POV Miria
I returned to the lamp and relaxed. Inside here, it feels like I can express myself, even though I still have to follow the lamp's will. I spent some time imitating people and fictional characters; during my time in here, I like to test my voice. I can mimic many characters with higher-pitched voices, which is natural given my own voice, but I’ve also learned to imitate some that don't even sound like they use my vocal cords. After a while, I decided to sing while playing the piano. I’ve learned many things—well, the ones that were possible inside here, at least.
I also developed a few theories. Basically, whenever I feel intense anger, the lamp calms me down. I figured that if I accumulated too much hatred, it might be harmful to the artifact, which is why it forces me to relax. What would happen if I felt a rage so overwhelming that the lamp couldn't control me? I got my answer: I would change, and so would the lamp.
However, since that change would come through anger and hatred, just like in isekais, I would end up turning into a villain. Because of that, I decided I would never give in to anger inside here again, and I chose to accept my current situation. After reflecting for a while, I stepped away from the piano and went to the bed to rest. Simply running my hands through my hair helps ward off the boredom; it is incredibly soft.
Later on, I decided to stretch my body. Since I have plenty of time, I’ve learned more about the physical endurance of this body. I’d say that things that used to be fatal or impossible for me before are now entirely doable after my training. I decided to have some fun and did a great backflip—yes, I learned to do that over time. Right after, I chained two more flips and kept jumping around. Since this body overflows with energy, I do this from time to time, without caring about exhaustion at all.
Unlike other women, I noticed that I don't menstruate. This is due to the fact that I am no longer human; I'm just not entirely sure if I became a goddess or a powerful spirit. The book of magical beings says that genies of the lamp are powerful entities sealed to grant the wishes of mortals, but regardless of what I am, I'm at peace with it.
I was relaxing when, suddenly, I heard the sound of the lamp being rubbed again. I was completely caught off guard. Of course, I don't know exactly how much time has passed since I stopped counting the days to avoid anxiety, but regardless of that... wait, I’ve been summoned already? The first time took well over a century!
I was sucked out with the same sensation as always. Looking around, I saw an old man in mage robes, looking very much like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings. He seemed to be extremely wise. As I floated before him, preparing to recite my standard lines, the youth standing next to the wise man intervened, saying: "Do it just like we agreed."
Then, I delivered my monologue to the elder: "I am the powerful Genie of the lamp, Miria. Tell me your three wishes."
The mage then uttered his first wish: "I wish for all humans in the world to have a magic core, including the future generations yet to be born!"
I snapped my fingers. Fulfilling this request was a bit slower; it seemed to demand more energy due to the massive number of humans in the world. It would take a little time to spread completely. Right after, I asked: "What would be your second wish?"
The mage looked at the youth, who nodded, and continued: "I wish for a tower to rise in the middle of the desert containing all the knowledge the lamp can offer, including survival items, and for new books to magically appear whenever one is removed!"
I snapped my fingers again. From what I could see, nothing changed around us, but that was probably because we were far from the heart of the desert. It was almost certain that the structure had appeared there.
To confirm, the youth looked at a map and pointed out that the tower had indeed appeared on the marker. Wait a minute... wasn't that the very same map the merchant from the past had wished for?
Well, I went back to my automatic dialogue: "And what would be your last wish?"
The mage answered immediately, without needing to look at the youth: "I wish for you to cure my daughter's curse!"
I snapped my fingers one last time. Again, visually nothing happened there, but the elder's eyes widened, he let out a cry of pure happiness, and ran off immediately. My task fulfilled, I was pulled back into the interior of the lamp.
POV Leo Cromon
Right after he rubbed the lamp, I reminded him to follow the plan. We had agreed on two wishes for me and one for him. Since he isn't a light mage, he couldn't purify his daughter's curse on his own. Mages with affinities for light or dark elements are extremely rare in our world—they barely even exist. Since his only goal was to save his daughter, he gladly helped me achieve what I wanted in exchange for that miracle.
The Genie emerged and delivered her monologue. Last time, I didn't even get to hear it because I was in a state of panic and in a massive hurry. This time was completely different. We were in an empty room with no one else around, right in the middle of the capital. It was completely safe—unless, of course, the remnants of the Demon Lord's generals decided to show up. Many of them survived the war; most were killed or sealed, but the few who survived are precisely the strongest and most dangerous ones.
I watched the plan unfold exactly as we had orchestrated, making sure nothing went wrong. Then, after the royal mage Grendan made his own wish and dashed out in pure relief, I left the lamp with him. As a royal mage, Grendan has direct contact with the king. According to many informants, the king is the wisest man in the kingdom. With my part of the deal done, I headed straight to the newly created tower in the desert, where I intend to live and focus entirely on my research.