Chapter 206: Overhaul (1/2)
”{So… while on this topic, am I wrong to ask why you could not just use this new ability of yours to fulfill wishes for yourself?}” Fray asked as Rakna headed to the Pavilion.
'I don't know why… but I find what you said very offending.'
”{Pardon?}” He said confused. ”{Is it really?}”
'Well, it seems… the Sage has given me more than an ability,' the therian said pensively. 'Deep down in my consciousness, I can feel something. Knowledge that I shouldn't have but that I cannot access either way without needing it.'
”{Interesting… What about my question then?}”
'Of course, it's a no-go. First of all, my power doesn't work on myself. And wishes, as you said, require prices. Even if I could ask others to make wishes for me, they would have to pay a tribute. But more importantly, a wish that is not genuine cannot be fulfilled by… well, me, but I would rather say the Crystal Sage's power.'
”{Hm,}” Fray mused. ”{How would you define a genuine wish, if I may ask?}”
'Real... Something that you truly wish for. Something that only belongs to yourself. In other words, it cannot be abused. Let's say I ask Flavia to make a wish that is beneficial to me, or rather for herself and the group as a whole. I know for a fact that she would do it without hesitation but no matter how willing she is to do it, it wouldn't be 'real'.'
”{But then, that child…}”
'The kid was as genuine as you can get,' Rakna retorted and stepped inside the Pavilion. He was spotted by the receptionist and passersby who immediately stiffened. He ignored them and went up the stairs to the private section as he continued to explain. 'Children are… for the lack of a better word, naïve beyond reason. But thanks to that, they grow by leaps and bounds. At that age, dreams and wishes come as they go. Do you know what is different about children compared to adults?'
”{What is it?}”
'They are sincere,' Rakna snorted. 'Their thoughts and actions are genuine at every turn. They are the only ones who I almost always granted a wis-' He abruptly stopped his thinking with wide eyes right when he entered the lounge.
Fray had obviously noticed why. ”{That YOU almost always granted?}” He said with a sharp tone.
Rakna paused for a moment before recovering. ”Doesn't matter,” he said out loud. ”Whatever the Sage did to implant these thoughts into me, I don't think it meant me harm. I guess it's a manner of my inheriting his powers.”
”{It is still slightly worrying but… I will concur with your gut instincts.}”
”At this point, the only question I have is about my Kzanaria,” Rakna continued as he entered the Gravity Chamber. ”And I mean the fact that although I gained a Title that supposedly allows me to grant wishes, I got nothing about awakening my Kzanaria.”
”{I would assume it to be a process. Perhaps this wish-granting is merely the first step?}”
”A piece of a greater result,” he concluded and Pronos jumped off his neck when he ordered Trii to increase the gravity to what he was currently used to train in. ”Regardless… that's something I will have to worry about in the future. I can't just go around and ask people for their wishes. It will probably happen on the fly at best, like today. It only works on specific people. I can't always just choose.”
”{If you say so.}”
”By the way, do you see any change to my soul sea?”
”{No… I am looking out the window at the moment. Nothing changed… much, at least. There is in fact a certain thing I've noticed. The raining petals are now, I would say, 95% black and 5% white in color.}”
Rakna scowled. ”Doesn't seem very indicative… it might turn out to be gradual. Either time-based or by the number of wishes I grant,” he said and shook his head. ”Let's stop thinking about it,” he continued and sat down on the ground. ”I have a lot of other stuff to sort already…”
”{Indeed.}”
”First… this,” he muttered and opened up the description of Eye of Symphony once again.
[Do you intend… to run the Overhaul, Rakna?] Alexa asked with a careful tone. She didn't know why, but she was a bit nervous about it. She was aware that this process would transform her Host into something closer to herself. It excited her… to a stage she didn't even realize.
”It depends,” Rakna replied honestly. ”I don't give a crap about being a robot, freak, or whatever else. If this can make me stronger, I will take it. I don't have much humanity left anyway. But before committing…” He paused.