Page 221 of The Wishing Game

I'm surprised to be able to read the language perfectly, but then I'm reminded that the brew likely infused me with that ability.

Some of the books are about the rules of the game, while others are records of previous games and winners. I take a few of them out and lay them on the floor as I sift through them, thinking I can find some information that might help me in the third trial.

As I read, however, it becomes clear that each edition of the game has different trials. Not one trial appears to have been used twice.

I release a heavy sigh as I turn to the rules of the competition. One thing I've been exceedingly curious about so far has been what happens to the souls of the people who die during the game. It stated that the souls of the losers would forfeit their chances at future incarnations. But what happens to them? Do they just disappear? Where do they go?

I flip through the book, reading each line carefully, but as I reach that rule, the only additional mention I can find is that the energy from the deceased souls is used as fuel, but it doesn't specify for what.

I nibble on my bottom lip as I go back to the bookshelf, scanning more of the titles until I find a book on the first edition of The Wishing Game.

Cracking it open, I read the introduction.

After a series of debilitating daimon attacks, the Ananke Supreme Lyonas sacrificed his energy to enforce the weakening boundaries between the worlds. But as this scribe has witnessed in his eight thousand years of life, not even a Supreme's energy can hold up indefinitely.

The other Supremes became aware that they would either need to sacrifice one of their own every few thousand years, or they could find another source of energy that could continuously feed the boundaries.

Each Supreme brought forth a proposition, but none proved to be sustainable in the long run. That was until Lyonas's granddaughter and the favored candidate for the new Ananke Supreme, Lispera, came up with an idea.

Souls are the purest energy in the universe. It stands to reason that they could power the boundaries and keep them from collapsing. But a soul's cycle belongs to Psyche. It is not something that can be influenced, not even by a god. Yet Lispera found a loophole that not even Psyche could dispute. As long as the soul gave its consent and sacrificed itself, then its energy could be used to enforce the boundaries.

The Supremes were intrigued by the idea, but they did not know how they would find a soul to sacrifice itself, for that sacrifice meant utter oblivion. More than that, one soul's energy, though powerful, could not possibly feed the boundary indefinitely.

But Lispera came through again with another proposition. Souls may choose to sacrifice themselves in exchange for an opportunity to have their deepest desire fulfilled. If the Supremes joined their powers to bestow a boon upon a lucky winner, creatures from all corners of the universe would clamor for a chance to participate in such a competition.

The Supremes debated this topic for many years before they reached a consensus. They would hold a game for all the mortal creatures of the universe, and the winners would get the chance to have one wish fulfilled. But to participate, each creature had to consent to the fact that by losing, they would be forfeiting their souls.

As the boundaries between the worlds started to weaken again, it was time to organize The Wishing Game.

This is the account of the first Wishing Game that this scribe has witnessed with his own eyes. All the events that follow are true, and they bear the seal of approval from the Supremes.

I swallow hard as I put two and two together. Demons were recently sighted in the intermediary realms. Does that mean the boundaries are weakening again? Despite the ongoing Wishing Game?

I flip the pages of the book in search of more information, but the rest is merely an account of each trial and the favorite contestants. It's only at the end that I read about the winner and his wish. He asked for the hand in marriage of one of the Supremes, something clearly not done because the wish had been denied and the winner had been convicted and jailed for his offense—for it seems to have been an offense to even aspire to be with a Supreme.

There isn't much else in the book, so I turn my attention to others. Yet they all follow the same format. There is the exact same introduction after which the game is described in detail, almost as if the scribe was a sports commentator giving his opinions on his favorite teams.

"Nigel?" I call out, and the wraith materializes in front of me. "Is there anything more about The Wishing Game in here?"

"This is the only section that houses books on The Wishing Game," he replies in that monotone voice of his. The bookshelf is illuminated again as he points toward it.

"I see. Thank you."

"Are you finished with those books?" He points to the mess I made on the floor.

"Yes." I nod tentatively.

Before I can blink, all the open books close with a thud before levitating in the air and taking back their spot on the shelf—in the perfect order.

Okay, Nigel is far better than any computer.

"Do you require further assistance?"

"Do you have anything on Ze—Azerius?" I ask before I can help myself.

"Are you inquiring about Commander Azerius?"

"Uhm, yes."

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