Lysander: Wishfulness
I usually trust my sense of time, and five minutes have probably passed by now. I don’t know if Trent is going to get the job. He was looking forward to getting money to support himself, and it would be horrible if he can’t get it. He’s spent so much time getting prepared for this. He needs this to work out for him.
At the same time, I can definitely feel this distracting me from the duel. I can see Zephyr in a position to win, with the water attacks heading straight for my core. I don’t think my supports will be able to save me from this. Either way, if I’m not going to make it through this round, I should at least make sure Trent is going to make it through his interview. My heart’s desire is for society to become accessible for us by changing the hateful, ignorant hearts of those around us. If I spend my air essence now, what would happen? Would that wish extend to Trent getting the job? Either way, I’m going to do what I can for now. I spend the air essence to grant my wish.
Immediately, Zephyr aims their water attacks, having the attacks splash to either side of me. Did they miss? No, that can’t be right. My fire core was right in front of me. The water instead hits the plants, feeding them as they strengthen my core. At this rate, I will win… Is this the same opponent who I fought last round? I face Zephyr, and I realize something strange.
“I am very sorry,” Zephyr signs, “society has not been accepting to you or your tribe. I will let you have this match so that society can become more accepting of you. I hope we can give you a place in society now.” This is extremely odd. Did Zephyr have that much of a change of heart? I don’t understand. I look at them, and I notice their face. Their face is a vacant smile, devoid of any other facial expressions. More importantly, their eyes seem to be glowing. All of a sudden, the entire situation has become very eerie.
Before I can react to Zephyr, I feel a wing pat me on the back. It is Ashura, who signs to me. Ashura never spoke sign language before, do they suddenly know now? “You deserve this victory,” they reply, “and your clan deserves a space in society.” Ashura is also giving me an uncanny grin with an otherwise blank facial expression. In addition, the glowing eyes are present on them, too. I jolt backward.
After Ashura finishes congratulating me, they stagger back. Their face is moving more normally now, and their eyes are back to normal. Ashura’s beak starts moving, and I am assuming they are trying to talk to me. They turn to Zephyr instead, who is now also looking just as disoriented.
Zephyr turns to me. “What just happened,” they sign. I blink. What do I say? Was this my wish that I had granted that caused them to act like mindless servants? Is this what will happen to everyone around me and my friends if I grant my wish?
“I…”
Zephyr looks surprisingly content and happy as they chuckle. “Well, meeting you has truly opened my eyes,” they sign to me, “Here I thought I was in a position to be a teacher, but judging from your techniques and… whatever you did just now, I clearly have so much more to learn. I am not the ideal teacher for which I give myself credit. I resign from this duel.” Zephyr removes their core from the battlefield as I feel a third fire essence enter me.
“Thank you for being my opponent,” I reply, “and now I will prepare to make the wish.” Am I truly prepared for this, though? Is this going to turn everyone into mindless slaves, like before? I don’t think I have the luxury to take time thinking this over, though. My life has been leading up to this point. I grab my cane and prepare to etch the circle in the ground. However, something distracts me. I see a titanic dragon soaring through the sky, preparing to land. On his back, I see Cutlass and some other people who I do not recognize.
I squint to try to get a closer look, and I notice Cutlass frantically signing a message to me. “Wait,” they say, “We need to talk before you get your wish.”
Fine. I set down the stick. For your sake, Cutlass, I will wait.