In "The Consuming Fire" by John Scalzi, a conversation unfolds between Cardenia and another character, highlighting the concept of friendship. Cardenia comments on how she was discussing the other person, leading to a witty exchange about the nature of their companions.
When the character mentions their friends are not imaginary, Cardenia quips that they are simply not real, illustrating a subtle yet intriguing distinction about existence and perception. This dialogue reflects themes of reality and self-awareness within interpersonal relationships.