"I have no interest in harming anybody," the old man answers, shrugging his shoulders. He then moves closer. And it's clear he's no ordinary being of flesh and bone-- his skin, his body, seem to be composed of glowing blue light. "But cohesion is a requirement to prolong your lives in this world. Failure thereat is no one's fault but your own."

The bit of glass does not attack or try to harm them either. It merely continues to float, suspended in the air, the vertical beam of light.

"But you're right about one thing. It is your prize. Take it, if you wish."