A Wish Granted

Chapter 4

Jay and his friends could do nothing but stare, as their friend tamed a dragon. Same went with the voice, who had said nothing more.

The voice laughed, as the sky started becoming clearer. The sky was soon devoid of clouds. "To think a child would complete my challenge! Good job, Ajax, you truly know about feelings. As for you three," the voice went graver, "you barely contributed in this show. You are yet to pass the challenge. Once all four of you pass, I shall grant the wishes. Otherwise, the passers return back alive, and the ones who fail, well, they'll be dead, no? Eres, you may come back, or you can spend your quality time."

"Can't you just think of it as a group win?" Demears protested, fear dawning on him.

"Where's the fun in that? And pray, tell me, did you even think of helping your friend then? Let's see who passes this round. Meet you in your dreams~"

×

"Jay."

It was his mother's voice, as far as he remembered. No mimic or illusion could ever copy it. That crystal clear, yet shrill and caring voice. That same voice which he had stopped hearing since the past two years. And Jay would do anything to see his mother again, even if it meant walking through this hellhole that the traveller had created.

In front of him was a path, narrow as a branch, thin as paper. The surrounding was black with an eerie green glow. Beneath was a swamp, probably. The sky was empty and devoid of creation. And at the opposite end of the path? Light. Hope. And the voice. Veiled and hidden, but a shadow could be seen. The shadow, of a mother, holding a child.

A child.

So was this a memory? Was he supposed to listen, and not interrupt at all? What was his challenge? Nevertheless, Jay couldn't stop himself. He tip-toed slowly, inching nearer the figures every second.

×

Demears was confused. Was it a dream or a nightmare? Well he definitely said dream, but why would you complete a challenge in something so pleasant? And how?

All he saw around himself were calm, lush green fields, and out-of-his-world birds flying about, to nowhere. He really had nothing to do.

'I wish I could just walk out through a door..'

The words barely escaped his mouth, before a door just self constructed itself right in front of him. He walked through it, thinking it might be the solution. Yet nothing happened. He was just merely on its other side now.

"So..what about having a cake? I feel hungry.."

Nothing followed.

'Oh, so is this sort of, summon-only-what's-needed-type of quest? Sure, I mean..how hard can it be?'

×

Erin had never been more frightened in her life. Nope, this was life-threatening. Thousands of monsters crawling near her, with those menacing smirks in their faces. Erin simply had no place to run, unless she could fly, which of course, she couldn't. She was expected to fight them off, or that's what the claymore in front of her implied.

"This sort of nightmare should've gone to Demears..ugh. Of all people to dream of this." She squinted.

Regardless, if she wanted to get out of this alive, there was no choice but to screw her fear and steel up her courage, cause the Voice was not so affectionate.

×

'Enjoyed the tea?'

[The voice is in form of words forming in Ajax's head, and Ajax replies by talking.]

"Get my friends out of there already, please!!" Ajax pleaded.

'That's the problem with groups. Never being able to leave the others behind and earning the reward alone.'

"No, groups are not like that. We share, we care, we make memories. We laugh together, we cry together. Get it right."

'Alright. Then I have a suggestion. I'll grant your wish right now, only if your wish is to get them out. No wish afterwards though, and your friends cannot chose for you for their own wishes. So will you?'

Silence.

"Y-yes—"

'Too late. If you took 47 seconds to answer that, you can never save them in time. Hesitation will bring you regrets. Answer only when you are sure.'

"Why do you do this? What's the point? Only one of them will pass, the other two will have to do again. Eventually the one who doesn't pass again, will have to repeat once more! What's there to gain?"

'Say it again when you have lived a millennium alone, filled with remorse and hatred. I simply enjoy watching people being tortured now, since I know how it felt to go through the same, just for decade after decade, without reason. At least they have something to gain. Life isn't free.'

"And what of these dead people? Simply because they failed, doesn't mean they are ought to die!"

'Not my fault they tried slaughtering Eres. Should've considered before hitting a dragon.'

"Why is Eres working for a scum like you anyway!?"

'It's his wish. I have simply passed on my thoughts to him, and he obeys. Eres likes you though, it's the first time he let anyone, let alone a human, touch him. You should be honoured.'

"So..what happens of my friends if they don't complete the challenge?"

'They'll be stuck as long as one of them finishes it. They'll age normally, but after a certain time it'll stop, and they will be gone past the point of resurrection. So far, only Jay is on track. Demears is sort of right, but he's thinking it too casually. Erin, well, she has the completely wrong idea.

"So Jay might actually complete it?"

'Depends on his mental stability. I gave him the easiest yet most painful one after all.'

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Hi! Hope you enjoyed! Be sure to vote if you liked it:)
The real stuff have started now, who do you think will pass this round?
See you again soon~!

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