Kieran's gaze softened as he watched the cats position themselves around her, the weight of centuries reflected in his eyes making Mandy's skin prickle with awareness.
"Perhaps it would help if I told you about the Djinn," he began, his resonant voice filling her small living room. "We have existed since the beginning of time itself."
As Kieran continued, his deep voice took on the cadence of a storyteller. "If you believe the Qur'an, Allah created Angels from light, Man from clay, and Djinn from fire. While Angels were created as perfect beings to do Allah's will, both Man and Djinn were given free will." His piercing gaze held hers, conveying the weight of this truth. "Like Man, Djinn may be of the Faithful - Believers - or not. Like Man, they may be good, or they may be evil."
Mandy nodded. "Yes, I'm aware. Though in the Qur'an, it mainly talks about the evil Djinn - theshayateen, or devils. The good Djinn are barely mentioned."
Kieran's black eyebrows shot upward, the mask of ancient formality cracking as genuine surprise transformed his features. For the first time since his arrival, he appeared caught off guard, his carefully maintained composure slipping just enough to reveal real interest. "You know the Qur'an?"
Heat crept into Mandy's cheeks under his intense scrutiny. "I spent a year in Cairo as an exchange student through my University." The memories flooded back, bittersweet and vivid. "I was in my mid twenties. Besides Arabic language, I studied Islamic art and architecture."
The memory transported her back to those sun-drenched days. "I also studied the Qur'an, and to some extent, the Sunnah. Though I'll admit my knowledge of that is as rusty as my Arabic language now."
Kieran leaned forward in his chair, those piercing eyes studying her with renewed interest.
"First, let me say, no Wish Bearer can be evil." Kieran's deep voice cut through Mandy's thoughts before she'd even realized the question had formed in her mind.
"Wait." She shifted in her chair, causing Bach to readjust his position with an annoyed chirp. "You keep talking about Wish Bearers as if they're separate from the Djinn. I thought - I mean - don't all Djinn grant wishes. Isn't that what Djinn do?"
"Not at all." Kieran's silvery-blue eyes fixed on her with that unnerving intensity that made her feel like he could see straight through to her soul. "Very few of us choose to be Wish Bearers."
"So..." She frowned a little, thinking about what he said. "Being a Wish Bearer is a specific type of Djinn? Like a... specialty?"
The corner of Kieran's mouth twitched upward, that ghost of amusement flickering across his face. "In a manner of speaking, yes. Though it's more complex than that. Wish Bearer magic operates under very specific rules and restrictions."
Mandy's natural curiosity bubbled up, demanding answers to the flood of questions his words had sparked. "So not just any Djinn can become a Wish Bearer?"
"No." Kieran's deep voice filled her small living room. "Only those who truly desire to interact with the human world and grant wishes are considered. The training process is... intensive. And the scrutiny potential Wish Bearers undergo is extremely thorough. The binding process itself requires absolute commitment," he continued, his resonant voice taking on a professor's tone. "A Wish Bearer must genuinely want to help humans."
He gestured toward the blue pendant she wore. "Before a Djinn can bind themselves to a Wish vessel, they must pass rigorous tests of character and ability. Their motives are examined in detail." His expression darkened, power radiatingfrom him like a gathering storm. "No Djinn with evil intent could possibly pass such scrutiny."
Mandy leaned forward, fascinated by this glimpse into Djinn society. "So, there's actual training involved? Like... what, Wish Bearer Academy?"
"In a manner of speaking." Kieran's lips twitched. "The magic involved in wish-granting is separate from our personal magic. It's more... expansive."
"What do you mean, separate?" Her brow furrowed as she tried to understand. The concept seemed elusive. She'd assumed a Djinn's magic was simply part of who they were.
"Wish magic allows us to perform feats far beyond our normal capabilities." He gestured to the ornate tea table between them. "While I could conjure this table easily with my personal magic, granting a wish for, say, a castle, would require the enhanced power of the Wish magic."
"So it's like..." Mandy searched for an analogy her tired brain could grasp. "Like the difference between running on your own power versus having a jet pack?"
A startled laugh escaped Kieran, the sound rich and unexpected. "An oversimplified comparison, but not entirely inaccurate."
"And there's… what, like, magical quality control?" The concept struck her as oddly mundane for such magical beings, and her lips twitched.
"Indeed. The Oversight Committee maintains loose supervision of all active Wish Bearers throughout time."
Mandy couldn't help it - she burst out laughing, causing Bach to give her an annoyed look as her movement disturbed his comfort. "I'm sorry," she managed between giggles. "It's... I mean… Djinn have bureaucracy? In the magical realm?"
"The committee serves an important function," Kieran said with dignity, though his eyes sparkled with reluctant amusement.
"Oh, I'm sure they do." Mandy couldn't help grinning as she imagined magical spreadsheets and performance metrics for wish-granting efficiency. The absurd normality of it all - bureaucracy existing even in the realm of magic - struck her as absolutely hilarious. "Do they have quarterly performance reviews? File reports in triplicate?"
"We do not require paper forms," Kieran replied with exaggerated patience. "Magic is far more efficient."
"So this pendant, this Wish vessel..." Mandy corralled her thoughts back to the subject at hand. "It's more than simply a magical object?"
"It is." Kieran inclined his head. "The vessel is far more than a simple magical object. It contains and channels the Wish magic itself. Without the vessel, a Djinn cannot access Wish magic." Kieran's deep voice filled her small living room. "It is the magical bond between Djinn and vessel that creates a true Wish Bearer."
