For ten seconds straight, there was no answer. Sean felt as if he was on edge even though he didn't understand why. Just as he was about to say something again, the voice answered.
"How does 'Lady of Wishes' sound, Sean?"
Yet another voice resounded in Sean's ears with no clear direction.
'Lady of Wishes? Sean? Wha—?'
Sean was clearly bewildered by the words he heard. His name had been spoken even though he had never introduced himself. He was sure she was reading his thoughts, but he couldn't bring himself to accept that reality.
"Hmm, you seem confused about how I know you. It's simply because I have read your memories."
Sean gulped at the statue's words. A person who could read memories, there were couple on earth with such abilities but it was extremely rare. He had so many memories he would rather not share—rather, all of his memories were better left unshared. Still, as he thought of them at her mention, he realized why he was here… and strangely, that calmed him down.
"How curious, your past is very interesting. Well, enough about you. I shall introduce myself from your own memories and language as best as I can. I am, or rather was, a queen of an empire. My title can be worded as 'Lady of Wishes,' but you may refer to me as Lady Wish."
The tone and emotion of the statue were clearly amused. Sean felt inwardly as if he had to respect her—his conscience screamed that she deserved his utmost respect, even though he didn't know her.
"Lady Wish, may I know why you are here?"
"I've been here for tens of thousands of years waiting… and I still am."
Her voice sounded nostalgic and sad.
"May I ask what it is you're waiting for?"
Sean was genuinely curious about this being—why she was in such a form, and why she hadn't crumbled over all these years.
"Hmm~~, should I tell you?"
Her voice slipped back into that teasing tone that made Sean feel like he was being played. She continued.
"That's not really important. What you should know is that I, the Lady of Wishes, was kept here for one purpose—something that wouldn't take a genius to guess. It is to grant people's wishes… in return for something equal."
Sean smiled awkwardly. The way she spoke sounded almost carefree, as if she were twisting his language to her liking. He understood that Lady Wish had most likely learned his language on the spot—it was impossible for it to be the same after all these years, and from a different world no less.
'My wish? I certainly know what that is… but what can I give in return is the problem.'
"Oh, don't worry. That's for me to decide."
'Oh right… she can read my thoughts.'
Sean remembered, feeling a little embarrassed. He was about to ask for death—a wish he had been chasing for a while. He knew achieving it was simple and needed no help, yet nothing of the sort had ever happened for him. He let go of unnecessary thoughts and decided to make his wish.
"Now now, don't worry about it. Just voice your wish, and the seal will open."
"Ahem… I am sorry. As you must already know, my wish is death—though I do not know what I must give in return."
Just as Sean voiced his desire, the ground shook, sending tremors across the forest. He felt them—trees falling, roars of monsters, the cries of leaves—and unexpectedly, the laughter of the Lady of Wishes.
"FINALLY, AFTER AN ETERNITY… I AM FREE!"
"!? Lady Wish?"
Lady Wish continued to laugh. Her voice was like a melody, as refined as the finest singing—no, even better than the ASMR videos Sean had once listened to out of curiosity. Sean quickly cleared away that weird thought.
"Apologies, Sean. You asked me what I was waiting for all these years, didn't you?"
"Yes?"
"Well… imagine what a person would want after being trapped for thousands of years. The answer is, of course, freedom—which, in my case, can only be gifted by… death!"
Sean was confused. He had asked for his death. So why was she celebrating her own?
'Wait, no… no way…'
Sean suddenly realized what was happening.
"Yes, you understand now. You asked for death… but you didn't specify whose."
"WAIT—SO WHAT DO I GIVE IN RETURN?!"
Sean had no idea. He knew it was fine since he could just suicide again. But he had to give something in return and death had different meanings and values for everyone. As he scrambled through possibilities, Lady Wish answered in a matter-of-factly voice.
"That, of course, is life. The death you want so much shall be mine, and in return… you shall receive what your life lacks."
Sean's spine turned cold. He stepped back, nearly tripping over the dead wolf.
"A-and what's that?"
Though Sean couldn't see Lady Wish, he felt as if she were smiling down at him.
"Will. The will to live. You shall now be prohibited from performing any act that deliberately harms your life."
"NO—!"
"Enjoy the beautiful life you get… while you still can. I, Lady of Wishes, grant your wish."
Sean felt like screaming his disagreement, but his consciousness faded before he could.
"Such potential, such blood, such a past… You think I would ignore those memories? Let us meet again—in the future, where I am the past. Farewell…"
And with those words, Sean fell asleep, oblivious to what happened to the storm… to his life… and to the Lady of Wishes.