"……I think I’ll head out."
I muttered the words to myself in my room at the dormitory.
The amount of information I’d been bombarded with lately was simply too much.
"……"
My brain was starting to feel like it was on the verge of overheating.
"Lord Luka, are you going for a walk?"
Yuka’s voice came from behind me.
"Yeah…… just for a bit."
I gave a light stretch.
"I just need a change of pace."
"……Understood."
"I shall accompany you as your—"
"No, it's fine," I said, cutting her off. "I want to go alone for once."
"……"
Yuka fell silent for a fleeting moment.
"……I see."
After a short pause, she nodded.
"……Then, please be careful."
"Yeah."
I gave a casual wave and stepped out of the room.
"……"
……Every now and then, being alone wasn't so bad.
In the first place, I was the type of person who preferred my own company.
The streets of the Holy Theocracy outside the Academy were as orderly as ever—
"……"
It really was peaceful.
After hearing so many grim stories, that feeling was only amplified.
"……"
I wandered aimlessly, walking without any particular destination in mind.
I glanced at the shops, just letting the time flow by.
"……Ah."
This was relaxing.
Just the feeling of not being watched by anyone made me feel at ease.
Taking a stroll was a good idea; just walking while the cool wind blew against me cleared my mind.
"—Hey there."
"……You’ve got to be kidding me."
As I turned around, the words slipped out of my mouth instinctively.
"How cruel. Is that any way to greet a friend?"
Standing there was—
"Leonis. We’ve been running into each other a lot lately."
He gave a light wave with his usual smile.
"It seems like you're everywhere I go."
"Isn't this what they call fate?"
"Cut it out."
Hearing that from another guy just felt empty.
Still, being around Leonis did make things feel a little lighter.
"It’s rare to see you out alone."
"Just a change of pace."
"I see."
Leonis narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I suppose a lot has been weighing on you lately?"
"Yeah, exactly."
I gave him a firm affirmation. "Too many things have been happening."
"I bet."
He laughed lightly.
But—
"……"
For a split second, Leonis's eyes turned serious.
"Tell me," he muttered. "How far do you intend to get involved?"
"……Huh?"
"No."
He immediately reverted to his usual tone. "It’s nothing."
That was definitely one of those 'I know something you don't' moments. Please stop being so cryptic.
"……Whatever."
Well, fine.
"So? What were you doing?"
"Just walking. Same as you."
I’m changing my walking route next time.
"I feel like our reasons are different, though."
Leonis was truly hard to pin down. He seemed like a good person, but I couldn't see his true intentions.
"……Well, whatever."
I decided to stop overthinking it.
"Want to drop by a shop or something?"
"Sounds good."
Leonis smiled happily.
"I know just the place. It's quite interesting."
That smile felt more than a little meaningful—and I was fairly certain that wasn't just my imagination.
"……Here?"
He led me to a weathered-looking shop tucked away in a secluded alley.
Even the sign was faded.
"It’s an Antique Shop."
Leonis pushed the door open lightly.
Clang.
A small bell chimed.
"……"
Inside, the shelves were lined with old ornaments and trinkets.
There were rings, necklaces, and even tools I’d never seen before.
"……It’s got quite an atmosphere."
"Right?"
Leonis looked somewhat satisfied. "You don't dislike this kind of thing, do you?"
"Well…… I don't hate it."
Actually, I might even like it a little.
"……"
Suddenly, my eyes stopped on a particular shelf.
"……"
Sitting there was a single ring. It had a simple design with nothing particularly rare about it.
But—
"……"
What was this?
For some reason, I couldn't look away.
"……This."
Unconsciously, I reached out.
My fingertips brushed against the metal.
—In that instant.
"……Ah."
"—Finally, I have found you."
"……!?"
Goosebumps erupted all over my body.
"……Huh?"
What was that just now?
"……"
I looked around.
The shop owner was fiddling with something in the back. Leonis was looking at the shelves as if nothing had happened.
……No one had spoken.
Wait, that was a woman's voice, wasn't it?
"……"
Then where did it come from?
"……"
I touched the ring once more.
"—Slow."
"……!?"
I heard it clearly this time.
It was a voice that echoed directly inside my head.
"……"
A cold sweat began to prickle my skin.
"……Um," I muttered in a tiny voice. "……Who are you?"
"—'Who,' you ask? How rude."
A chuckle followed, sounding somewhat amused.
"—Even though I have been waiting for so long."
"……"
No, no, no, no. This is terrifying.
This is how those real-life horror stories start! I can practically see the title card for 'The Talking Ring' appearing over a backdrop of creepy background music!
"……Luka?"
It was Leonis's voice.
"Is something wrong?"
"……No."
I immediately feigned ignorance. "I-It’s nothing."
"……Really?"
"……"
I looked at the ring again.
"……"
It looked completely ordinary. Just an old ring.
But—
"—Touch it."
It was talking to me even without me touching it now.
"……"
Doing as I was told, I lightly picked it up.
"—Yes, that is the one."
The voice sounded satisfied.
"……"
What on earth was going on?
"……Did you take a liking to that one?" the shop owner asked with a grin.
"……Not particularly," I answered reflexively.
But—
"……"
I couldn't take my eyes off it.
"—Buy it."
"……Huh?"
"—I was yours from the very beginning."
The answer was immediate. There wasn't a hint of hesitation in that voice.
"……How can you know that?"
"—Rather than 'knowing,' I simply 'know' you."
I felt the faint presence of a laugh.
"……"
I didn't understand what it meant. I didn't understand, but—
"……"
It felt strangely right.
"……Are you going to buy that?" Leonis interjected from the side.
"……"
Could these two not hear it?
"……I just got a little curious." I managed a smile.
"……"
I looked at the ring one more time.
"……"
—Thump.
"……ng."
My heart gave a heavy throb.
"—Look," the voice whispered. "—Remember."
"……Remember what?"
I almost said it out loud before catching myself.
"……"
No one else could hear it. It was a voice purely within my own mind.
"—Hmph, well, fine."
The voice's tone dropped slightly.
"—Eventually, you will remember on your own."
"……"
What was with this thing?
"……"
Strangely, I didn't find the presence unpleasant.
"……How much is it?"
Before I knew it, I was asking the price.
"Oh?"
The shop owner smiled happily. "That one is……"
"……"
Beside me, Leonis quietly narrowed his eyes.
"……"
He said nothing.
◇◇◇
After leaving the shop.
"……So you ended up buying it after all."
"……I guess so."
The ring felt unusually heavy in my pocket.
"……"
Leonis glanced over at me.
"You should take good care of that."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Who knows?"
It was his usual flippant response.
But—
"……"
For a moment, the atmosphere turned serious.
"……Luka."
"Hmm?"
"Tell me," he said, pausing for a beat. "—How much do you 'remember'?"
"……Huh?"
I didn't understand the question.
"……"
But for the briefest moment after he said it, a memory I shouldn't have possessed flickered in my mind.
A white light.
Someone's smile.
—"Luka."
"……ng."
I shook my head.
"……It’s nothing."
Leonis gave a small laugh.
"It seems it's okay for you to forget for now."
"……"
I watched his back as he walked away.
"……"
I reached into my pocket and touched the ring.
"—Do not let it trouble you."
It was the voice from before. This time, it sounded almost kind.
"—Eventually, it will all connect."
"……What do you mean by that?"
Despite the mystery, I didn't feel like letting go of the ring I held.
"—Regardless, you are weak. Are you truly human?"
……Maybe I should just crush this thing. I have enough problems without a sarcastic ring.