Alright, but you brothers are going to have to catch up on my nightstand because I'm going to bed."