Our Eternity

Chapter 54 - Rings (Part 2)

Scaramouche's POV

 Tsk!

 Definitely not repeating that.

 "Pfft! Hahahaha!"

 "What the hell are you laughing about?" I snapped back.

 "Nothing."

 Then stop laughing you bastard!

 Eventually, he seemed to calm down somewhat as he walked towards the door.

 "Here."

 Before he left, he turned around, throwing something at me.

 He was already gone before I could properly look at what I had caught.

 A box?

 It was a small box and in it...

 What the-

 A ring?

 A white ring with purple patterns.

 What the hell is this supposed to mean?

 "Oh? Was that supposed to be a proposal?"

 I turned around to glare at the ancient god.

 "You're saying more and more nonsense Morax. Is Tartaglia rubbing off on you?"

 Proposal?

 What nonsense!

 I wouldn't be surprised if it was cursed.

 "It can't be anything bad. Barbatos wouldn't give something dangerous to a child."

 "Barbatos?"

 "Yes, he had me give that box to Kazuha."

 Why would the anemo archon give something to Kazuha? And why would he give it to me?

 After some thought, I decided to put on the ring.

 If something were to happen, at least Morax is here.

 But when I put it on-

 "Wha-"

 The world around me darkened in an instant.

 It really was cursed!

 "The ring wasn't cursed, brat." A voice sounded behind me.

 I spun around and as I locked eyes with him, the darkness cleared up.

 Now, the sight before me was the same as the first time I spoke with the spirits.

 A white world, one table and four chairs.

 He sat on the chair that had been empty before.

 "Spirit of the spring winds?" I guessed.

 "Wrong."

 Then who?

 He looked to be in his late teens, early twenties at the most.

 I have definitely seen this guy before.

 If I'm remember correctly...

 "Barbatos." I concluded.

 "Congratulations." He said sarcastically.

 What is this all about?

 "Sit down, brat."

 That 'brat' again...

 And this guy is quite a bit older than me as well.

 Tsk!

 I sat down across from him cautiously.

 Now I somewhat understand why Raiden Makoto was wary of him. The aura this guy was giving off was frightening.

 Suffocating and oppressive, even.

 Just how did Signora manage to get out with the gnosis alive?

 "She was able to leave with my gnosis because I allowed her to do so, and no, I 'can't read your mind. Your question is pretty much written on your face."

 This scene...

 It feels awfully familiar.

 "Why am I here?"

 "Because I wanted to talk to you."

 "And this is the best way to do that?"

 He literally lives in the nation next door.

 "It's the easiest and it doesn't waste time since right now, the time is much faster here than outside."

 That reminds me...

 "Last time, a few hours in here was a month outside."

 "Well, now it's the opposite, so don't worry too much."

 That's good to know, but that still doesn't tell me why he wants to talk to me.

 "I brought you here to talk about Kazuha."

 "Kazuha?"

 "Yes, him. I suppose you have already gotten the crash course on spirits and the like so I won't bore you with that. All I need you to do is prevent that guy from losing his cool."

 "What?"

 "I want you to stop him from getting so angry that he causes a power outburst and destroys an at least 20-mile radius around himself."

 Destroying a 20-mile radius?

 Is that even possible?

 "The ring I gave Kazuha, well, the one that he handed to you at least, will notify you if his emotions are getting out of control."

 "How am I supposed to-" 

 "Just kiss him."

 "What?!"

 "That should be distracting enough. Now, enough of that, I don't have time for this. I have to go take care of my little yaksha. Just remember three things: we never met, we never talked, and above all, don't you dare even think of hurting Kazuha and ruining my peaceful life."

 "But the gnosis-"

 "You should ask a little closer to home. Try a certain archon bound to your little friend for example."

 Before I could ask another question, he snapped his fingers and the world reverted back to Morax's house again.

 "Are you alright?" Morax asked.

 "Huh?"

 What?

 "You were out of it for a second there."

 It wasn't just a second and I'm still kind of out of it.

 I looked down at the ring on my finger.

 What now?

 Well, first of all...

 "I should get going."

 "Did you manage to finish making what you wanted?" Morax asked.

 I held up a bundle for him to see.

 "May I take a look?"

 "No, and keep your little baby Tartaglia out of the fatui's sight for a while."

 "I was already planning to do so."

 At least like that, he won't have a chance to report back of my whereabouts.

 I smirked at the baby in Morax's arms and all he could do was sent back a look of anger and annoyance.

 "Have fun with house arrest, Tartaglia."

 I could almost see him explode in anger.