Wish Upon a Stone

Hmm... Interesting...

Why are you staring at the rock surface? Is that...fun for you?

Huh?! You amateurs just don't get it...

Do ya see this stratum here? See how it's a slightly different color?

Right...

Know what that means? If I hit it at the perfect angle, it'll smash like fine porcelain!

What?

Smash that rock, Miss! Let's find those hidden treasures!

Mwahaha! Show yerself to me, mysteries of the strata!

Huh...?!

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOIN'? We were just gettin' to the good part! Have you no sense of adventure, you killjoy?

Sorry, but safety comes first. The Yanatu people live right nearby, remember? What if you triggered a landslide?

AAAHHH!

Come on, Velette! Let's go!

Are you okay?

I-I'm fine. Rocks just started raining down on me all of a sudden.

That's so unlucky! Still, these things can happen up here. Mountains are curious places.

How can you act so nonchalant? Whichever way you slice it, this is your fault, Velette!

At least ya weren't hurt, eh? Anyway, what are ya doin' out here with that hammer? Do we have a fellow archaeologist on our hands?

Oh, um... I wanted destroy the strange rock.

The strange rock? What strange rock?

There's a weird, talking rock up on the top of the hill. My daughter went there, and I...

Did you just say that the rock talks?

Y-Yeah. That's what I said...

Fascinatin'! We better go there at once!

I'm really sorry about her. She's just a free spirit... It might come across as rude, but she doesn't do it on purpose.

*sigh*

So, what were you trying to say before? Why did you want to break the talking rock?

Around here, we have a legend called the Hundred Day Prayer. It's said that if you visit the strange rock for 100 days, it will grant you one wish. But in exchange, the wisher will lose something important to them. And the thing is, there are monsters in those parts. I'm scared something will happen to my daughter.

So you want to smash the rock to stop your daughter from getting herself into danger? Would you mind if I tagged along? If it really is dangerous up there, then I can't let you go alone.

Thank you, I'd be happy to have your company.

Please, Lord. Make Grandpa better. I beg of you.

Whoa! The rock really does talk!

The pedestal part seems to have eroded away over the years. And the upper part...I can't see too well.

I guess we've gotta get smashing!

Me? I'm Velette Murray, world-class archaeologist!

Why're you tryna destroy our Lord?

What an odd thing to ask! How often do ya come across a talkin' rock? Why WOULDN'T ya want to find out what's goin' on inside?

You got a problem with the way Miss Velette does things, you pathetic lump of rock? Miss Velette always chooses the shortest and best route! Her way is the right way.

All right, are we good? Great! Then let's get...

S-Stop this! Please! If you break the rock, my grandpa will perish!

......

What is going on here?

Wait, don't tell me. Velette's been acting up again.

There you are! I thought I told you to stay away from this place. Come on, let's go home. Everyone is so worried about you.

I don't wanna! I wanna ask God to make Grandpa all better!

You know the legend of the rock. You're being deceived.

You don't know that! A nasty god wouldn't promise to make my wish come true.

Ugh, this is such a pain. God, demon, earthworm. You wanna know what's inside, then I've got the quickest solution for ya! Any god worth its salt should be able to survive bein' smashed to smithereens anyway.

Then you're not a god?

...... Velette, I was wrong. I think you should break this rock after all.

Nah, I've changed my mind. O, strange rock that proclaims itself god! I shall grant your wishes.

Huh? What are you doing?

I really don't like people who rely on the charity of others to fulfill their wishes. But, neither do I take any pleasure in crushin' another's hopes and dreams.

You're not gonna hurt our god?

Look, I'm not makin' any promises. But your little rock's safe for now. Go home, kiddo. Aldo, Gunce. To Yanatu we go! We gotta find folks with wishes that need grantin'.

You there! I know this is random, but tell me what ya wish for!

Erm, why would I tell you that?

Ya know the strange rock up on Liriam Wastes? Well, it really wants to grant people's wishes.

Since the rock can't come to you, Miss Velette here's doing the legwork and collectin' heaps of wishes for it.

Oh, you're another one of those chumps who actually believes that the rock is a god? I don't know how you can believe in that nonsense, but not in the winged beast.

To you, the rock is just a rock?

Yes. Our only god is the winged beast. We have no other, and we need no other.

I see. Well, thanks for your help!

Listen up! Miss Velette has somethin' real important to tell you all!

Let's hear it then.

I'm currently askin' the townsfolk about their wishes!

Well then, spit it out for your own good!

Gunce! You're making it sound more like an interrogation!

Wishes, you say? Well, I'd like some cat nettle.

Cat nettle? What's that?

It's a medicinal herb said to treat just about every illness out there. It used to grow rampant when we were kids, but every last plant got picked the year cat fever came to town. Haven't seen any these last few years. It's becoming a real problem for the townsfolk.

Really? If only there was some left, we might be able to help that girl's grandfather.

Medicinal herb, eh?

Are they afraid of the haunted rock on the hill?

Well, it's not normal for a rock to talk, so it's no wonder, I guess.

Excuse me, is it true what I hear? Are you really listening to everyone's wishes?

Miss Velette is a woman of her word! She keeps her promises...as long as she doesn't get bored or forget!

That's not exactly reassuring.

Perfect timin'! Now, tell me your wish!

I know you're just gonna say you want to destroy that god...

I do. I do want to break that rock. How could I ever live with myself if something were to happen to you? But to be honest, I'm torn.

You are?

To me, that rock is nothing but evil. But to you, it's your emotional support. And don't forget. Your grandpa is your daddy's daddy. I want him to get better just as much as you do, angel.

Daddy...

I want to see if there's anything else I can do to help your grandpa. If I find another way, then you won't need to ask that rock for help.

......

Okay, I reckon I've gathered up enough wishes for now.

Are you sure about this, Velette? Are you really going to grant the rock's wishes? I mean, it was clearly a trap. You see that, right?

Pfft, why should I care if it's a trap? I challenge the unknown! I go wherever my curiosity takes me! And I laugh in the face of danger!

Now for the fun part! To Liriam Wastes!

I'm really not sure about this...

I'm baaack! And I've gathered heaps of wishes, as promised!

Can't you tell? They're not here. We didn't bring 'em with us.

Oh, yes you will! Ya know why? Because I'm quite the genius. And I've figured out a way to grant both your wish and everybody else's, all at the same time!

Drum roll, please! The answer I've come to is...

To destroy you!

HUH? No really, WHAT? How does that solve anything, Velette?

Simple. This rock wants to fulfill people's wishes, right? And from the first moment I saw it, I wanted to destroy this rock. As do the townsfolk. He'll be fulfillin' my wish, which in turn means I'll be fulfillin' his! It's win-win!

That's absurd...

Well? How d'ya like my plan? I think it solves the issue pretty spectacularly, don't you? Go ahead and sing my praises if you like. I'm sure there's a lot to get outta your system.

Curse your plan, you wretched girl! You will never destroy me!

Really? You're not even gonna say thank you? After I put in all that work for ya?

How rude! A little gratitude goes a long way, you know!

After all that, it was just some stupid monster inside the rock. What a bloody waste! I was hopin' for somethin' a little more excitin'. A little more mystical. Like, an ancient creature lying dormant in the rock for centuries, finally freed! Something like that.

I know the monster was up to no good, but I still feel kind of bad for it.

So, what's your plan for the sick old man, Miss Velette?

Oh...

Don't tell me you forgot all about him.

I thought it'd be a waste to use my genius brain cells on a problem that's already been solved.

What do you mean by that?

What the...

What is that? Down the hill...

Hey, look!

You two, with me! A happy endin' awaits us at the bottom of the hill!

Hey, don't just leave! Tell me what's going on!

There's a path!

See that? The rock landed right on target! I really am the best, huh?

On target?

When I was investigatin' the strange rock before, I saw a wild grass meadow at the bottom of the hill. I figured if I made a pathway here, maybe I'd be able to investigate the area.

And the way you chose to go about that was to drop a huge rock down a hill? That's wild...

I considered hurlin' Gunce down there instead, but it would've been such a hassle to get her up again.

You're way too harsh on Gunce, you know! You need to start treating her better!

You don't need to worry, Aldo. I would gladly give Miss Velette my life. A thousand times over, if I could!

Now, let's see what's up ahead...

Velette! What did I JUST say?

Hello again!

Oh, it's you. If you're here for the rock, you're too late. I already smashed that thing myself. You can see what's left of it over there.

Ah, YOU'RE the reason why that rock came hurtling out of the sky toward me?

Velette, don't you think you should apologize to the man?

Thank you so much!

Huh?

With the new pathway that opened up, I was able to find the miracle herb! My old man is saved! How can I ever thank you enough?

Yes, how CAN you ever thank me enough? Well, you could shower me with praise, that would be a start. And while you're at it, give yourself and your daughter a pat on the back.

What have we done to deserve that?

I was only ever interested in the rock because you were tryin' to break it. And you were only tryin' to break it because your daughter was goin' there to make a wish. Your daughter's wish pulled in the genius genie of the archaeology world that is yours truly!

That so? I guess in a sense, the rock did end up granting our wishes after all.

It sure did. Go ahead and tell your daughter that her prayers have been answered.

I will!

You actually did it! You gave everybody a happy ending. You really are incredible, Velette.

Well, duh! I don't care how impossible or implausible the task, once I've made up my mind, that's it. If I decide to give everybody a happy endin', then they're gettin' a happy endin'! And don't worry, I'll get around to you at some point, Aldo. I'll give you the most perfect one imaginable!

Thanks. I know I'm in safe hands.

Hm, the pattern of that stratum...

Gunce! Prepare the explosives! Let's blast this thing!

I'm on it! I'll flatten the Liriam Wastes if it's what you want, Miss!

You know what? I take it back. I don't think I'll ever feel safe around you!

Velette! Gunce! Just try to steer clear of danger, okay?