The apparition stood in the middle of the room, speaking in a calm voice that carried an unusual heaviness:
"A 500 years ago... a massive meteor was approaching Earth. But something strange happened before it entered the atmosphere-
it shattered into hundreds of fragments, and each fragment became a stone with its own unique power."
He gestured with his hand as if painting images in the air:
"But the stones weren't just random celestial pieces.
They were conscious.
They chose their wielders themselves.
They chose kind hearts... pure souls... and the person whose inner traits matched the type of power the stone carried."
Rayan sat on his bed, listening lazily as the apparition continued:
"That's why not everyone can use a power stone simply by touching it.
The stone must accept you.
And if your heart isn't compatible... nothing happens."
The apparition sighed, his voice growing heavier:
"But over time... some people grew dissatisfied with this system. They wanted power for themselves, even if they weren't worthy of it.
So they began hunting down the stones that hadn't found a wielder yet. Then they started abducting the true wielders... to develop technology capable of stealing the stone's power from its rightful owner.
Stealing it... literally."
Rayan scratched his nose with half interest and said:
"And what does this have to do with me?"
The apparition exploded:
"Everything!
You are the bearer of the primary stone... the Stone of Command... the stone that balances the others.
And most importantly... it chose you."
Rayan's mouth opened slightly in surprise, but he quickly changed his expression and muttered:
"Alright, nice story. But I have a lecture now."
The apparition froze for a moment, then stared at him in disbelief:
"I'm talking about the fate of eight billion people... and you're thinking about a lecture?!"
Jamal, his roommate, got up from his bed, staring at Rayan in utter confusion.
But Rayan turned to the apparition and said sharply:
"What do you want me to do? I'm just one person... and all I can do is see a glowing white ghost no one else can see.
This isn't a power... it's a disaster."
The apparition stepped closer, raised an eyebrow, and smiled a small, mysterious smile:
"Strange?"
He moved even closer, lowering his voice:
"And who told you that seeing me... is your real power?"