I sat on the front porch of the old man's house, staring out at the quiet village.
The ring rested in my palm.
Even now, I was still trying to understand what had happened.
A strange book.
A hidden cave.
A talking ring.
And somehow, a fireball powerful enough to burn down half the village if I had held it for even one second longer.
It all felt absurd.
Erin stepped outside and sat beside me.
"So," she said, glancing at the ring, "what do you think about Grandpa's story?"
I turned the ring over in my hand.
"To be honest?"
She nodded.
"I believe him."
That surprised even me.
I looked out toward the edge of the village.
"What I don't understand is why he never used it himself."
Erin tilted her head.
"What do you mean?"
"If this ring really belonged to some ancient Guardian, and your grandfather has known about it all this time…"
I looked back at her.
"Why did he need someone else to protect this village?"
Erin thought for a moment.
"Maybe the ring chooses who can use it."
She looked at me and smiled.
"Or maybe it was waiting for you."
I laughed.
"You really believe I'm pure of heart?"
"Yes."
She answered too quickly.
I looked away.
"I don't."
The words came out quieter than I intended.
Erin said nothing.
She just waited.
Eventually, I stood.
"Well."
I stretched my arms overhead.
"Whether I believe it or not, we have work to do."
Erin stood with me.
"Compound City?"
I nodded.
"Compound City."
As we began walking away from the village, I glanced back.
The old man stood silently in the doorway of his home, watching us.
For a moment, he looked less like a teacher and more like someone saying goodbye.
He turned and disappeared back inside.
Erin walked beside me quietly.
Then she spoke.
"Earlier."
I looked at her.
"You said you don't think you're pure of heart."
I sighed.
"You really want to hear why?"
"Yes."
I hesitated.
Then decided there was no reason to hide it.
"In my world, I was part of the military."
She nodded.
"You told me."
"I wasn't just some soldier."
My eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead.
"I was sent on missions that no one should ever be sent on."
The trees around us swayed softly in the wind.
Sometimes, it felt easier to talk when I wasn't looking directly at someone.
"We destroyed villages."
I swallowed.
"We hunted people."
"We killed anyone considered a threat."
Erin's expression didn't change.
"I told myself it was necessary."
My hand tightened.
"Then one day, I came home."
The memory hit instantly.
Sharp.
Unwelcome.
"My sister was being held hostage."
My voice dropped.
"There was a knife to her throat."
Erin quietly took hold of my hand.
I kept speaking.
"Before I could move…"
I stopped.
The image flashed again.
Blood.
Shock.
Silence.
"He killed her."
The words barely came out.
"She died in front of me."
Erin's grip tightened.
"And that was the first time I realized…"
I laughed bitterly.
"I might be the villain in someone else's story."
We walked in silence.
Eventually, Erin spoke.
"That wasn't your fault."
I looked at her.
"It feels like it was."
She shook her head.
"The people who sent you."
Her voice was steady.
"They failed you."
I laughed softly.
"Maybe."
Then I looked forward again.
"But maybe this world is my chance to start over."
She smiled.
"I think that's exactly what it is."
Before I could answer, something rushed past us.
A horse.
Fast.
Too fast.
Then something fell from the back.
A body.
No.
A person.
I drew my sword immediately.
Erin ran forward and pulled a bag off the person's head.
A girl.
Brown hair.
Blue eyes.
Young.
She looked up at us.
"You're the ones who bought me?"
I blinked.
"Excuse me?"
Erin looked at me.
"Ren…"
Her voice was quieter.
"She's a slave."
I felt something inside me snap.
"She's what?"
"People buy contracts."
Erin looked down.
"Sometimes for labor."
Her voice hardened.
"Sometimes for much worse."
I turned.
The horse rider had noticed.
He was slowing down.
Good.
I raised my hand.
Magic circle.
Fire.
A fireball launched from my palm and tore through the air.
The rider saw it too late.
The flames struck him directly.
He screamed and fell from the horse.
I traced another circle.
Teleport.
I appeared beside him before he could stand.
He looked up.
Terrified.
"Please—"
I drove my sword into his chest.
Quick.
Clean.
Merciful.
He stopped moving.
I searched his belongings.
Handcuffs.
A leash.
A whip.
My jaw clenched.
Then I found it.
A folded contract.
I took it.
Opened another magic circle.
And returned.
Erin was helping the girl sit upright.
I handed her the paper.
"Do whatever you want with it."
Erin unfolded it.
Her eyes moved quickly across the page.
"Her name is Robin."
She looked at the girl.
"You were sold for one thousand gold."
Robin looked away.
"I know."
She sounded numb.
Not sad.
Not angry.
Just tired.
I knelt in front of her.
"Where is your home?"
She hesitated.
Then answered quietly.
"Compound City."
Erin and I exchanged a look.
That was convenient.
And probably dangerous.
"Your parents?"
Robin nodded.
"My father is there."
I smiled.
"Good."
She looked up.
"Can I travel with you?"
Erin hesitated.
I could see the concern in her face.
More responsibility.
More risk.
More ways things could go wrong.
I understood.
But I also knew the answer.
I extended my hand.
"Of course."
Robin stared at it.
Then slowly took it.
I helped her to her feet.
"Looks like our journey just got more interesting."
For the first time since we met her, Robin smiled.
A small one.
But real.
We started walking again.
Three people.
One destination.
And no idea what was waiting for us in Compound City.