Michael was sitting with vacant eyes, focused on nothing in particular. His elbow were propped up as it held his head. He and the others were relaxing in a small plot of cut green grass in a building that was hastily made by the Cyclopes during the lengthy meeting they had. Michael was astonished when they lead him to the building. It was surrounded by a twenty-foot-high wall made of black granite that housed the building, a small pond shadowed by a tree, and a garden to relax in.

Agata, near the pond, was playing a flute she had made from the surrounding fauna, a past time she enjoyed on peaceful days. Jax and Michael’s guards stood around him attentively basking in the music produced and the pleasant weather; yet well prepared for any threat to their liege. Though he looked to be daydreaming, Michael was studiously reading a system message he had just happened upon. Something he still didn’t know how it had never occurred to him.

System ~

Status ~

Name ~ Ruthar (Michael) Ges Lunar Kindreal - The Beneficent

Afflictions ~ Two Souled - Insanity [ Ruthar (Weakened) ] - Sanity [ Michael (Strong) ]

Titles ~ King of Cyclopes and Titans

~ Of Both Greater Dominions (Celestial - Order - and Infernal - Chaos)

~ The Man Who Holds a Dragon’s Treasure

~ The Last of Balanced Scales

Affinities ~ Shadow - Light - Wind ~ A King’s People and Their Strength

~ Fire - Ice ~ Lunar Kindreal Bloodline

~ Order - Chaos ~ The Last of Balanced Scales

One thought kept circling his mind every time he read his status if he had so many affinities, why couldn’t he use any? Or at least why couldn’t they be built into him already? It would have done everyone a great service if he could suddenly throw ice spikes or fireballs without having to learn it over again. Shaking his head, he looked back towards Bialo.

The old man had a massive frown on his face as he was obliterated consistently in this worlds version of chess. His opponent was none other than Mister FluffBottom who had been tied down to stakes buried deep under the ground. With nothing better to do, they both somehow got into a competition with a board they forced some of the craftsmen in the city to make.

Releasing a great sigh, Michael felt incredibly bored. The short-lived adventure they’ve had was thrilling, but it came with withdrawal effects. Now, he felt a great need to continue on their journey even though he didn’t need to. He was safe in a city filled with loyal Cyclopes, in the middle of death forest, and has an illusionary dome covering it. Sighing again, he looked down at his hands. They were calloused even though he technically hadn’t lifted a sword his entire life.

Closing his eyes, Michael felt his muscles ache for a familiar, a weight, feeling he didn’t recognize. The memory of a thrilling dance of life and death permanently etched into his body. At least he had that to rely on if the need ever arrived. Sighing again, it got Agata to stop her beautiful melody to glare at him with heated eyes.

“Ruthar, your sighing too much. Stop moping and enjoy the relaxed air,” Waving around with her flute, she pointed to the greens surrounding him. “Only the Lord knows how much you need it,”

Having said her piece and before Michael had a chance to reply, she happily returned to her flute enjoying herself. Looking back at Bialo, Michael waited until he lost again to Mister FluffBottom before he could interrupt. He had a face of supreme focus. It would not be good for anyone to distract him from the game. Waiting for a few minutes more, Bialo’s groan of defeat was clear for all to hear. That brought a smile to Michael’s face.

Clutching his head in his hands, Bialo looked utterly exhausted at the thrashing he faced.

“A ball of fur has no right being so good at this. It was made for the sophisticated, not the wild, untamed beasts!”

On the other hand, Mister FluffBottom had an air of apparent pleasure and pride. Who could blame him when he had won nearly twenty-seven matches in a row against the supposedly best player ever? He purred in satisfaction as its paws worked overtime to reset the board for another game while Bialo prepared himself for another battle.

“Bialo,” Michael called to get his attention before the game started. His interruption got a furry frown from Mister FluffBottom. “I have a few questions that I hope you can answer,”

“Of course, Young Master. I am forever at your service,” Bialo said as he looked away from the already set board. Mister FluffBottom took that as a chance to make the first move.

“H-how long are we staying here?” Michael asked hesitantly.

Raising an eyebrow, Bialo waited for him to explain himself. Why would they need to to go anywhere when they were surrounded by forces meant to be reckoned with? They had everything they needed, a safe place to hide and train themselves.

“Didn’t my father plan for us to head to the Kingdom Upon the Mountains? It would be wise to follow his carefully planned directions,” Michael said.

“Your father devised this plan to get you into a position of safety, away from the clutches of the Empire. That point is moot if we already check every need here. I would say this is a better position because no one knows it exists,”

Sighing again, Michael put his head back into his hands, elbows propped up on the chairs handle. Chuckling merrily, Bialo returned to his game, his pieces clinking more than usual, determined to win at least once.

As the current situation continued, Michael heard a ruckus outside the walls. Sounding to be farther into the city, maybe even far enough to be at the entrance. Rushing out of his chair, he ran up a set of stairs to the top of the walls; quickly followed by his guards and Jax. Looking over the parapets, he noticed a large gathering of Cyclopes lead by the Peteious and Agnitum who towered above them.

This time, Peteious was carrying a bettered shield on his left arm while Agnitum looked perfectly fine. As though he went on a stroll in the park, not an epic battle against a creature they had lost too once already. Looking behind them, he noticed a dark and long figure carried by many Cyclopes. The thing was enormous, half as full as a Cyclops is tall and longer than ten combined.

As the crowd came closer and closer towards where he stood, the large mass became more defined. The first thing to pop out in his eyes where the large white fangs that hung from its upper jaw, while its mouth was open in its comatose state. Next, came in its physical features, it looked like a giant king cobra with black and dark green scales that shimmered in the sunlight.

“Mortal King, we have returned with a defeated foe and a gift,” Peteious said in a booming voice.

“This here is Senzard the thief, a devious beast, master of deceit,” Agnitum said in lock step with Peteious as he pointed at the massive snake. Following his stop, Peteious continued as he placed a ring the size of a small dog on the battlements.

“This is the results of his loss, a ring of power. Please, Mortal King, place it upon your finger, as a sign of dominance,”

Looking dubiously at it, he turned back to the Titans with a flat stare. He hoped they would understand from just his facial features, but it was obvious from the beginning that they didn't. Walking past his guards towards the ring, he stopped a few steps away, pointing at it in the process.

“Isn’t the ring kind of big? As in, fits around my waist big?”

Michael heard Bialo’s trademark chuckle, turning around he saw him and Agata walking up the stairs and onto the battlement. A pleased smile adorned Bialo’s face as he stared at the ring. Walking up to it, standing right next to Michael, he studied it for a few minutes. The longer he stared at it, the more a great frown grew on his wrinkled face. Looking away, he stared at the two titans, eyes speaking with deep meaning. A look of surprise hit Peteious and Agnitum; they were not expecting to get caught. But, they somehow came to an agreement without speaking a single word, just nods of affirmation.

As they eyed each other, Michael stood at the side a strained look on his face. He never noticed the covert discussion that took place before him. His mind was being torn by the sudden return of the whispering voices and even the guiding nudge at the back of his head. They fought for dominance while he suffered in their place. The whispers struggled with all their might to accept the ring, to accept the responsibility that came with it. While the nudge was forcefully adamant that he stay as far away as possible, even going as far as to destroy it.

Louder and louder their battle became in his mindscape. Closing his eyes, he squeezed them shut attempting to lessen the pain somehow. But, it was all for naught, his action went completely unnoticed by the two.

“Michael,” Bialo said in worry, his voice sounded distant barely heard.

Clutching his head, Michael stumbled forward as he felt the world clear up. His choice was obvious, the path ahead as clear as unstained glass. Walking forward under the troubled gazes of those around him, his eyes took in the large ring. It was colored like Senzard, black and dark green coating in beautiful swirling designs. At the top was a large gemstone that glowed a disturbing purple color, somehow at complete odds with the blacks and greens.

Michael closed his eyes again this time, focusing on a sensation deep behind his eyes; like a piece of hair that had gotten in. Pulling from there, he felt two forms of energy spring forth from each eye. From the left eye oozed a black fog so deep and dark even Bialo took steps back in panic. At the center of the bleak fog was a golden pupil in the shape of a slit that glowed brightly. The right, the pure white unchanging, formed sparkling lightning of purple from his pupil.

He saw deeply into the ring, dissecting it to its most basic forms. Each metal was laid clear to his left eye, the proportions obvious though he did not know the many names used to create such an intricate thing. The mana stone was singular in make, yet he did not recognize what it was. His right eye opened a screen before him describing the usage of the ring, analyzing what it was and it's intent.

System ~

Item Analyze ~

A Ring of Power - Senzard’s Ring of Fate ~

A ring of power, used in the defeat of Senzard of Seven Centuries. A price he paid for the path he chose to embark on. Freedom or Death, he chose death.

Intent ~

The make of this ring was for devious usage. It bonds the wielder with the opposite ring clamped on Senzard’s throat. It gives them absolute power over him and his future. In concise words, it enslaves Senzard to them.

Breathing out a sigh, he let the power fade as his arms moved without conscious choice. Reaching out to grab hold of the ring, he touched it. In response, he felt a light zap on the tip of his fingers. The large ring began to morph, in an almost liquid state similar to mercury, up onto his middle finger. Wrapping around tightly, he knew without an ounce of doubt that it was impossible to get rid of, impossible to shed this vast mountain of a burden.

Looking back at the comatose serpent, Michael felt connected to him. A thin tendril of power stretched between them. As he stared at the dark coloration of the scales, his gaze finally reached Senzard’s eyes, only to find them open and awake. In them, he saw pain, panic, and a feeling of great sorrow. A drop of tears slowly fell down the serpents scaled features as the realization set in. At that moment, Michael felt his choice to be utterly wrong, but it was too late, he would have to live with it for the rest of his life.