"You want me to WHAT?!"
"Debate theology."
"No, not that. The other thing."
"With my brother?"
"Yes. That. He's dead."
"No, I keep telling you. He's that dragon."
"That dragon isn't real, sweetie."
I hold up a newspaper. He grabs it.
*shrepth*
image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/152.png]
I know what it says.
'Mystery creature spotted at Marietta Hospital!'
I eye the photo of my brother on the front page. He's standing near the foot of my hospital bed as I lay unconscious. Apparently, it's the only photo. Everyone else was too out of sorts to use their camera phone, though most of them had their cell phones on them. The photo was doubted at first— until they got the hospital's CCTV.
I would've expected there'd be news about the latest AI-generated hoax, but apparently this hospital uses cryptographically-protected CCTV cameras.
While I'm not sure how that all works, I read that dropping an AI video onto those cameras would've required a lot of effort. So, the news ran with it. I appreciate their candor since my brother is, in fact, real.
My identity was leaked not long after when I tried to cash the rubies he gave me. The hospital didn't expose me, but apparently the owner of the gem shop was at the hospital that night. He'd nicked his elbow while grinding a gemstone late in the evening.
He excitedly asked me in front of several other customers if I'd gotten these from 'the dragon.' According to him, they were the most brilliant gems he'd ever seen. Apparently, they also aren't rubies. They're some kind of composite gem.
He asked if I wanted an explanation— I said 'no.'
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When cut, they shine like the sun itself even under moderate light. Not obnoxiously, though. Its a diffuse and self-contained brilliance. I was awed watching the gem come to life on the cutter's grindstone.
My brother's always been like that. Anything to do with dragons and he goes the extra mile.
I glance out the front window of my condo.
Reporters. They've packed into my yard several rows deep.
I suppose my brother is indeed big news.
Kalai puts down the paper.
"Wait, is this why they kicked me out of psych?"
"Yes."
"So it's a shared delusion!"
"No."
"How would you know?"
"The photo and CCTV."
I lean and point.
"And he ruined our sofa."
He stares at the sofa for a moment.
"Well, tell him to fix it. I'm not fixing it."
"Nobody said you had to; ask him to fix it when he comes."
"He's coming HERE? Why?!"
"He's my brother. You're gonna debate him."
"He's a frigging hallucination dragon!"
"Dragon, but not a hallucination."
He throws his hands into the air.
"Augh! Fine!"
"Really?"
"Yes, if I MUST debate a figment of our deranged imaginations, then I will."
"In front of the media."
"Why the hell—"
"Seeing it on the national news might make you a little less recalcitrant, my sweets."
"No way will that happen. They'll run a story about the newest loony bin— our city. The looniest loon? Myself."
Hun, they already validated the first story.
"All the more reason you should want to do it. Proof, right?"
"Fine. But I'm not waiting all day."
I hear my brother's otherworldly voice.
"You won't have to, Kalai. I'm here."
"Agh!"
He tries to punch Chronovoid, but his fist is stopped by a transparent shield.
Good. I thought my husband might end up like the sofa.
He yells.
"You, your color changed!"
"Reah, turns out the Deification Token you guys had completed the set. I got way stronger."
"What does that even mean?"
"I'mma fate dragon! Raaaawrr! Cool, right?"
My husband drops his head, then shakes it in his hands.
"Why does this keep getting crazier. Why."
I decide to talk to my brother while Kalai has his latest mental breakdown.
"Those gems you gave me weren't rubies, Chronovoid. I thought you said dragons didn't lie?"
"Rah, they are rubies... Mostly. They're a mix of ruby and diamond. The idea was to utilize the internal shine of a diamond alongside the classy but demure brilliance of a ruby."
"A dragon knows a lot about gems. Why am I not surprised?"
He materializes a huge cut orange gem from thin air. It shines with a ferocious radiance. Yet, the glow isn't too bright or glaring, exactly like his 'rubies.'
The gem almost looks like it contains magic. Actually, knowing him, it probably does.
"I can also create my own gems— I call this Parizelite. Par excellence, iz for the elite. Sorry, I'm not great with names. For you."
He hands me the gem, but the rock's unexpected weight causes my hand to drop.
Huh?! It's the size of my fist!
"Holy shit. Are you trying to get your sister mugged and killed?!"
"Fate dragon. They'll trip on a rock and break a leg at least. You can make it into a crown or something. I'll give you precious metals if—"
Hubby waves his arm in front of us.
"Okay, okay. Enough. Let's do this debate thing."
I smile lightly as Chronovoid replies.
"Gladly, Kalai."