I woke up feeling refreshed yet sore in my neck. ‘Guess I slept a little funny.’

I stayed lying on my bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling as I once again affirmed it in my heart, I was in a different world.

But in no mood for another emotional episode right now, I quickly climbed out of bed and washed myself up. A few splashes in my eyes help a lot with drowsiness.

Coming out of the bathroom, I checked my watch. “5:06 pm”, it read. I’ve slept for a little under two and a half hours. My tummy slightly rumbled in demand for hunger and so I called Hiruni, who still sat outside.

Telling her to bring me something for snacks, she promptly left.

I too decided to postpone all important matters until I’ve had some food. And so I walked onto the balcony with a chair and sat down, enjoying the view of the city and Vault.

The snacks were here within 5 minutes. It was mainly composed of some fruits and although a part of me preferred something greasy, I thought it better to put a little points to my health. Especially after my spending in the markets.

I bought my snacks outside and troubled by the lack of a table, improvised by using the thick cement railing as an impromptu table. This rare moment of peace felt quite nice. These past days had been one shock or revelation after another, such that the good pieces of this place get buried in the coffins.

“This place has a way of opening people’s hearts.” I grinned yet I felt terror for the future.

A place where people wore their hearts on their sleeves, finding a way to go back home against the most cunning of Artists would prove to be dangerous.

I had no experience with violence. But this place might put all my morals at stake. I have to navigate through the moral dilemmas and unknown dangers while finding a way to cross the spacetime barrier between my home would prove lethal, and mayhaps bloody.

‘Hahh let’s get to it then!’ I pumped myself up as I walked back into my room, done eating my snack.

Positioning myself comfortably on my bed, I pulled the ring out of my pockets. It still gleamed in that ordinary way it did earlier this afternoon. There were still no mysterious changes I had expected. No mysterious feelings or intuitions warning me.

‘No 8.12 written on it.’ I breathed a sigh of relief at the lack of the last one. I feel like any more of it and I might actually go crazy.

The next 20 or so minutes passed by with me trying to damage the ring. I started out soft, feeble attempts at trying to bend or scratch it, but when the ring proved invincible to my efforts, I started getting harsher and harsher, but even till the end I failed to leave a mark on it.

The ring almost reminded me of a Ring of Power and I wondered if putting it on would turn me invisible too.

‘Maybe if I throw it in a fire it’d show some scriptures?’ I felt the genius of that idea for two minutes before I cooled down and realized how stupid it was.

This is not fiction and I could not manage to play with life like a game. ‘Cause like what the fuck am I supposed to do if it actually burns badly in the fire?’

Just when I was feeling stupid, I realized my greatest weapon. The mirror!

Scrambling to my feet, I picked up the mirror from the bathroom and brought it to my bed. Lying it against the bed frame, I first checked myself and the blue lines spoke of my relative good health while the Source above my head still terrified me a little.

Hence everything was great!

So with bated breath and deep expectations, I moved the ring in front of the mirror and things instantly cleared up. The ring was indeed not normal. But it was abnormal in a way I did not expect.

There were no ancient scriptures or runes or a hidden power inside the ring, but the ring in itself vanished when facing the mirror. An empty hand.

The realization drew a gasp out of me as I was alarmed and scared at this revelation. I rechecked, in real life this time, and it looked just how I expected it to. Why did it suddenly change?

I rechecked, closely this time with squinting eyes, and it had simply disappeared. No fuzzy air nor a distorted view to signify any sign of its presence.

‘But then why could I see it with my eyes?’ I wondered. What was different with my eyes and looking at it through the mirror?

Stumped, I sat wondering how to proceed from here. My greatest weapon has been used against me, and now I’m even more afraid of the ring. ‘Maybe getting away from it would be the best thing?’

It begged the question as to what could something like this hide for people to go all this way with its protection. And what are their intentions with it?

It shouldn’t be related to me right? I didn’t think so, not with certainty of course. The signs are there but I can’t imagine what someone would want of me.

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Is it related to the viscountcy? It seems highly likely. Any organization in its wake sows the seeds for many enemies. It’s not completely impossible for some super-strong organization to be after them. Not to mention the warning of the priest still rings true in my head.

It’s an ominous sign, for this place to feel so isolated but I still don’t understand how. How could we be isolated?

And is the priest with us or against us?

And as I sat there looking at my reflection, I couldn’t help but realize I’m quite small for my age. I barely reached 5’8”. My arms felt weak. I had lots of baby fat and not an ounce of muscle in me. I had good stamina.

Looking at myself I realised something. I can’t do anything in this game. Even staying alive wouldn’t be a guarantee if someone asshole wills it.

So what am I supposed to do? It was such an easy question. And now I feel like an idiot for not getting it earlier.

“I need some fucking information. And I need some fucking power. What the heck is the point of becoming an Artist if I can’t even do anything.” Reprimanding myself, I stood up and resolutely walked out of my room.

I had got it all wrong initially. I’m not the decision-maker here, I’m just a messenger. All I can do is pass information and passively prepare for what’s to come. I’m too weak, but I’m not completely helpless.

In nothing I have something. My weakness allows me the information and all I need to do is stay loyal and keep the trust of all parties and make sure I get out of it the least harmed.

‘This fucking sucks!’ I cursed, but I kept my thoughts with me.

‘Maybe I should’ve handed them the ring earlier. Goddamit, I just hope it doesn’t go against me.’ I hoped, but I didn’t regret a thing. Information is key and even trinkets of data might help me somehow.

Getting out of my room, I asked the maid Hiruni (who still sat outside patiently), to take me to the steward. After a “Yes sir” and a short bow, we (me, Hiruni, and the two guards) were on our way to the steward.

I found him in one of the living halls with regal wallpapers and a three-set sofa around a coffee table. There were a few standalone sofas on the side along the wall. The walls had jutting pillars with designs creeping to the top. The ceiling was devoid of a chandelier as I expected, but consisted of a boy in the dark with a single lantern.

The face of the boy was hidden in the dark, and everything else too, but the one lantern shone brightly alone at the center of the ceiling.

The steward sat on the sofa reading some documents. There were papers strewn across the coffee table and considering how he winced at my entrance, I guess he didn’t want me seeing him like this.

As I entered the room, I asked the others to stay outside and walked alone. He too quickly but efficiently stacked the papers, as if trying to hide something, but I managed to catch a snippet of a title saying “Increased patrol on - due to-“.

‘Dammit!’

“You wanted to see me, Sir?” He asked, his voice indifferent as I was used to.

“Yes. As you might know, I visited the church today and the Father who presided over the mass gave me a ring to give it to you. He said you might tell me more about it yourself.” I said, trying my luck as I pulled the ring out of my pocket.

The steward in turn did not say anything but extended his hand towards me. I gently placed it in his palm.

Taking it, he checked it closely for a few moments and with a butter-ey ease, slipped it in his index finger. So no invisibility ring. Got it!

‘Was it.. his?’ I wondered but didn’t ask it.

“Thank you for your help, Sir. But unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything about it yet.” He said.

‘“Yet” huh,’ I mused internally, “I understand. If there is nothing else, can you make some preparations for me to visit the church in the evening?” I asked.

“I’m sorry sir, but that won’t be possible.” And he shut me down.

“Why if I may ask? Is there something wrong?”

“We can’t ensure your safety right now sir. Due to a sudden emergency, we have had to deploy our armed forces and the Artists on stand-by to the borders and at various VIP locations. Although the church is one of those locations, we can’t help you in the journey.”

“What might this emergency be?”

“I’m sorry, Sir. But that is out of your clearance level.”

‘Fuck!’ I cursed internally. Something has really changed and I regret not taking action earlier. What am I even supposed to do now!

- - - * - - -

Looking at the brat opposite him getting so stressed all of a sudden, Ricono wondered if he expected something to happen. He had displayed a cool-headed and cautious approach till now but suddenly seemed to wanna take an active approach.

The old Conor he knew would’ve instead sank deeper into his bedroom, but this one almost seemed anxious to go out. Ricono could understand his impatience. Learning about the Path of Questions is not something you can pause for so long.

To have controlled his avarice for so long was already praiseworthy. But what he couldn’t understand was this tension of doom surrounding him.

It’s like he expects to be attacked, but couldn’t tell what or who it was and desperately needed strength and knowledge to protect himself. An intrusive wish to silence him appeared in Ricono’s mind, but he forcefully suppressed it.

As dangerous as someone like him could be to his plan, this greed and impatience could be used just as much to his benefit.

‘It’s all about brewing perfectly and even a sour grape will someday be a great wine.’ Ricono thought as he finally addressed the young man in front of him. “May I ask, if this meeting with the Father holds a certain significance to you, Sir?” The last word always left a sour taste in his mouth.

Conor’s eyes settled on him and he could see his gears turning in his head. He wondered how much to reveal, and eventually said “It does. I had promised to help him in return for some help on my path as an Artist. As you might know, finding any help in this path is my current biggest worry.”

Ricono had to say he was a little impressed. Speaking the truths while hiding lies about his worries to make it sound true was good. Ricono smiled internally as he gazed at this changed young man who reminded him a little of his youth.

‘Powers do change a person.’

“You know,” Ricono started, noting his expressions as he continued, “there might be a way for you to meet him if you are willing to do something for me. Of course, I’ll make sure of your safety.”

And Ricono saw his expression change as his breath quickened and his eyes lost their focus. He knew he had his hooked and he smiled internally.

‘This can work.’

- - - - * - - - -