“Yeah, I have a few questions,” Jeff says.
“Well, I’ll try my best to answer them,” Asher says.
“First: since you are bound to the lamp, does that mean I’d need to always have the lamp close by in order to make contact with you?”
Asher nods, “yep”.
“Okay, and would I need to rub the lamp and have you physically appear in order to make a wish?”
“No, you won’t need to always summon me in order to make a wish,” Asher says, “it’ll do if you’d just whisper, think or say a wish out loud, I don’t have to be physically there, you’d just have to make sure that the wish is directed towards the lamp”.
Jeff nods, “okay, so, for example: if I’m in class, and the lamp is hidden in my backpack, I’d just need to think or whisper a wish directed at the lamp in order for you to hear me?”
Asher nods, “correct,” he says.
“Is there a way to make it easier,” Jeff asks, “I mean, is it possible that you’d be able to physically be near me without the lamp? And depending on the situation either make yourself invisible, in a way that only I can see you?”
“You mean, if you’re in school, I’d be standing next to or behind you but only you’d be able to see me, and if we’re either in your room or in public that I’m seen by others?”
Jeff nods, “ya”.
“Well, there are a few ways,” Asher says, “first: either you free me from the blasted lamp, second: you simply wish me to be bound to you instead of the lamp and the third option would be to wish for our minds to be linked together, that way I’ll be able to read and hear your thoughts and you’d be able to hear mine, no matter where the lamp is”.
“I see,” Jeff says, “what if someone else but me were to rub the lamp?”
“Then I’d no longer be your genie, you’d lose all control over me and the person who rubbed the lamp instead of you would become my new “master”,” Asher says, “so, if you want to prevent that, I’d suggest you find a safe place where you could store or hide the lamp”.
“Hmm… I do have a metal safe, only I know the combination in order to open it,” Jeff says, “but, since it’s thick metal, would you still be able to hear my wishes?”
Asher nods, “as long as it’s directed at the lamp,” he says.
“Okay,” Jeff says.
“Anything else you’d like to know?”
Jeff thinks for a while, “yeah,” he says, “when I either wish for you to be free or be bound to me, would that also prevent someone else being able to “steal” you from me?”
Asher nods, “of course,” he says, “since I’d no longer be bound to the lamp, you will not lose your power over me. Though, again, if you free me, you’d lose your power over me, even though it would be great to be free, I doubt you’d like a mischievous little genie to roam around freely causing chaos, right?”
“Um… yeah, that wouldn’t be so cool,” Jeff says, “though… I’m honest… I am kind of battling with the thought of freeing you… but, I’d prefer to get to know you closer, you know… I want to be able to trust you. I mean… if you vow or take an oath to not cause any chaos and that your pranks won’t be permanent, that you’d transform anything or anyone you decide to prank, back to their original states after a while, I MIGHT consider setting you free”.
Asher is silent for a while, ‘hmmm… that could actually work in MY favor,’ he thinks to himself, grinning inwardly, ‘I could make a vow and promise to transform anyone or anything back into their original states after a while… hehe… as long as he doesn’t set any limit, allowing ME to decide “when” to transform something or someone back, I can easily decide to NEVER transform them back. Hehe… Jeff is a fool… but… I am starting to actually like him. I think I found a fun “master” for a change’.
“Asher,” Jeff asks.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about what you had just said,” the genie says.
“And?”
“Well, I would be willing to take a vow or oath of some kind,” the boy says.
Jeff smiles, “I’m glad to hear that,” he says, “but, I’d like to have some time, just to be sure I’d be doing the right thing”.
Asher nods, “I understand,” he says, “anything else?”
“Yeah, I have one last question,” Jeff says, “if someone else would either utter or think of a wish, would you grant it?”
“No, I’m able to hear the wish of others than you,” Asher says, “but, since I am bound to the lamp and since you are the one who summoned me, I’m unable to fulfill wishes of anyone else other than you”.
“So, like, if a kid, for example, wishes to have a tail of a fox, I would have to repeat that wish for him in order for you to grant it?”
Asher shakes his head, “if someone utters or thinks of a wish, I’d make you aware of it and ask if you’d allow me to grant him or her that wish”.
“So, you’re only able to grant someone else’s wish if I give you the “nod”?”
Asher nods, “yup,” he says.
“Okay, good to know,” Jeff says.
“Anything else?”
“Nah, I think you have answered all my questions,” Jeff says, “if other questions should pop up, I’ll ask them, but for now I am satisfied”.
Asher smiles, “okay, I’m glad I was able to answer them,” he says, “so, what would you like to do now?”