Seeing the glowing eyes of the stone left everyone present in that place completely shocked and speechless. But then something more surprising happened, something more beyond their conception.
"Humans, maybe you do not know who I am, but there is only one thing I would like to make clear, I am not your enemy", the Divine Stone suddenly said, and the fact that a stone was talking made all people plunge into panic.
"So you can talk too, huh?" Edwin said, and looked hard on the stone.
"Yes, of course, I surely can. I was able to from the very beginning, but until now I simply did not have enough energy within me to begin speaking," the Divine Stone replied in a calm yet eerie tone.
"Let us strike a deal then. Bring me the body of a healthy human being, not a dead one, but alive. Only after that will I be able to restore my energy completely and, reciprocally, I will also be able to help you."
At this Dr. Diana looked towards Dr. Edwin, and, gazing at the queer stone, said, "I don't feel right about this. Do you seriously think that it will tend to do us any good?" Why would it? We are nothing but mere humans, and in the eyes of something that might actually be connected to the gods, we should be completely useless. Perhaps, instead of rushing, we should conduct proper research on it first, and only then decide. What do you think?"
"Yes, Dr. Diana, you are absolutely right," Edwin replied firmly. "And I am not so foolish as to fall for its words immediately. Only after we have managed to make it reveal many more secrets, and only after our work is done, will we decide what to do for this stone. That will be the wiser way, don't you think?"
Dr. Diana slowly nodded her head in agreement. "So then, Dr. Edwin, let's call it a wrap for now. I am feeling very sleepy. I think I'll take my leave and head home." She said as she saw that the eyes of the stone had already begun to wink, and within a moment they were all shut up, i.e., that whatever power there was in it was spent, and it once more was nothing but a ordinary stone.
"Come on, my friends, the same thing has happened once again today. The stone has gone back to its sleep. You all can now go inside and continue your work," Dr. Edwin announced to the people nearby.
"But… but it actually spoke today! No, no, we are not going inside," the cleaners exclaimed in fear. These were the people who generally came in the room to wash out the ashes and the mess made by the stone, but now, after hearing it speak, they were too alarmed to do so.
"Hey, alright, I'll go then. You people really are cowards. That thing is nothing but a powerless rock. What is it going to do, eat you alive?" Dr. Wade mocked them, and with that, he boldly entered the chamber where the Divine Stone was kept.
Meanwhile, Dr. Edwin pressed a hidden button, and instantly a thick protective shield descended, enclosing the entire chamber of the Divine Stone. With that, no one outside could see Dr. Wade or the stone any longer.
Back in the chamber Dr. Wade easily went about cleaning the ashes and the residue. just as he was leaving it a red light flared up behind him. He looked back and could not believe his eyes-the stone itself was apparently floating in the air, levitating over it.
In a moment the stone flew on and hit Wade on the head. In a few seconds it changed its appearance, assuming the exact semblance of Dr. Wade.
The Divine Stone, now in Wade's form, spoke in a chilling voice, "If you die, I will not be able to use your body as my form. So, unfortunately, you must remain alive. Still, I will need to drain some of your strength so that I can stay in this body for a longer time. But do not worry, you will merely fall into a deep sleep." With that, it drew out a portion of Wade's power, rendering him unconscious immediately.
The Divine Stone, disguised as Dr. Wade, stepped out of the chamber with confidence. "See? Such a simple task, just cleaning. Here, pick up this", he said, tossing a strange object at the cleaners, one which contained the same ash that was inside. In vain he left without taking too much time so that no one might know that he was just an imposter.
Once out of the building, the stone, still in Wade's form, drew a deep breath of relief. It then spotted Dr. Diana walking alone along the roadside.
"Hello, Dr. Diana. Sorry I couldn't properly greet you inside. You know how busy we always are dealing with that stone," Wade said, stopping her. He would not, however, look her full in the face, because his eyes were glowing red, and immediately would have aroused her suspicions.
"No, no, there is no need of formalities. I quite see that that is the case", she replied very exactly,
Wade began walking alongside her. "So, are you heading home now, Dr. Diana?" he asked casually.
His sudden question surprised Diana a little. "Yes, I am going home. Why do you ask?" she responded.
"Then should I drop you off at your home?" Wade offered politely.
"Well, this road is completely deserted right now, and it is already midnight. If you want, you may drop me," Diana said thoughtfully.
"It would be my great fortune. Let's go," Wade replied warmly.He opened the door of his car to her, and when she got in, he drove her directly to the house.
Once there, the Divine Stone, still in Wade's body, walked her to the doorstep. Having parted a few final words of farewell, she closed the door behind her.
But inside, the stone was unsettled. "What is happening? Why am I unable to sense that fragment of myself within this girl? Without it, I cannot make her my host. I must first connect with the missing piece of my stone, which should have been inside her. Only then will I be able to claim her as my vessel. But this is strange… I was so close to her, yet I could not feel that fragment, nor could I merge with her as my host. Does this mean she doesn't have it at all? Is it perhaps with someone else, or lying hidden somewhere else?" the Divine Stone muttered in confusion.