lia'

few-easily gathered, easily left behind. A mage had little need for sentimental possessions, and yet,

asn't

s it s

ntirely-something I am

lized I had barely seen anything beyond these chambers. I had spent my time within these h

to see what lay beyond t

ce at the quiet ro

cast golden light onto the polished floors. The palace was eerily silent, the weight of mourn

of the Eastern Kingdom had never mattered to me before, but now, as I traced my fingers over the cool stone pillars and p

now why he

had denied him

e. They merely bowed their heads slightly as I stepped onto

anging their wares while children dashed between their legs, laughter spilling into the streets.

ng alleyway, observing

o underst

was fore

is-this ease, this joy that radiated from

the stereotypes for mages. That at some point in thi

g. Perhaps this was the life Samuel had once wished for.

ace, my gaze flitting from one shop to another, u

smith's

d hilts, polished scabbards, and chains meant to be fastened onto weapons. My gaze

s life as king. If I left him with this, he

me. I will leave soon and he will have no tr

e will forget my voice and the

name. I want him to remember that

e his father form dying. He found an elf who had been wanting to find her purpose. He found me... los

is," I said, poin

ked up from his work. He barely spared a glance at the

en, he

shock, his gaze locked onto my left hand a

ke sure he wasn't imagining things. His voice d

d slight

hing, it deepened, as if I had just to

as a breathless, disbelieving chuckle. "You want to buy a mere

, confused. "It

ly. He looked at me as if I had spoken

th something akin to reverence as he leaned closer. "That is no

h to respond but

f a kind." His voice softened, as if revealing something sacred. "It is given only to those who have proven themse

til

d. To possess that ring means its bearer fought through trials most would ne

ng realization se

d given t

e childhood to wield a blade before he could write his own name. Sa

o privilege. He had foug

e symbol of his victories, o

my silence. "For a man to give away such a thing,

, at the way the lig

gi

t was merely th

re than a mere

he give up this ring over an immortal who failed to her duty

eternity for I will live in it. For I will li

im entrust such a valuable fortu

or making me feel emotions I

the balance of the scales of

ver ask for more. But why do I feel greedy and I want to stay? Why do I want to stay bes