Loopshard

“How are you here?” Adam asked, trying to remain calm. He hadn’t heard anything about the Absolutes appearing inside stages like this, but he hoped there were some boundaries in place, since it would be no understatement to say that she could exterminate every living thing on the surface of this world if she so desired.

A golden coin appeared in her clawed skinless hand. The flayed woman regarded the relic, turning it this way and that. “Peculiar that something this powerful is given to the players in the Seeing One’s game. Perhaps he cannot foresee what potential it holds. Used once to give a wish, used twice and more to inflict a curse, but when tossed to a wishing well, its power grows. Strong enough for an opening to form, letting curious things pass through.”

So reusing the coin is the reason she’s here, and using it on a wishing well makes it more powerful.

But why would she come here?

Adam gritted his teeth.

No, I know why. She wants to torment me, because I’m not following her quest.

Unlike her other playthings, I won’t break, even when she pulls off my head. That fact clearly amuses her.

“You know what I want,” she said. “I can tell you wish to disappoint me. To betray me. It will not work, Adam. Do not waste my gifts on something so foolish. I believed you to be more capable than that.”

She pulled off Diwa’s left index finger and turned it around so that the bleeding stump was like a pen. As Adam watched, she stooped and drew a sigil onto the ground in front of the well.