"Let's see what we can do," said the Genie with a mischievous smile, and suddenly, the temperature around him began to rise. In his hand appeared a dancing flame, red and vibrant, illuminating the darkness of the space. "First, let's test if your ability works properly."
A floating screen appeared in front of Orion, displaying the ability the Genie had just invoked:
Ability: Magical control over fire, flames, intense heat, and burning embers.
Do you wish to copy it?
Yes/No
Orion stared at the screen for a moment, slightly surprised by how easily he could access the Genie's powers. However, after a brief reflection, he pressed the "Yes" button without hesitation.
Immediately, an intense heat surged through his body, as if every cell were being embraced by an internal flame. Orion couldn't help but blush slightly due to the sudden rise in temperature.
Then, a bright light coursed through him, as though energy was flowing through his veins. Once the light disappeared, the heat faded, leaving him with an unexpectedly refreshing sensation.
Curious, Orion raised his hand, and with his will alone, a flame appeared in his palm. The fire was brilliant, but the strangest part was that he didn't feel its searing heat. Instead, it felt warm, as if the flame were a natural extension of his body.
"Genie, you?" Orion was astonished—he hadn't expected the Genie to let him copy his control over fire, let alone with such success.
The Genie let out a deep laugh, visibly pleased with the result.
"Hehehe, from what I can see, your wish works very well," he remarked as the flame in his hand vanished, replaced by crystalline water that began to encircle his sword. "Now we can have a fair fight."
The Genie seemed genuinely serious, and Orion, with a wide smile on his face, nodded enthusiastically.
"Thank you very much, my friend," he replied, before raising his sword skillfully, mimicking the Genie. "Let's begin."
With a swift motion, Orion wasted no time and charged forward, running straight toward the Genie. The Genie, of course, was ready to meet the attack. From Orion's back, flames erupted, surging toward the Genie, who stepped back with agility, dodging the attack almost perfectly.
"How clever," commented the Genie as two additional hands appeared on his back, spreading wide to shield his torso, allowing Orion's fiery attacks to pass without resistance.
"That's not fair..." Orion said with a playful grin. "No sane person can pull off something like that!"
Despite his words, he didn't lose the rhythm of the battle, continuing to attack with determination.
The clash quickly intensified. Ten minutes later, Orion and the Genie had taken the fight to spectacular heights. Orion summoned two fire dragons, while the Genie conjured water dragons, their bodies intertwining in an epic showdown.
When they collided, the resulting explosion filled the air with steam, creating a dense curtain that obscured visibility.
Orion, wasting no time, stepped back, distancing himself from the vapor cloud to avoid being attacked blindly. But suddenly, several small water cannons began firing at him from all directions.
With surprising agility, Orion dodged the projectiles with ease, as if his body had been designed for movement. His flexibility was impressive—almost supernatural for someone of his build—and the water cannons whizzed past him without landing a single hit.
The duel continued for a few more minutes, both combatants displaying formidable skill and precision. However, Orion was beginning to feel the weight of exhaustion. Each movement grew more taxing, and his breathing became heavier.
Finally, drained of energy, Orion stopped, the sword in his hand now feeling heavier than he could bear.
"Eh, I lost again," Orion said, collapsing to the ground with a somewhat defeated expression, though a wide smile remained on his face.
"You're pretty incredible now," the Genie replied, and in an instant, several clones of himself appeared, all dressed in cheerleader uniforms, clapping and cheering in an exaggerated fashion. Orion couldn't help but laugh at the scene.
"Genie, thank you so much for everything you've done for me this year. You've really become a great friend," Orion said, looking at the Genie with a warm, sincere expression. His tone was light but full of gratitude. "I owe you so much, but... now I want to do something for you."
With a smile on his face, Orion stood up slowly, keeping his gaze fixed on the Genie, and added:
"Genie, as my third wish... I want you to be free from now on."
The Genie fell silent for a moment, staring at Orion. Then, a soft laugh escaped his lips.
"You actually did it," he said, his voice filled with surprise, though it carried an undertone of satisfaction.
In the next instant, a dense mist appeared suddenly, quickly enveloping the Genie. The lamp, which had been floating nearby, began to shake violently in the air. Orion watched silently as the two golden bracelets the Genie wore on his wrists detached, falling to the ground with a metallic clang.
The mist surrounding the Genie dissolved as quickly as it had appeared, and the lamp, which had been glowing brightly, lost its radiance, falling to the ground like an ordinary object.
"Heh, am I really free?" the Genie said, looking incredulously at the lamp that had kept him imprisoned for thousands of years. He held it in his hands as if he couldn't believe he was finally liberated.
"I'm free!" he exclaimed with genuine happiness, pulling Orion into a strong embrace. Then, he let out a laugh full of joy and began flying around, celebrating his newfound freedom.
Gradually, the Genie's enthusiasm began to settle, and when he landed in front of Orion again, a shadow of doubt crossed his face.
"Now that you're no longer a genie, I shouldn't call you that anymore..." he said thoughtfully. "Do you have a name, Genie?"
At the question, Orion smiled faintly but noticed the Genie's hesitation. He tried to recall his name, but it had been so long that he wasn't even sure he'd ever had one.
Finally, he simply shook his head.
"That's terrible..." Orion said, gazing at the sky thoughtfully. His eyes landed on a star shining brighter than the others. An idea formed in his mind, and with a smile, he began to speak. "Since you don't have a name... how about I give you one?"
"You know, they say there's a star that shines brighter than any other in the sky... it's called Sirius. It's the brightest, the one that stands out among all the other stars," Orion explained calmly. "How about we call you that, Sirius? I think it suits you perfectly."
The Genie was silent for a moment, looking up at the sky. His eyes found that star, shining brighter than any other. He whispered his new name with a smile on his lips.
"Sirius..." he repeated softly, as if the name fit him perfectly. "Yes, I like it."
He looked at Orion, a new spark in his eyes, as if something inside him had changed.
"You shouldn't be sad... it's not like we'll never see each other again, my friend," Orion said in a comforting tone. "There are so many things in the world for you to enjoy now. Travel, explore the world, maybe discover new wonders. You might even find a female genie... or who knows, someone to share your life with."
Sirius gave him a thoughtful look, but Orion continued, his smile unwavering.
— And don't forget, you're still an Ex-Genie. Even if your powers have weakened a little, that doesn't mean you can't create something to keep us in touch, right? You'll be able to tell me all about what you discover, and if you come across someone with interesting powers, don't hesitate to let me know.
With an even broader smile, Orion added:
— Not to mention, if I ever get married or have kids, I'll need you to be my best man. And if my kids ever meet you, they'll definitely want you to be their uncle!
— Hahaha, you're right, — Sirius said, nodding with a grin. — I hadn't thought of that.
As he spoke, two phones appeared in his hands, and without wasting time, he handed one to Orion.
Orion took it, surprised to see it was a touchscreen phone. Although not as advanced as the ones from his previous life, it was an impressive device. He examined it curiously, and when he turned it on, a photo of Sirius appeared as the background—posing with a huge smile.
— I know, I know... that's one of my best angles, — Sirius said proudly, striking a pose in midair as if the image on the screen perfectly represented his greatness.
In the blink of an eye, his outfit changed. He was now wearing shorts, a shirt with palm tree prints, and sunglasses covering his eyes. He was ready for his grand adventure.
— We'll keep in touch, my friend, — Sirius said with a wide smile. — I'll call you when I find something interesting.
Orion smiled and nodded.
— Haha, see you soon. And don't forget, Rapunzel's birthday is in a week. Take the chance to find her a good gift. I'll be taking her out of the tower and to the kingdom's lantern festival, so we'll be there, — he reminded him, excited about the upcoming occasion.
— Oh, a couple heading to the festival, huh? — Sirius said with a cheeky smile, clearly reading between the lines. — I wish you lots of luck, champ.
With one last laugh, Sirius bid him farewell, and his body vanished, flying swiftly into the starry sky. His speed was so great that he was barely visible, and Orion could only watch as he disappeared into the vastness of space.
Staring at the spot where Sirius had gone, Orion sighed softly, feeling a mix of gratitude and melancholy. He opened his hand, gazing at the small flame still burning in his palm, a calm smile on his face.
He knew that his friend was truly free now.
…..
— Tomorrow, I'll finally ask her, — said Rapunzel, her voice trembling slightly, filled with nervousness as she watched Orion, who was relaxing on the branch of a tree in front of her.
— Don't worry, — Orion replied with a reassuring smile. — Whether she lets you or not, I'll take you to see the lights you love so much on your birthday.
Then, he leaped gently toward her window, landing gracefully on the windowsill.
— And if necessary, I'll kidnap you this time, — he added playfully.
— Kidnap me? — she whispered, glancing away, trying to hide the blush gradually spreading across her cheeks. With a small gesture, she offered him a cookie she had baked the day before. — I really think she'll let me go, so it won't be necessary...
— If that's what you believe, then fine, — Orion said, noticing the sudden change in her expression but keeping his smile. — Either way, I'll come for you tomorrow so we can start the journey.
Rapunzel nodded slowly, though doubt seemed to linger in her eyes. Orion broke off a small piece of the cookie and gave it to Pascal, who had been waiting eagerly on the windowsill, then added:
— Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day. You're finally leaving this tower.