Eric finally arrived at a large apartment, its grand entrance boasting towering columns and wrought-iron gates. A sweeping driveway led up to the main entrance, flanked by meticulously manicured gardens. The building itself was made from gleaming marble and carved stone.

Jett wondered if he was the only ring wielder who wasn't financially well-off. How could someone so young like Eric already possess such wealth and luxury?

As they pulled up, Eric commanded, "Out."

Jett and Whimsy obediently climbed out of the car. Eric followed suit, locking the car doors behind him, and led the way towards the imposing entrance. He rang the doorbell, and soon a man with short brown hair and cold blue eyes greeted them, bowing slightly.

"Welcome back home, Master Eric," the man said respectfully.

Jett felt a bit jealous. Despite being around the same age, Eric seemed to have everything–looks, wealth, and a grand home.

"Thanks, Morris," Eric replied, before leading Jett and Whimsy into the luxurious apartment.

Inside, Jett saw a sight even more lavish than he had imagined. Marble flooring, tasteful artwork, and plush furnishings adorned the living room. Plush sofas and armchairs beckoned invitingly, surrounding a grand fireplace.

As they moved further into the apartment, they found the dining room equally impressive, with a long, polished mahogany table and high-backed chairs upholstered in rich velvet surrounding it, all under the glow of a dazzling chandelier.

Eric gestured for Jett and Whimsy to take a seat, which they did gratefully.

"Master Eric, who are your guests?" Morris asked with a polite nod.

"More wielders," Eric replied bluntly. "Prepare rooms for them."

Morris nodded in understanding before taking his leave.

Whimsy interjected. "I hope I get a room all to myself."

Eric's response was dry. "Yes. I would rather avoid all of you as much as I can."

Whimsy couldn't resist teasing. "You're so dark..."

Jett steered the conversation back to their mission. "Could Ezekiel or Purge be the ones hunting the wielders?" he asked.

Eric shook his head. "No. I told you before that whatever has been hunting the wielders started two centuries ago. Neither Ezekiel nor Purge has been in existence since then. Also, if they were the ones hunting the wielders, I would have easily found out by now. Whoever is hunting down the wielders is good at covering its tracks."

As Morris returned to inform them of their prepared rooms, Whimsy's excitement bubbled over. "I can't wait to see my room!" they exclaimed, their legs spinning in a comical motion as they dashed off like a cartoon character would.

Jett watched in stunned amusement, then turned to Eric, whose expression remained impassive.

"Toon force. That should be Whimsy’s ability," Eric remarked. With a sigh, he stood up and addressed Morris. "Show them to their rooms. I’m heading out."

"Where are you going?" Jett asked as Eric made for the door.

"That’s none of your concern," Eric replied tersely before exiting the apartment.

Morris approached Jett, offering a sympathetic smile. "Don't be annoyed by Master Eric’s personality. I’m well aware it can be quite vexing."

"Why does he act like that, anyway?" Jett inquired.

Morris paused for a moment. "Master Eric has always been like that, but he became even more hard-hearted for more personal reasons," he finally replied.

Jett was even more curious, but Morris gently redirected his attention. "Let’s forget about Master Eric for the time being and allow me to lead you to your room."

Nodding reluctantly, Jett followed Morris. He could find out more about Eric later.

***

Eric drove along the desolate road, the night air chilling his skin. He caught sight of movement in his side mirror. With a sigh, he muttered to himself, "They’re here."

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

His ring glowed.

Eric parked his car in the middle of nowhere and stepped out, his eyes fixed on the darkness ahead. Eric checked his wristwatch. "Let’s make it quick this time, shall we?" he murmured to himself.

From the shadows emerged two figures. The first, a man in his thirties, with very pale skin, dressed in a sleek black suit, with jet-black hair and eyes so dark they were almost soulless. The second, a younger man, with cobalt blue eyes and matching black hair.

The older man spoke first. "As expected from you, Eric, you knew we were monitoring you."

The younger man chimed in. "What you are doing is futile, Eric, and you know it."

Eric scoffed, unfazed. "If you’re trying to intimidate me, you’ll have to try harder."

The younger man's expression softened into a sigh. "You know what I am saying is the truth, Eric."

Turning to face the older man, Eric's tone grew icy. "What do you two imbeciles want this time? Make it quick, Grimm."

Grimm, the older man, cut straight to the chase. "The cosmic ring wielder. I know you’ve kept him hidden, Eric."

"Even if I did, I would never hand him over to you," Eric retorted defiantly.

Grimm's voice lowered to a dangerous tone. "I heard Ezekiel is after him too, Eric. It’s only a matter of time before Ezekiel finds him. We are the only ones who can protect him."

"You underestimate my abilities, Grimm," Eric shot back.

The younger man issued a warning. "If you don’t hand him over to us, Eric. We will get him by force."

"Force? You’re welcome to try," Eric replied coldly.

Suddenly, the figure of Eric standing before them flickered and dissolved into nothing more than a hologram, leaving Grimm and the younger man startled. Grimm turned to inspect Eric's car, only to find it too was a mere illusion.

The younger man cursed under his breath. "That bastard tricked us."

But Grimm remained composed, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Calm down, Devin. Looks like Eric hasn’t lost his touch."

As Eric continued driving, the glow of his ring gradually dimmed until it vanished completely. With a heavy sigh, he muttered to himself, "Jett's going to be a bigger nuisance than I thought..."

***

In a motel room, Liam sat comfortably, focused on the video game on his phone. Suddenly, the silence shattered as Ezekiel's booming voice echoed through the room.

"Y'all better find him, and I mean pronto!" Ezekiel's voice pierced through the phone as he paced back and forth, clearly angry.

Hanging up, Ezekiel turned to Liam, who looked up from his game with mild curiosity. "Did they find anything in the house?" Liam asked casually.

"Man, ain't nobody 'round there know a damn thing 'bout the man you described." Ezekiel growled.

Liam seemed perplexed. "How? My description was spot-on."

Ezekiel replied, "Well, ain't nobody heard of him."

Liam shrugged nonchalantly, offering a simple explanation. "Maybe he was just visiting. No biggie. We'll find him soon," Liam then returned his focus to his game without a care in the world.

However, Ezekiel wasn't one to tolerate such nonchalance, especially not when the stakes were this high. Seizing Liam by the collar, he lifted him into the air, his voice dripping with menace. "I done told you not to mess with me, ain't that right?" he snarled, his grip tight.

"Only like a thousand times…" Liam replied, his voice strained.

"Better pray we find this fool, or you gonna be wishin' you never been born," Ezekiel threatened, tightening his grip.

Ezekiel then released Liam, sending him crashing to the ground.

Liam winced in pain as he hit the ground. "I’m fragile, you know?" he groaned.

Ignoring Liam's complaint, Ezekiel's attention was drawn to Liam's phone as it chimed with a notification. Liam checked the message, and a grin crossed his face as he read it.

"Looks like my prayer was answered," Liam declared as he showed his phone to Ezekiel.

In the notification, Ezekiel saw a picture of Jett, tagged as 'Wanted dead or alive. Body must be brought back to Purge, if dead. Reward: 30 million dollars.'

"So, his name's Jett, huh?" Ezekiel remarked, intrigued.

Liam nodded. "Seems like it."

Ezekiel chuckled darkly. "Damn… Purge still kickin'? And he's joinin' in on the hunt, too?"

"This will make it easier for us to find Jett," Liam remarked, somewhat excited.

"Thirty mil? Well, let's hope Jett can hold his own 'til we track his ass down, wherever the hell he at," Ezekiel mused, a plan forming in his mind.

***

Back at Eric’s apartment, Morris led Jett down a lavish hallway, decorated with more stunning paintings and antique furnishings, until they reached a grand wooden door. Morris swung the door open, revealing a room fit for royalty.

Warm, golden light streamed in from the large windows, which offered a breathtaking view of the beautiful city below. The walls were adorned with beautiful draperies and paintings, and a plush, king-sized bed sat in the center of the room, dressed in luxurious linens.

Jett's eyes widened in awe as he took in the beauty of his room. "Wow," he breathed, hardly able to believe his luck.

Morris smiled proudly. "I hope you find everything to your liking, Mr. Jett. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask."

Jett nodded, still taking in the grandeur of his new room. "Thank you, Morris. This is incredible."

As Morris prepared to leave, Jett asked in curiosity, "How long has Eric been doing this?"

"You mean warning other ring wielders?" he clarified, and Jett nodded in response.

"About four years ago, if I remember correctly," Morris replied thoughtfully. "He was just around nineteen then."

Jett was shocked.

"Nineteen? Wait… Is Eric twenty-three years old currently?" he asked, confused.

Morris nodded. "Yes, why are you so shocked?" he inquired.

"He looks like he's around my age… how is he twenty-three? He looks so young."

Shaking off his confusion, Jett refocused on the conversation. "Are we the only ring wielders here?"

Morris hesitated for a moment before answering. "There's just one other one, but she doesn't like to be disturbed. Something personal happened," he explained, with sadness in his voice.

Jett nodded in understanding as Morris bid him farewell. "I hope you enjoy your time at the residence."

Alone in his new room, Jett sank onto the plush bed, glancing down at the ring on his finger. "I’m definitely going to become stronger."