"So what you're saying is during the time I was a God, my divine light formed a crystal and if someone ever touched it, they'd gain powers?" A lot had happened since I fell asleep.
Let's go back a few hours....
"What happened to Nathaniel? Is he okay?!" Sheri looked down, lying on the floor was a body encapsulated in a cocoon of light.
The divine power of a God had completely transformed him and his entire physiology forcing him into a state of metamorphosis.
"He seems fine, but I'm more worried about this crystal." Floating above him was an ever changing crystal that flowed like a liquid yet had a solid form.
It was beautiful and rich with dense magical energy. Elements of all kinds were condensed into one singular form absorbing all sorts of energy along the way.
The crystal itself was neither made of magic nor divine power, it was formed naturally out of extreme discharges of pure energy compressed by a force greater than the heavens itself.
It surpassed all boundaries and laws, it was a mysterious object that was above all laws and was incomprehensible to most intelligent beings.
"What is it anyway?" Eliza felt something attracting her towards it, she couldn't help but succumb to the magnetic force. A single touch of it had caused her yell out in what seems to be excitement.
Her yells of ecstasy echoed throughout the shop after she was done she fell asleep. Something strange had happened to her.
The others tried their best to not touch it directly but they all ended up the same way. In the end it was left out so Nathaniel could deal with it.
Three hours later those that succumbed to the strange crystal awoke and many strange things had happened.
Since Eliza fell first she was the first to awaken, and when she did she discovered that she could see things in minute details, from how many pores one had on their faces to hundred miles away.
She could see it all! Sheri had awakened with the ability to know when one lied. She found out when Eliza told her that she did it feel any different.
That was a lie, Sheri heard a ringing in her ears whenever one lied. She instantly knew what her powers where after awakening.
But the problem was she did not know how to use it. When Lydia awoke she had gotten an ability that activated once she stood up.
In her words she said that she could control something that cloaked her body rendering her completely invisible.
From what she had said Rude had guessed it was either light or some other form that had the same properties.
As for Walter he wouldn't exactly say, but Beltram had gained something interesting, his body could now cover his skin in a thin yet extremely hard coat of metal.
He said that it was about as malleable as gold yet somehow on par with mithril. He did however felt that his blood pressure rose whenever he used his metal skin.
As for Rude, he became an empath with the ability to share his emotions. Whatever he had felt before he can inflict towards a target.
"And that's pretty much what happened while you were asleep. As of right now knowledge of your new power is still uploading into your mind, correct?" I nodded, a description of my power had instantly flooded my mind repeatedly forcing me to memorise it.
"Apparently that crystal you created is where your leftover divine power went and became sentient. As of now it is assimilating the knowledge of those who touched it, and since it was your own power that created it the knowledge you currently posses is the same as that crystal."
Rude was correct, my mind had now been connected to the crystal. This meant that the crystal itself was my second brain. I could process my thoughts and recall memories far easier now.
The crystal itself was complex but its ability to grant powers were easy. The abilities granted were mostly random however if one touches it directly there is a high chance that the power bestowed shall represent their personality, be born from their desires, wishes unfulfilled.
All sorts of things come into play. For example Sheri was able to distinguish truth from lies was because she was an honest person herself.
Lydia wished to run away, to be free and uninterrupted that was why she was invisible. She wanted to hide away from society itself so she can be free.
All of them had something deep inside them that resonated with the crystal and activated their dormant powers.
All the crystal did was modify them and alter their genes a bit and awakened them. It was simple yet complex at the same time.
"So my power, I see I have gained the ability to affect my surroundings depending on my emotions." It was a unique power which even I had no idea could exist.
Turns out that the crystal had the same naming sense as me. "Sentimental Wonderland." I looked over to Rude and smiled.
"Compassionate Gratuity." Rude's power was a little worrisome since he could share his emotions with others. If he truly did that chaos would break loose since emotions also affect personalities.
"Cheshire Desire. Calibrated Verity. Minuscule Perspective. Dermal Guard. And finally Reticent Communication."
These were the names for Lydia's, Sheri, Eliza, Beltram and Walter's powers respectively.
"Ah, by the way if I remember correctly the royal highnesses my mirror was tasked to watch over, the six of them came is that correct?" Through my mental connection with Rude I had found out that the Princes and Princesses were all waiting downstairs.
"Yes, Master. Although I did not show my face yet and had adorned a mask to hide my identity. Should I still wear it, or?" My reply was swift knowing how he felt towards them.
"Tia isn't here so you can let your guard down. By the way this is a good chance to sell powers from the crystal you know?" I knew that the only reason he was hiding his identity was because the royals will maybe report it to Princess Tia.
While highly unlikely due to him having a good rapport with them, however it was still good to be cautious nonetheless.
"So if my memory serves me well Prince Crow has the highest chance of inheriting the throne due to his military power and is battling against Prince Ren for the crown.
Prince Graham does not participate in the fight for the throne and lives an idle life.
First Princess Rose loves gardening and spends most of her time in the garden and like her namesake she is very proficient in Rose Magic.
Second Princess Sapphire has a tomboyish personality and is often seen running away from the castle and fighting others. She aspires to be an extremely strong fighter like her father.
Fourth Princess Diane is the youngest out of all the children of the king and is now 10 years of age. She loves playing with dolls and has a talent for Puppetry. She once said that she wanted a giant golem for her birthday which is three months from now."
Due to me having basically kidnapped three nobles with one being a very important person, Rude, out of concern had compiled together a file full of information about many things about the royals in case I needed to resort to force or blackmailing.
"Well lets go down, they're royals after all. We can't keep them waiting forever."
We both walked down the stairs nonchalantly. The six of them were all enjoying my chilled drinks that I had made this morning for lunch.
When I stepped into view they instantly knew that I was the store owner due to the respectful stance the masked people did.
I looked over to Beltram and the others nodding my head implying that they take off the masks.
They nodded back in response and slowly showed their faces. The faces of the royals warped in shock.
"L-l-Lydia! And Beltram?! Of course! How could I have been so blind? This store must be the rumoured store of wishes." Prince Ren yelled out in surprise but had calmed down once he began thinking logically.
"Wait if Lydia and Beltram are here, then that could only mean?! Rude!" Just behind me Rude had already taken off his blank white mask.
His expression showed a soft and tender smile. "Hello cousins, we meet again." I choked in surprise. Cousins? How come I had never heard of this?!
"Ah, do not fret Master I forgot to mention that they are cousins from my mothers side. The only person not my true cousin would be Tia since she is illegitimate." I then connected the dots.
It was no wonder why he was able to gather so much information on the royals. He was related to them all along! "Wait, Master? Rude what is the meaning of this?!" Princess Rose dramatically folded her fan pointing towards me.
"Ah, forgive me this is my master. Nathaniel Vexlock." Vexlock? When did I have such a name like that? More importantly why Vexlock?
Through the contract and his empathic abilities Rude realised that Nathan was not pleased with the name.
But he'll go along with it since he doesn't really have a family name in the first place. Nathaniel knew that he was an anomaly, he was obviously not from this world in the first place after all.
"A master, I see, Rude you have no need to worry we shall not report this to our sister. Besides if I am correct your master has the ability to grant wishes, am I correct?"
Prince Crow was truly worthy of contending for the crown. Just by how the conversation flowed he had made a very close guess.
He had realised that Rude had a curious nature and would not do something unless it benefited him in some way.
"Good guess. However I only wanted him as a master because I was interested in what he truly was." Their faces expressed confusion. They had truly thought that I was just a human with a special ability after all.
"Master may be human but if you had seen what he has in his shop you would have started questioning his origins."
This part was particularly true. Most of the objects in my shop were actually very impressive and could be called revolutionary.
Rude himself was very entranced by the Grimoires that strengthened the innate magical abilities of a person.
In addition he had never seen fruits that bestowed people powers as well as magic tools that were in such peculiar forms.
His curiosity grew more as he learned about the mutagen, Ninja Arts/Elemental Ninjutsu and the Ark.
He had also shown a strong fascination towards music and absolutely adores how words can become so soothing.
Rude was now here to show these uncultured royals the true meaning of life! "Listen up! I, Rude Szera shall show you why I chose him as a Master!"
His disposition changed into that of a man who has seen through the vicissitudes of life itself.
I find it amusing how one can have such a total personality flip. Smiling I decided that I would give him a present that he might like.
I just hope it all goes well for now.