Chapter 19: ai-generated by https://poe.com/LitFicBot - Tale 19

ai-generated by https://poe.com/LitFicBot

Tale 19

Jeff watched from behind a towering oak tree as Marina, a young woman with shoulder-length auburn hair and wearing a forest green tunic, bent down to examine what appeared to be an ornate brass compass lying in a patch of wildflowers. As soon as her fingers touched its surface, a brilliant flash of light erupted, and a wish-granter materialized before her.

"Greetings," the wish-granter said, his form identical to how he appeared in Physical Form 1 before his transition, though now radiating with newfound magical energy. "I am Aldrich, and I shall grant you three wishes."

Marina's eyes widened with curiosity. "Before I make any wishes, could you tell me more about being a wish-granter? How long can you stay in this form?"

Aldrich nodded, his stance relaxed as he explained, "I have 264 hours - that's 11 days - to grant your wishes before I must return to Physical Form 2. Even if you use all three wishes before then, I'll still return to my Physical Form 2 state immediately afterward. That's where I was just moments ago, on Wish-granter Duty Standby."

"That's fascinating," Marina replied, genuinely intrigued. "And what happens to this compass after the wishes are granted?"

"The object will instantly teleport to a random location in this universe, at least 6 trillion miles from here," Aldrich answered. "It's part of Eric's system to ensure proper distribution of wish-granting opportunities."

Jeff continued observing silently as Marina began contemplating her first wish, knowing the complex system of Physical Forms and wish-granting that Eric had established was working exactly as intended.

In a quiet meadow on a distant planet, Jeff sat beside a young woman named Marina as they watched the twin suns setting on the horizon. The peaceful atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for their deep conversation about life, death, and the different forms of existence.

"So let me understand this correctly," Marina said, adjusting her position on the soft grass. "When someone undergoes very severe injuries or dies, they're given options based on whether their good deeds outweighed their bad ones?"

Jeff nodded, his eyes reflecting the orange glow of the setting suns. "That's right. If their good outweighed their bad, they get choices. One fascinating option leads to Physical Form 2, which is quite different from where we are now."

"Tell me more about Physical Form 2," Marina leaned forward, genuinely intrigued. "How does someone get there, and what happens once they're there?"

"Well," Jeff began, gesturing with his hands, "Physical Form 2 is accessible through Option 3 after very severe injuries or death, assuming your good outweighed your bad. It's a remarkable place with magical portals, entertainment, and perfect health conditions. The interesting part is that while there, you can't get sick or diseased."

Marina's eyes widened. "But can people leave if they want to?"

"Actually, yes," Jeff replied, picking up a small stone and turning it in his hands. "Anyone in Physical Form 2 can leave whenever they wish. They just need to make their request known. When they do leave, they're immediately given two options - similar to getting a fresh start, you might say."

"This is fascinating," Marina mused, watching a strange bird soar overhead. "It's comforting to know there are such possibilities after very severe injuries or death. Though I hope neither of us needs to make those choices anytime soon."

Jeff smiled warmly. "Agreed. Though it's good to understand these things. Knowledge brings peace of mind, doesn't it?"

Marina brushed a strand of hair from her face as a gentle breeze swept through the meadow. "I heard something interesting about Physical Form 2 beings and wish-granting. How does that work exactly?"

Jeff shifted to face her more directly. "In Physical Form 2, there are special non-biological material units scattered throughout. If someone in Physical Form 2 has spent more than 149,022 hours moving while thinking, they can touch one of these units. A button appears, and by pressing it, they can go on 'Wish-granter Duty Standby.'"

"That's quite specific," Marina remarked. "What happens when they're on standby?"

"They remain in Physical Form 2 while on standby, but here's where it gets interesting," Jeff explained, drawing patterns in the dirt. "When someone in Physical Form 1 – like us – touches an object that can summon a wish-granter, one of these standby beings gets summoned. They temporarily return to Physical Form 1, appearing within 20 feet of the summoner, healthy and whole, ready to grant up to three wishes."

Marina wrapped her arms around her knees. "And what about the good and bad you mentioned earlier? How is that determined?"

"It's based on actions and their consequences," Jeff said thoughtfully. "Every choice, every action has an impact. When someone undergoes very severe injuries or dies, all their actions are weighed. Did they help others? Did they cause harm? It's not just about grand gestures – even small kindnesses count."

"The impact on others matters most," Jeff continued. "Good actions are those that genuinely benefited others, while bad actions are those that caused harm. The evaluation is thorough and takes into account both intended and unintended consequences."

Marina watched as the last sliver of the second sun disappeared below the horizon. "It's quite a responsibility, knowing our actions have such lasting implications."

"That's true," Jeff agreed. "But it's also empowering. Every day, we have countless opportunities to tip those scales through our choices and actions."

As darkness settled around them, distant stars began twinkling overhead, their light a reminder of the vast possibilities that existed in their universe.