The leader of the Shadow Wolf guild was working at his desk.

He dipped his pen in ink, then crossed a paper with two resolute lines. Another funding request from his guild member which he rejected. There was no point in allocating money to requests that brought no value to the guild.

Someone dropped a stack of papers on his desk, adding to his work.

The leader glanced up, saw Trisha. He hadn’t seen her yesterday, wasn’t expecting to see her today. ‘I thought you’ve quit.’

‘I took a day off.’

‘I see.’ He resumed his work with the papers. He dipped his pen in ink, then cross—

Trisha placed a ring atop the paper, interrupting him.

Stolen novel; please report.

‘What’s this?’ he asked.

‘A gift,’ she answered.

He picked up and inspected the ring: its color was black, coated with white smoke-pattern. He recognized this design. Similar to the one he had bought years ago from Khiva’s annual bazaar. He chuckled. ‘An awful gift.’

‘I beg your pardon, “Awful”?’

You want me to say it, he thought. ‘I was naïve back then, scammed by a seller and bought an ordinary ring, believing that it was a mana storage tool.

‘You give this to ridicule me, and you’ve succeeded. An awful gift, Trisha.’

He tossed the ring. It rolled on the desk, then fell to the floor.

Trisha gave him a fierce stare.

‘You and I remembered it differently.’

She left the office, closed the door with a slam!

Having been left, he didn’t resume his paperwork. Instead, he stood, then walked to the front of his desk. He found the ring, stooped down, and picked it up. Again, he inspected the ring.

‘… Different how?’