7 The Rings Spirit 2 (1/2)
Anselm ignored the old man's final comment as he looked over at the ring on the bedside table.
”Huh?”
As his gaze fell on the ring, he noticed that it was no longer the same plain ebony colour as before. A silver ouroboros pattern appeared surrounding the ring like it emerged from within. The snake was so lifelike that it seemed as if it was slithering around the ring.
”The ring transformed after the old man appeared. Has this got something to do with passing the trial and gaining the ring's approval?”
The old man stroked his white beard and followed Anselm's gaze to the ring.
”That is the Dreamweaver Ring - an ancient aura artifact that appeared millions of years ago. On its outside, the ouroboros represents the perpetuity of the cycle of life and death. Preceding you, the ring had another owner, and a different person owned it before them. For it to end up in your hands can be considered both a blessing and a curse…”
Anselm focused on the ring, a hint of longing in his eyes.
'Just what did they leave me?'
Peering up at the old man, he said,
”So it's called the Dreamweaver Ring. How and why did you appear from it then? Could you be the ring's spirit?”
The old man let out a sigh and replied,
”When you cleared the trial, I could sense the restrictions on my soul weakening. The moment I felt this, I tried to exit the ring and my body appeared outside in the physical world at this location. For now, I can enter and exit the ring whenever I want to, but the time I can stay outside of the ring is limited, since it places too much of a burden on my injured soul.”
”So that means you've been in the ring this entire time then? If that's so, then doesn't that mean you've been watching me ever since I had the ring?” Anselm looked questioningly and full of hope at the old man.
'I was wearing this ring when Dylin and the others found me, so maybe if the old man has seen everything he can recall the time I was left at the village…”
The old man shook his head and said, ”It's not like that. I don't remember exactly how long I've been in the ring, but it seems like a powerful being sealed me in there. My soul has been slumbering for a long time and only awakened when you entered the ring following your near-death experience. My memory is very hazy as well, so I don't remember anything from before I entered my slumber.”
'So that's how it is.' Anselm started to feel slight pity for this old man; his soul had been sealed in the ring for an unknown amount of time, and when he woke up for the first time in a while, he had no recollection of anything that happened prior to his awakening.
”Gramps, do you remember your name at least?”
The old man snorted, ”Gramps? I'm not that old yet, kid.”
Anselm immediately replied, ”But look at your white hair, gramps. You're the oldest person I've seen!”
”Hmph. I'm still in my prime youth. Since I'm slightly older than you, I'll let you call me uncle instead.”
Winking, Anselm said, ”Okay, Uncle.”
”As for my name,” The old man began murmuring before he spoke up, ”Beirand! That's it. Beirand is my name. Since I've told you my name, what's yours?”
With a bright smile, Anselm puffed out his chest. ”Anselm. Anselm Dreamsworn! Nice meeting you, Uncle Beirand.”