“Now would you tell us about the bracelets?” Anemone said, slowly taking off her bracelets.

  The appraiser seemed to be getting more bored with this group of people before him as the conversation continued, “I know nothing about bracelets.”

  “Then how did you know that my bracelets were ‘beauties’ before?” Anemone said, slowly getting infuriated.

  “I never said that.”

  “Whatever.” She said, puffing like a child and crossing her arms. “Father, let’s go to another appraiser.”

  “One second, young one,” He said, before turning to the appraiser, “Could you tell us what lives inside each of these scrolls?”

  “That is beyond my skills.”

  “Well, thank you for appraising the rings.” Father then stepped forward, grabbed the leather pouch from the table, and was about to put the rings inside, before the appraiser stopped him.

  “My payment.” The appraiser said while tapping the table, getting louder with each tap. “Ten gold.”

  “It was five gold.” Tasim cut in.

  ‘This damn brat.’ The appraiser cursed inwardly. “Oh yes, my apologies, five gold.”

  Father reluctantly forked over five gold then grabbed the rings, handing them to Astrape, who had held them before. “How can we find out more about the ring? As you said, no appraiser can tell us everything about it.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, where can we find out about the bracelets?”

  “I don’t know, but I will tell you, it will be with the same person who can tell you about the scrolls.”

  “Let’s just go.” Anemone retorted, turning towards the door.

  “I’m coming, Anemone,” Astrape said, following closely.

  Soon, everyone left, now in search of someone else.

  ‘We need an appraiser who can, well, actually appraise.’ Tasim scoffed internally.

  Everyone soon made their way down the street, just looking at shops that seemed as though they may have an appraiser.

  Tasim was deep in thought at the back of the group before saying aloud. “Let’s go to magic shops and ask around for anyone who could tell us something about the scrolls.”

  “Why a magic shop?” Anemone asked

  “Because the scrolls are related to magic…” Tasim said condescendingly.

  The air became silent as Anemone didn’t respond, and instead just kept walking, annoyed by Tasim.

  Soon enough, the group walked by a street dedicated to the art of battle, shops for swords, staves, wands, armor, and shops for grimoires, scrolls, tomes, and many other related items. The cohort walked into a dark shop, which seemed gloomy to Father and Father alone; the ceiling was painted a dark blue with white stars. There was very little light in the shop, and the candle chandelier seemed to have the dimmest candles that anyone had ever seen.

  Immediately as the cohort entered the shop, the lady behind the counter spoke with a soft voice.

  “My mistress told me a group would be arriving soon, and told me to show you to the back, so please, follow me.”

  Astrape and Anemone felt creeped out, whereas Father and Tasim seemed to understand why and followed the lady without thinking twice. Soon, the cohort found themselves going through two curtains and entering a dark room that seemed to have light, but no source. And before they could fully take in their surroundings, another soft, older voice spoke.

  “Anemone, Father Hatheway, Tasim, Astrape, please sit.”

  Four loud bangs erupted from behind each member of the cohort, and where the noise came from now sat four wooden chairs. Each person sat and looked forward, where a young-looking lady stepped out. She had jet black hair down to her waist, and dark clothes, pale skin, and ruby eyes.

  “Are you a seer?” Tasim asked.

  “Do not worry, dear. You will not be at risk while you are here.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question. Are you a seer?”

  “Yes, darling.”

  “What do you see?”

  “Black in the night, darkness appearing before YOU and disappearing. And growth for each of you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “No more questions.”

  The woman soon handed a small piece of paper to the group and spoke once more before disappearing.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  “You will know more after you come to understand these.”

  Tasim looked down as he was the one to grab the paper and began to read aloud.

  “Name: Bracelet of Despair

  Appearance: rose gold bracelet, a red streak across the face.

  Judgement: Active ability, while this bracelet is fed with mana, those who harbor any ill feelings towards the wearer will feel as though their weight has increased.

  Relic rank: Fragment, two of five.

  Name: Weeping Cuff

  Appearance: A lapis colored bracelet that feels rough to the touch.

  Warped Soul: Active ability, the emotions of a target are flipped on their side while this bracelet is fed with mana.

  Relic rank: Fragment, four of five.

  Name: Hollow Echo

  Appearance: A jet black bracelet that feels as heavy as the earth.

  Past Cacophony: Active ability, while within range of a target, the bracelet will cause the target to hear echoes of their past, audible memories.

  Relic rank: Fragment, one of five.

  Name: Frozen Veil

  Appearance: A normal gold cuff with no distinct features except that, in the night, it glows bright.

  Ghostly: Active ability, when the ability is activated, all movement done by the user is not registered to any others for two seconds.

  Relic rank: fragment, five of five.

  Scrolls:

  Four scrolls wrapped with blue string: Unable to decipher.

  Two scrolls with black string: Single-use scroll, able to give the reader the ability to repair any garments worn through the use of mana.

  Two scrolls with red string: Single-use scroll, able to give the reader the ability to remove any stains, filth, or dirt from garments connected to their body.

  Scroll with green string: Single-use scroll, gives the reader the ability to bloom any plant life or fungus with little mana.

  Scroll with red and black string: Single-use scroll, gives the reader the ability to distinguish any fruit, vegetables, fungus, or any life besides animals from one another.

  That’s everything.”

  “I want one of the scrolls that gives you the ability to repair garments and clean garments, that way I can wear my dress more often and look pretty.”

  “Anemone, you already look beautiful,” Replied Astrape.

  “Thank you, but I still want them.”

  “I don’t mind giving them away.” Father Smiled.

  “Neither do I,” said Astrape.

  “Go ahead,” said Tasim after a brief pause.

  Anemone quickly grabbed those scrolls and pocketed them in her spatial ring.

  “The scroll that gives the reader the ability to bloom flowers is useless for me; one of you can have it,” Tasim remarked. “I only want one of the scrolls that is undeciphered.”

  “May I have one too?” asked Astrape.

  “Everyone should get one of those,” Father replied. “And since Anemone likes to cook, she should have the scrolls relating to plant life.”

  “Why not give her every single one? Go ahead,” Tasim remarked, and just decided to let it be.

  “Thank you, Tasim and Father.”

  “Mhm.”

  “You’re welcome, young one.”

  Anemone grabbed the rest of the scrolls and put them in her own spatial ring, but not before giving Astrape two scrolls, one for repairing garments and one for cleaning them.

  “Thank you!” She said with a bright smile.

  Anemone then handed everyone a scroll with the black string.

  “I think everyone should open them on their own time, so we do not get jealous.”

  Anemone stopped mid-action from untying the knot.

  “You’re right, Father.”

  “Now, young one, what ring would you like? And which bracelet and rings would you like, Tasim, Astrape?”

  “Frozen Veil,” Tasim responded, his eyes incessantly darting towards the bracelet on Anemone’s arm.

  Anemone decided to remove the four bracelets that were talked about within the piece of paper and laid them on the table. Tasim grabbed the bracelet and fitted it upon himself. He quickly decided to test the new powers by simply standing up and sitting back down, looking to see if anyone noticed, which no one did.

  “I’ll keep the Bracelet of Despair, Father.”

  “May I have the Hollow Echo, Father Hatheway?” Astrape inquired softly.

  “I’ve told you to just call me Father, and yes, you may, I will take the Weeping Cuff.”

  Each person took their respective artifacts and thus put them on, while Anemone stared blankly at the other unknown artifacts that adorned her wrist.

  “Now, let’s go home. Thank you, Tasim.” Father said calmly, standing up.

  Anemone and Astrape followed suit and left with Father as well, while Tasim soon left alone.

  ‘What is with this description? What does it mean for it to be of the rank, fragment? And what about five out of five? Is it weaker than one that would be four out of five? Stronger? I wish this world would give me answers. Whatever, I have to go back to the store.’

  Tasim clicked his tongue and soon returned to the store where he had encountered Anemone, and he needed to buy a gift for the family he was staying with. It was a simple bag with a freezing enchantment. It was meant to keep produce frozen until used, and he thought it would be nice for them as they had taken care of him for so long.

  ‘I should hurry up so as not to worry them, though that old geezer may not even care.’ Tasim clicked his tongue as he returned to the store, entering to see that every customer was gone as the store had died down.

  Tasim entered, quickly returning to the shelf where he had originally seen the item. The item was still there, an ordinary-looking leather bag, but as one stuck their hand inside, they could easily put their entire arm, if not for the freezing temperature that made Tasim retract it quickly. Tasim soon paid a few gold coins for it and walked away, returning to the place he was staying at.

  ‘I paid too much for this. And to be giving a gift, this is unlike me.’

  Tasim was walking up to the front door when he saw a dog sitting in the dirt beside the stairs. The same dog that he had once fed and taken care of in the dark alleyway. It looked much healthier, and its fur became incredibly thick and a dark black. Tasim could see that it would be soft to the touch, but he didn’t know if the dog trusted him, nor did Tasim love it, so he decided not to touch it again.

  The dog awoke from its midday nap, uncurling itself and stretching, then locked eyes with Tasim, it seemed to be saying, “Welcome back, father.” And the dog then barked once and began to pant as its long tail wagged furiously, with so much speed that Tasim could see the gust of wind the animal was creating. The dog began to drip saliva onto the ground as it barked again.

  ‘Should I be scared? Or is it excited to see me? What the hell is this warm feeling bubbling up inside me? Is this a feeling of longing?’

  Tasim began to feel an unknown feeling inside his heart, one of tenderness, affection, and attachment. Tasim stepped forward while shaking his head, trying to put the feelings aside and darken his heart once more. The dog then ran forward, jumping up as it reached Tasim’s feet. Tasim was pushed back and dropped the bag that he had just bought, producing a soft thud as the ground caved in slightly, producing a small cloud of dirt.

  ‘Damn dog.’ Tasim felt a bit of ire at the animal, but it quickly washed away as the animal before him squatted down, her tail disappearing under her and her ears folding back while tears seemed to well up in its eyes.

  ‘Damnit, Tasim, don’t get attached.’

  Tasim picked up the bag and began to brush off the dirt, trying to ignore the dog as he walked past it. The dog turned around, no longer giving that sad look, and just looked up at Tasim, rotating its head to the side to signal its curiosity about what its ‘owner’ was doing. Tasim stepped inside, trying to force out thoughts about the dog.