Mandy's hand tightened in his as understanding dawned across her features. "Like what you did earlier - giving me these pain-free hours. So that's not Wish magic, but your own?"
"Exactly," Kieran replied, pleased by her quick grasp of the concept. "That was my personal Djinn magic - powerful, but temporary. To grant your wish for permanent healing would require drawing upon the specific magic contained within the Wish vessel."
"That would be so wonderful," she said softly, her gaze growing distant. "To be able to help people like that."
For the first time, he heard a trace of wistful envy in her voice. Her genuine desire to ease others' suffering touched something within him, reminding him of another who had shared that same drive to help others. A faint smile curved his lips.
"That reminds me of Julian DiConti," he said, his deep voice carrying notes of both amusement and old sorrow. "A mage who lived during the time of the Black Death in Genoa, Italy. Julian cast a spell, hoping to gain the power to help plague victims."
The weight of those dark memories settled over him like a shadow. "But magic has its own rules, its own price. The spell bound him to a Djinn vessel instead, forcing him to grant wishes for over six centuries. It wasn't until two years ago that the spell was finally broken, freeing him from that magical servitude."
Mandy's green eyes widened with sympathy. "Six hundred years forced to grant other people's wishes? That must have been... difficult."
Kieran observed the play of emotions across Mandy's expressive features as she processed Julian's story. Her face clouded with compassion, and her hand tightened in his as she shook her head slowly.
"That doesn't seem fair at all," she said, her voice soft with empathy. "He only wanted to help people who were suffering and dying from a horrible disease. To be punished for that kind of compassion by being trapped for centuries... that's cruel. Especially since he probably had to watch people he cared about die from the plague while having his powers restricted to just granting wishes instead of being able to heal them directly. I can't imagine how heartbreaking that must have been."
The simple understanding in her voice touched something within him. Most humans focused on the power such magic could grant, never considering the cost to the one wielding it. But Mandy had instantly grasped the tragedy at its heart.
"It turned out well enough in the end," he said gruffly. "The bottle came into the possession of a young woman named Alessandra. She managed to break the spell." His lips curved slightly at the memory. "They're happily married now, living in Staten Island."
Mandy came to an abrupt halt on the path, her hand tightening in his as she turned to face him. Her face alight with recognition.
"Wait - Julian DiConti?" She stared up at him in astonishment, her grip on his hand tightening. "The reclusive billionaire? The one who has the Uncommon Threads exhibit that toured the country last year? It was written up in all the big magazines!" Her face lit with excitement, and Kieran noted how her green eyes sparkled like jewels with the same enthusiasm he'd witnessed whenever she discussed her writing.
"The exhibit came to Phoenix last year," she said, her warm hand tightening in his. "I'd planned to drive up and see it, but that weekend..." She shrugged, a gesture he was beginning to recognize as her way of dismissing painful memories. "My back decided to have other ideas. The pain got so bad I could barely move."
Empathy stirred, responding to the quiet resignation in her voice. How many experiences had Mandy missed out on due to her physical limitations? How many dreams had she been forced to set aside?
The regret in her tone as she continued struck something deep within him. "I really wanted to see those textiles, the embroidery, and sequin work. The photos in the magazines were beautiful, but seeing them in person would have been..." She shook her head slowly. "Well, it doesn't matter now."
But it did matter, Kieran thought. The way her voice trailed off, the slight slump of her shoulders - these small signs revealed how deeply such limitations had affected her life.
Kieran observed the shadow of regret darkening Mandy's green eyes. Such a small thing - wanting to see beautiful textiles - yet her physical limitations had denied her even that simple pleasure.
"Julian put the best of each collection into a permanent collection on display in Washington DC," he said, his deep voice gentling. "Perhaps after your first wish," he continued, carefully watching her reaction, "you might consider flying out to see it."
Kieran watched as those eyes lit with possibility. The transformation was like sunshine breaking through storm clouds.
"I could, couldn't I?" Her whole face brightened with the realization. She gave a little skip as they walked, her hand warm in his.
The scent of grilled meat and spices drifted toward them on the hot desert breeze. Mandy's steps quickened, pulling him gently along the path.
"Oh! The taco truck is here!" She beamed up at him. "Could we get lunch? They make the most amazing tacos - I used to come here all the time before..." She gestured vaguely with her free hand. "Well, before walking got so difficult. We'll need to head back soon anyway, before the healing spell wears off."
Kieran shook his head. Even in her excitement, she remained practical, aware of the temporary nature of the freedom he'd granted her.
He found himself drawn along by Mandy's enthusiasm to the food truck, its brightly painted exterior adorned with images of Mexican dishes. Her hand remained warm in his as she ordered for them both - something called "street tacos" with carne asada and various toppings. He was amused when she insisted on paying, waving him away when he would have conjured currency.
They settled on a nearby bench in the shade of a sprawling mesquite tree. Mandy bit into her taco, and a sound of pure pleasure escaped her. "Oh! So good!" she exclaimed, her eyes closing in bliss. "I'd forgotten how amazing these are."
Kieran sampled his own taco, finding the blend of spices and textures intriguing. He couldn't remember the last time he'd shared a meal with anyone in the mortal realm, nor had he ever thought to visit a food truck.
After finishing their lunch, they walked back to her car. The afternoon heat had intensified, but as before, Mandy seemed energized rather than wilted by the warmth. Her movements remained fluid and pain-free as she drove them back to her apartment.
Back in Mandy's apartment, she turned to face him, but Kieran lifted one hand, halting whatever she'd been about to say. He studied her face, remembering her joy during their walk, her enthusiasm over simple pleasures like feeding ducks and eating tacos. The way her green eyes had lit up discussing Julian's textile collection.
How long had it been since anyone had sparked such unfamiliar impulses in him? The desire to ease suffering, yes - that was part of being a Wish Bearer. But this... this urge to bring happiness just for the sake of seeing someone smile? When had he last felt that?
