301. About power, 4

(Rose)

I'm holding in my hand a soft fruit, so soft it almost feels moist to the touch. It's not.

The size and shape of a large avocado, but feeling too ripe, with the softest skin. More like a plush.

Colourless or dark grey, but with the uncanny aptitude to make everything in a football radius around it appear hazy and a little prismatic. Just holding it, my hand looks like it's covered with liquid diamonds.

I'm covering it up with a piece of cloth. After three layers, the weird optical effect surrounding it begins to fade.

They're looking at me, bewildered. I owe them some explanation.

R - That's the crystallised power of them. It's rare because most of the time it's ethereal, like ether truly. Sometimes they concentrate it until it gets a physical form, either as a wilful part of their metabolism, or as a decaying process after they die. It's a brute form of their energy that seems like magic.

B - And what can we do with it?

R - It's the power of a djinn we hold Bleue... So... Can you guess?

She thinks ever so seriously about it. And she figures it out.

B - A wish stone... It can grant a wish?

R - Yes.

B - Any wish at all?

R - Hm... Very pragmatically speaking, if it requires an equal or lower amount of the energy it holds to be fulfilled, then I believe yes. Something like that. I'm unfortunately still am undergraduate myself in that field of natural philosophy.

Bleue holds the precious package, thinking a lot and fast I can tell.

B - So it's the kind of thing you used before to defeat monsters. Casting spells.

R - Yes... But because it's raw power, it also tends to attract them, so... It's a double edged sword you could say. It's good to have it, and good to hide it.

Bleue looks upward toward me but can't really see me, her mind still in deep reflection.

B - What do you think we should do with it?

R - I see it as a last resort tool. We should just keep it for a very rainy day, when a desperate situation arises. I'm unable to judge the extent or quality of its power by any mean, but I'd expect it to be able to cure any kind of wound we would have, even severed limbs. And also, I think it could be turned into strong enough fire or light to destroy a monster that would attack us...

I pause, remembering, as she must be as well, the fight of the second Licht.

Magic power can do dreadful wonders.

R - I... don't think it would be wise for us to try absorbing that power for more typical wishes...

B - Typical?

R - Becoming stronger, faster, able to fly or to throw fire and spells at will around.

B - You're thinking of Licht, aren't you?

R - ...

I guess she wasn't. But I sure was. I'm worried.

Because she was a Rose like me in many ways.

~

Bleue did witness first hand as well what kind of things could be done with this kind of power, from close.

And I forgot about it, but Licht and her had discussed things like that in the past. She taught a little Bleue about these kinds of knowledge as well.

B - You both called it light or fire.

R - The light from god... Well, that was Licht... But as you can see, this kind of artefact can be found in beings-like-her of that weird magnitude, as well as in giant flower growths elsewhere. It's rare, but not uncommon anymore. It shows this new energy or water is spread over the world now. And it certainly is hazardous for us to use unwisely.

B - Well. We're not Licht. So there's no chance that either of us would wish for anything similar to what she did, right? Only wishing for fire and light to burn some enemies.

I probably make a sad smile.

I sincerely hope so.

~

Is this stone like a weapon in a way? No.

Licht was right in calling it fire, even though it could be akin to promethean fire.

More than a weapon, which it can become, it's a versatile tool like fire. It can cook food, warm bodies, create light in the night, protect, build new materials and so on. Fire is essential to knowledge and technology.

And yes, it can also destroy everything around without control, only driven by its own hunger like a demon, ending up consuming its creator and everything else around them. It can do that as well. We all learn it as children, that fire has to be used with caution.

These condensed powers that take root on the other side, or new essence of reality, they are like that fire through these artefacts. They are the same opportunities mixed with dangers as fire was in the dawn of history.

Every flame you lit is a mischievous djinn pretending to behave. They can grant your wishes, seemingly freely. But beware what you wish for and what gap to trick you are left to them, as you may end up learning painfully, very painfully, where their reality truly lies.

It's realising the consequences and costs of that wish you thought of, against what it really can mean and imply in reality. What you understood and foresaw can be so limited, that mistakes with fire are learnt a very hard way.

In tales, wishing not to feel pain ever again could just mean your death, or being turned into a statue.

This wish stone is real. I've seen a few already. I know a little what they can hold and release. Even if I've only scratched the surface of their potential, I have a guess at its width, and drawbacks.

R - I think each and every time I've seen these artefacts being used, it involved death...

B - I guess that's why you look moderately happy to have found this thing. I can see it troubles you more than it reassures you, to know we have this wish stone with us now.

R - You're right... Such power, of course it's appealing, and my first instinct was to secure it for us. But now... Yes, I'm feeling anxious, knowing we carry something extremely powerful we know quite little about, and that makes it dangerous. I know it could also be a magnet to monsters if used unwisely.

B - Then... isn't it obvious what we should do?

R - Throwing it away? You're probably right...

B - No, silly. It's to waste it with a useless and harmless wish. That way we can for instance make flower and grass spread, and no one else can use it after.

R - A harmless wish... It's not a bad idea. But let's carefully think about it before we do anything reckless, alright?

B - Hm, I'll try. Well, I'll attempt to try.

I hold my swears and poke her tummy instead as she laughs.

You little devil...

~

B - There was one stupid thing I wished for one day to happen, if it could. Do you remember what it was?

R - No... You're worrying me now. What truly is behind this evil smile you wear?

B - Oh well... We'll see. If we can't find anything better, I think I'll keep that option in mind. And if so I'll keep it as a surprise for you.

R - Why can't I help but worry? You're more of a threat to my heart than a daiûa...

That was a little mean, but we laugh it off as we keep teasing each other.

I'm happy we're in agreement over the idea to discard this power.

We're not at war. Monsters are rare.

We don't need power like that anymore.

With us being together as we currently are, we have both of us our dearest wish alive and granted already.

Power may be potential. But for now, comfort is nice too.

~