Reality warped and shifted.

Rolynd found himself sitting at a polished wooden table with six seats, and a simple golden plate before each seat. A gilded blue cloth ran down the grand length of the table, laden beneath silver platters of lidded food. Several uniquely delicious scents leaked out.

The entire scene was well-lit beneath warm orange lights. The table itself seemed to be atop some squarish pyramid structure within a cavernous silver dome. Streams of blue, orange and purple lights decorated the pyramid, forming some powerful geometric arrangement that Rolynd lacked the mystical expertise to decipher.

At the head of the table was an empty seat. A throne wrought from the purest platinum, glittering with an effervescent sheen, unlike anything the man had ever seen before. Across from Rolynd was a familiar face. Empress Rex Lucina. She too seemed equally confused, and hostile. To Rolynd’s left was another familiar face. A fairy; Miretrix Lampleer, Lord of Tenebria Coronum. And across from the fairy was a young male elf that Rolynd had not seen before. His right hand clutched at his throat, feeling the skin in search of something. The seat at the foot of the table was occupied by an android with pointed ears, like an elf’s, her body wrought from perfect silver metal.

All five people seated at the table merely took in the unexpected sight.

“What’s happening?” Elwin asked, still clutching at his throat.

“Hush,” Blue commanded.

Golden light flashed once from the head of the table, fading away. A golden figure sat there, painless to behold.

“ADAM?” Lucina asked.

“Greetings, all of you.” The golden figure said. “Congratulations on proving the purity of your desires. Regrettably, I cannot show my true form to you in the flesh; for that would cause irreversible harm to you all. Instead, you shall have to be content with this avatar I have created. Before you all make your wishes, I invite you to share a meal with me.”

The atmosphere at the dining table was rather awkward. Lucina and Rolynd continued to stare with hateful passion into each other’s eyes, while Elwin cast fearful glances at Miretrix, who seemed uncomfortable in her own right.

But who could refuse ADAM’s invitation?

The lids covering the platters vanished, revealing all sorts of dishes. Gemstone Cherries, a delicacy of the Ardent Elves. Basaltic Oranges from the mountainous dwarven kingdom of Bauentum, Grilled Parrot Fish from Purple Queen’s Archipelago, and more...

Lucina even spotted an Incandestine dish, The Stars of Fortune. Light and fluffy pastries shaped into 4-pointed stars, covered in silver and gold film, encased in a delicate layer of translucent sweetener.

“Please, help yourselves,” ADAM said invitingly. The beautiful figure rested its elbows on the table, hands clasped together. Though his body language bespoke eagerness to observe, his face was utterly expressionless. Like an eerie mask.

Empress Lucina reached for a Star of Fortune. Rolynd followed suit, his hand flying forwards, his gaze never leaving his enemy’s eyes. The Bloodstone lifted the plate, moving it closer to The Empress.

“Please, you first.” He said.

Lucina smiled. Though perhaps it was more of a smirk, at her hated enemy’s cheeky disrespect. But, there was a part of her that genuinely respected Rolynd’s fearlessness.

“After you, I insist. You may think of it as noblesse oblige.” Replied the Empress.

Rolynd’s eyes narrowed in a leer. “Thank you.” He said, taking a star. He held it up to the light, admiring it. “It has been a long time since I’ve had the joy of eating these.”

The pastry made the most pleasant light crackling sound as Rolynd’s teeth broke the translucent layer around it. The star melted in his mouth, a slight saltiness accentuating its rich buttery sweetness.

Blue observed their interaction with significantly less intrigue than her master.

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Meanwhile, Elwin tried a Gemstone Cherry. The fruit had a mystical appearance, looking like someone had cut and polished a cherry from a single blood-red garnet. Splashes and tiny spots of light shone through its skin as light scattered and refracted along its crystalline structure. It was like looking at tiny baby stars amidst the backdrop of a red nebula.

Elwin wondered if his teeth would be able to bite into the cherry, given its stone-like appearance and associated apparent hardness. He gave it a try and found that its skin was quite weak and brittle, shattering into several chunks after some initial resistance. The insides were sweet light jelly, with a powerful, unique flavour that Elwin had never experienced before. His tongue tingled as the fruit’s juices were absorbed into the surface of his tongue. It was a very strange, but unexpectedly pleasant sensation. After ingesting it, Elwin’s body felt unusually invigorated, as if he’d just woken from the best sleep that he’d ever experienced.

Blue, who had little use for food, still partook. Her artificial body still had the capability to taste through chemical sensors, detect warmth through the thermoelectric effect, and measure texture through changes in force and displacement.

Miretrix could not bring herself to eat from the tempting smorgasbord before her. “What has become of my fellow Lords?” she asked.

All eyes turned to the dark fairy’s face, and then followed her gaze to ADAM’s avatar, which stared back expressionlessly.

“They are no longer with us,” ADAM said simply.

“What of Sophia and Effie?” Rolynd asked, sitting fully upright in his chair. Though Lucina did not betray her concern so obviously, her eyes stared unblinkingly at ADAM’s face, waiting for the Apolaphian Lord’s answer.

“They too failed their trials, but they are alive.”

Some tension appeared to leave Rolynd’s shoulders somewhat as he reclined slightly back into his seat.

“…Congratulations,” Blue said to Miretrix.

Miretrix shook her head. “I have no interest in leading the Coronum.”

“What are you interested in, then?” Blue asked the fairy in her usual curious manner.

“That would depend on what shape the world takes after you all make your wishes.”

Silence spread over the table like an invisible wave. Each of the aspirants looked around, re-evaluating each other, wondering what the other might wish for.

Elwin nervously paused. His mouth was comically agape, about to bite into another gemstone cherry.

“Ahem.” He said, breaking the awkward silence by clearing his throat. The elf put the cherry back down on his plate. “Do we perhaps… want to talk about it?” he asked nervously.

Miretrix redirected her gaze at ADAM, who made no indication of preference, merely continuing to observe. She returned her gaze to Elwin beside her. “I would like that.”

“You first, then,” Rolynd suggested, causing Miretrix’s eyes to narrow in mild annoyance at being ordered around.

“Fine,” Miretrix said, beginning to compose her words.

“Why is everyone so tense?” Elwin asked.

“Oh, poor innocent Elwin. The others are reluctant to voice their desires in fear of having them taken away.” Blue explained.

Lucina, Rolynd and Miretrix all reacted in some way to Blue’s words. She had struck a nerve.

“What do you mean?” Elwin asked.

It was Lucina who spoke up. “Theoretically, one could hold their wish for the very end, and wish for something that could undermine the effects of someone else’s wish.”

Elwin looked around, seeing the others in a new light. “Would you really do that?” he asked.

“Yes,” Rolynd answered.

“If you wish to make your wishes in secret, you can. But know that you are only seated at this table because you have been true to your desires. I do not expect to be surprised by a wish that contradicts what you have proven to me. You may even find that some of your wishes may be aligned in purpose.” ADAM warned.

A new atmosphere settled over the table. Rolynd seemed to fall into deep thought.

“In that case, I have no qualms about sharing my desires with you all.” Miretrix began, “Perhaps the combination of our wishes can be more powerful than their simple parts.”

“A wise suggestion,” Blue commended. “Though you should not expect much from me. My wish is all but decided.”

“That’s fine,” Miretrix answered. “I desire a form of justice; the end of cruelty driven by profiteering. It is what the Coronum thrives on, the source of all its evils. The source of its power. The source of all cruel powers like it.”

“Hmph. Nobler than I would expect of you,” Rolynd admitted.

“Circumstance has driven my life long enough. It is past time for me to decide what I do with it.” Miretrix said with conviction. “What about you, lady? I am curious to know what drives the heart of a woman who would threaten an entire world.” She asked of Lucina, who was idly regarding a Star of Fortune held delicately by the tips of her long fingers.

Empress Lucina stirred from her silence. She broke the star pastry in two with an audible snap.

“Justice. Justice for the sake of peace and stability,” the Empress answered.

“Starting a war for the sake of peace? Guess it's not a problem if it's not your home.” Blue muttered venomously. Though Miretrix would have liked to agree, she did not want to risk drawing the Empress’s animosity.

“It is a choice that must be made. If the choice is between two evils, it is my duty to pick the lesser one.” Lucina said, taking the smaller half of the broken star right into her mouth and biting into it.

“Call it whatever you want, evil is evil,” Blue told her.

“It’s funny that you mention justice, Rex Lucina. For I desire the very same thing.” Rolynd said, interrupting the flow of the conversation.

“Really? What does ‘justice’ mean to you, criminal?” Lucina turned to ask him with a ferocious glint in her eye.

Rolynd looked at ADAM, who finally reacted, meeting his gaze. Something seemed to be communicated between them. The very air seemed to grow thick with energy.