Skullopendra
Paul has spent his entire life researching and finding the location of a genie rumored to grant wishes to humans such as himself.
Tales are rare and often unverifiable. Almost all come with the information that the genie is as evil as imaginable. The motivation comes from the knowledge that one of his ancient blood relatives was cursed by the genie, tormented for the rest of his days in mental and physical anguish.
Some members of the branch families believe this is a tall tale, an exaggeration, but Paul, being from the main family, holds this to be truth. It’s a long line of genie hunters. He doesn’t know if there are multiple genies out there, or if all of this is caused by one in particular.
He has studied so many ancient languages, runes, cultures, and folklore that he’s gone crazy by the perception of any ordinary individual in society, and any claims he makes are no longer seen with the credibility they used to hold.
One night, dark and cold, after a long day in the scorching desert sun, he stumbles upon a pitch-black room in a temple long forgotten. Paul meets him. The genie offers him the opportunity to make one wish. The genie is noticeably evil. Everything, including his mannerisms, his grin, down to the hairs on his head, screams this. He explains his only rules of engagement are as follows:
1) The laws of his existence necessitate that he can only grant one wish, and any result in trying to achieve the outcome of multiple wishes (e.g. wishing for more wishes or a compound wish) will void your original wish.
2) He cannot be impacted by his own magic.
Paul, being a rational individual, suspects that he is lying, at least to some degree, if not blatantly. However, is it truly wise to attempt to break them to any regard at this moment? He understands from years of study that there are rules to the metaphysical. Much like gravity and inertia are laws of the physical. But such rules are almost impossible to verify without a personal lab rat, and this is not the place nor time.
He is aware that the likelihood of ever organically encountering this genie again is incomprehensibly small, and after this encounter, the genie will vanish into the ether and appear who knows where, manifesting himself to prey again, without counterbalance.
What should be done? What is your wish? Everything in life has led to this moment here. Is it all for not? Do you take the easy way out and minimize personal risk and try to leave with your life intact and unharmed, something not guaranteed? Or try to maximize personal gain, acquiring wealth and riches? Do you try to minimize the negative impact he might inflict on future victims?
Perhaps, you may wish for something else?
