Bound Together

Hello, trouble?

I decided to walk to the town proper,even though I am engrossed with my pursuits, I always make it a point to take a breather. The town currently is celebrating a festival which commemorates the superstitious belief that centuries ago there was a bloodsucking cult who lived here. Since it is modern times already, and people don't believe in superstitions and the supernatural anymore they start festivals to draw tourists towards their locality as a way to improve their local economy as well as making headlines to the news.

The truth is, there was a supernatural activity here in the past, and the governing council of Superno wants to know if there was a flagitor involved. It was rumored that Lord Aric, an infamous flagitor who was responsible for the mass killing in this area before has hidden here and the claims were he was petrified here. It was believed that he was temporarily sealed by some Carnifex at that time meaning they weren't successful at giving him his final death. Some members of the council wanted to finally find Lord Aric's petrified form and end him completely because there is a chance that a resurrection ritual will be made, awakening the infamous flagitor and many lives will definitely perish. That is the goal of my mother's quest.

Various designs of statues depicting bloodsuckers were erected all over the place. Images showing how bloodsuckers pursue victims, to how they drain their victims were displayed. People are bustling to and fro, enjoying the merry-making most of them tourists thinking that the festival is a queer albeit entertaining event.

I go to the bazaar section. I always make it a point to immerse myself with the local culture, and atleast try to practice the language of the country I am visiting. Since I am responsible for translating and decoding the language of the historical manuscripts, foreign languages has been included in my education. I am a polyglot and I have mastered several foreign languages already.

And some ancient languages too. I am excited to taste taste typical local dishes such as "ravioli with faraballà”,a kind of pasta filled with vegetables and wheat, and the “Zemin”, a vegetable soup.

And I want to check out the the antique shop, because I do collect antiques. I have a thing for vintage rings, and I am fascinated with rings that have a story to tell. As I tell my best friend, my ideal engagement ring isn't a diamond solitaire or a ring which costs a fortune but a ring which screams antiquity. I want something which has a story behind, and why it was designed that way or what the stone on it means and symbolizes. I am quite lucky that the antiques booth isn't difficult to spot. The antiques are exquisite from dresses to vases to combs and I can say that they have almost everything. I couldn't contain my excitement, I do have a hunch that I am going to find a real treasure here.I asked the shop owner, a friendly looking old man probably in his seventies, about their ring collection and when he showed me what his available rings are I was totally amazed. All of them are pretty. He told me that since I speak the language well he'd give me a discount, which made my day.it's just i am plainly conscious of how my stuff costs, I care about my finances a lot,Nana teases me of being a cheapskate sometimes.but I believe im just economical. That's another perk of learning the language of the locality when buying local goods you can always haggle. I couldn't make up my mind about the ring that I would buy, since all of them appear alluring but the old man told me that he thinks he has something which he thinks would help me solve my indecision . He went at the back of the shop and when he returned he showed me an ancient lacquerware jewelry box, inside it was a ring. The ring is a mesmerizing one with a mysterious stone as centerpiece which I believe is a Victorian-era ring in a 14K white gold bezel setting. An intricate 14K yellow gold milgrain and sculpted with nature-inspired motifs making the ring truly elegant. I have never seen a stone which has that kind of color. It looks like there's some mysterious fluid inside. I am not sure about what I see. But it is pretty. I feel like researching tonight so that I'll be able to know the name and composition of the stone, trust me I know a lot about gemstones but I couldn't identify this one specifically so I know this ring is indeed a rare find. I feel the hair at the back of my neck rise and I can feel the ring beckoning me to wear it. It's as if it's singing to myself to wear it. And I have to be honest, it would be a waste if I'm not going to buy it, it is such an elegant piece. But first things first, I have to try it. I decided to wear it on my left ring finger, why I wore it on that particular figure, it feels like it's the best placement for it. I took my time admiring the ring. It's my secret routine that whenever I buy a ring I say a little wish and desire, it's just like I use my new ring to manifest something that I want. I was shocked when I caught myself wishing that whatever I need the most in my life must come and find me soon suddenly I heard a clicking sound it's as if something became latched into something. I thought I was imagining things but when I tried to remove the ring, i couldn't take it off. I tried taking it off again but it wouldn't budge. I started to panic.

"Che bellissima, ti sta bene". He said that the ring looked good on me and the old man chided me and said that maybe the ring had chosen me as its owner.

A little bit flattered somehow, about what the shop owner said to me, I calmed down. So I decided to finally buy the ring and return home. On my way out an old lady who has her own makeshift booth called to me.

"Hello beautiful girl, do you want me to read your fortune? For a dollar you will be able to know your future." she said.

I wasn't a believer of fortune-telling but since I was thinking that the money I'm gonna be paying her would buy her, her dinner I welcomed the thought and agreed with her offer.