The Gambling Hero

Chapter 15: My Lost Finger

I was about to snap back at Bastrin for being so harsh to me, but before I could say anything the ring I had touched glowed. I tried getting up, but before I could the ring shot towards the ring finger on my right hand. I attempted to avoid it, but it locked on to my finger a painful fiery pain shot through the part on my finger that it had attached itself too. Bastrin was yelling something, but I could no longer hear him as I fell to my knees, and shut my eyes waiting for the searing pain to end. It only lasted for a few minutes, but it felt like a lifetime of pain I physically felt like the ring was serving my finger from the rest of my hand. Once I opened my eyes again I saw Bastrin, and Lilith looking at me with concern on their faces. I sat up, and Bastrin said in a concerned voice, "Kid quickly before you do anything, or say anything get that damn ring off your finger, or else you could lose your life."

I panicked upon hearing this, and I looked down at my finger that now has slight burns all over it. I attempted to slide off the ring, but the moment I tried I cried out. The pain of trying to remove the ring was worse than any pain I had felt before I felt my body pulsing. Lilith supported me with her hands from behind she said, "Master don't do anything rash your finger could fall off if you try anything stupid lets be careful." I had to agree no way I wanted to try that again. I spoke to Bastrin, "What is this ring Bastrin, why wont it come off, and why did it seem to bind itself on me when I touched it." Bastrin looked nervous, "That ring you stupidly touched has the potential to take more than your life if you aren't careful. That ring is one of the cursed demonic rings passed down in certain demon families, and I don't need to explain why that means bad news." I spoke up confused, "Cursed ring? You've heard of this ring before? " Bastrin said, "Not that particular one, but yes that's basic knowledge for any demon these rings are cursed living tools. They grant the wearer great powers, but unfortunately also have huge life changing demerits."

I shuddered, "Why was one just laying here seemingly in the middle of nowhere then seems kinda stupid that an all powerful ring would just by laying around." Bastrin paused again, but then seemed to realize something, "Kid these rings are cursed, and as a result of this they tend to seek out their next wearers. The rings only seek out demons though, so it was likely attracted to me, but you happened to touch it first." I was confused again, "They seek out demons? Why?" Bastrin explained, "These rings are symbiotic they seek out a host to form a mutual relationship with, and they trade power for nutrients. These rings are demons themselves since they are living, but they aren't sentient; they function only to survive. Their kind is nearly extinct; their numbers may only be a small fraction that have survived till current day." I shuddered, "Bastrin, what do they eat?" He looked at me with pity, "Well it varies depending on the ring, but since they go after demons generally I would say they eat their mana."

I dreadfully asked, "What would happen if a human put on the ring?" Basrin sighed, "I would have to guess it would instead eat away at your lifeforce, but on the other hand it could be taking in what you eat instead. That ring will die within a day without a host, so pulling it off might be impossible without first severing your finger." I didn't like that idea, so instead I stood up and said, "I would like to keep my finger thank you, but if I start to feel my life is in danger I will consider taking off my finger, but is there any other way to remove the ring?" Bastrin pondered for a moment before saying, "I don't know of any way, but maybe if you talked to the right person they might be able to remove it." Lilith looking serious said, "Master we should start riding out again, we can talk about this on the way." I understood her concern that we would need to find a place to sleep before it got dark. I said, "Yeah I agree let's talk about this on our ride." Bastrin frowned, but proceeded to make his way back in my backpack. I fed the horses, gave them a bit of water, and we got back on the forest path.

The forest path fortunately spread wider, so the horses could make their way north without trying to run through the jungle. I spoke again to Bastrin, "Bastrin I haven't noticed anything new but the pain in my fingers, I have no idea what the new power I gained could be, or about the demerit you talked about." Bastrin responded, "These powers from what I heard differ a lot, some give the wearer immense physical strength, others make the wearer irresistible to the eyes. The demerits however always have something to do with the original effects, so for example if it makes the user irresistible they may find that they are no longer attracted to others." I felt a pit in my stomach, "That sounds horrible Bastrin the trade offs almost seem like a cruel joke." Lilith spoke up, "Master demons are incredibly strong creatures, so you needn't worry I am sure there is a demon out there that will help you. Until then I will help shoulder the curse with you after all my life is directly tied to you never forget that." I blushed a bit. It was unlike Lilith to speak this much, especially saying something reassuring like that. I responded in kind, "Thanks Lilith I forgot that I was surrounded by such reliable allies I apologize." Lilith blushed, and turned away to look back at the forestry ahead of us.

Unfortunately we did not get lucky this time, and we were forced to mount our horses on some nearby trees, and make a small camp in the surrounding forest. It would take us another few days on horseback to make it out of the country of Hastain I was just hoping we would get a proper bed before then. I sat around a small fire that Lilith had made for us, and decided that we would have to properly hunt tomorrow along the way. I didnt want to feel the way I did in Astran I didnt like the feeling of just getting stuff handed to me I felt pathetic. I turned towards Bastrin to voice my compaints while Lilith read, "Bastrin I imagine we wil-." I froze confused Bastrin was next to me as usual sitting in his cat form, but something was shockingly off about his apperance.

Around his body there was a pink energy that seemed to be radiating from him, but he sat there looking at me with a confused experssion. I spoke up again, "Bastrin what the hell why are you glowing what kind of magic even is that?" Bastrin still looking confused asked, "Kid are you tired? I haven't so much as thought of doing any magic." Now it was my turn to be confused could he not see the pink energy? I got annoyed, "What do you mean its litterally coming right off you? How can you not see it." Lilith closed her book and looked over, "What are you two arguing about?" I explained what happened to Lilith, and she responded, "Master I cant see what you are talking about, but could this be a result of the ring perhaps." When I thought about it that made sense, and would explain things, but why blue energy that didnt give me much to go on.

Bastrin chimed in, "I could see that maybe the ring has granted you some sort of new sense? In the worst case this could be the demerit? We cant know what yet, but maybe try looking at Lilith what color is she?" I glanced at Lilith and saw that she was instead glowing a green color around her body I said in surprise, "Lilith is glowing green around her body I wonder what that means." Bastrin's body now turned blue, as he appeared to ponder something he spoke up, "Kid I wonder if you can maybe sense emotions with the usage of that ring I wouldn't be surprised if that ring has granted you that power." I felt fear take hold once I realized something, "Wait doesn't that mean that the demerit will likely be based on emotions too." Bastrin now glowing green like Lilith said, "Well Dante thats very possible like I said its generally based on the original power afterall."

I wanted to talk more, but Bastrin turned away from me now it seemed like he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. I decided to turn in for the night I would need to figure out what my demerit was tomorrow, and to make some use of this new power I would need to figure out what colors meant what. I had a lot to think about, but I ate a bit of leftovers from Kramlin, drank a bit of water, and decided to snuggle in my blankets now a bit worn out from sleeping outside. I feel into a sleep right away since I was so tired from the events that had quickly taken place today. I had to wonder what kind of god had it out for me to provide me with such an unlucky hand on my journey so far. I figured it must of been the god of sleep because as usual I was quickly woken up again to the sound of footsteps, and this time it wasn't Lilith because she was already up ready to strike at whoever had foolishly walked on our campsite.