Chapter 3 – The Ring and the Past
The late afternoon sun poured through the orphanage windows, casting a golden glow across the quiet corridor. Outside, a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if the world itself was holding its breath—until a sound broke the silence. Footsteps. He turned.
"And you, Lia?" Adrian murmured, his voice low, almost hesitant.
"Adrian… Director Maria didn't mean it in a bad way. I know she didn't. She's just… worried about you," Lia said, approaching him with a gentle yet firm gaze. "After everything that happened… we're just ordinary people."
Adrian sighed deeply, the weight on his shoulders almost visible. The old floorboards creaked beneath his feet, as if echoing the doubts that consumed him inside. He searched within himself for answers, something solid to hold on to.
Lia placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Come on, let's eat. Everyone's waiting for you."
In the dining room, the comforting aroma of fresh food filled the air—warm bread, roasted vegetables, and the faint scent of herbs. Sunlight danced across the walls, bringing life to the old space.
"Where's Adrian, Mom?" Theo asked, his voice eager.
Maria smiled softly.
"He's on his way, dear. Lia went to get him."
Moments later, Adrian entered the room. Theo's eyes lit up.
"Hey, buddy!" Theo shouted, his voice bright.
Maria stood up, her expression shifting to something more serious, her eyes heavy with unspoken emotion.
"Adrian… I want to apologize."
Adrian shook his head lightly, offering a weak but understanding smile.
"No, Director Maria… I mean… you're just worried about me. I get it."
Maria sighed, her thoughts weighing on her. After a brief pause, she made a silent decision.
"Adrian, come with me. I need to show you something."
The hallway stretched long and quiet, lined with old portraits and dim lights. Dust motes floated in the shafts of fading sunlight. It felt like stepping back in time.
They entered one of the oldest rooms in the orphanage, the air thick with the scent of age. Maria knelt before an antique dresser, carefully opened a drawer, and pulled out a small ring adorned with strange, ancient symbols.
"You know, Adrian… there are divine heirs who carry the legacy of legendary blacksmiths. This ring was forged by one of them. It's a spatial ring—a magical relic that can only be opened by someone with the blood of its family. It was around your neck the day we found you… just a small child. And… it might contain the answers you've searched for your whole life."
Adrian looked at the ring in his hand, a mix of awe and confusion in his eyes.
"But… why are you giving this to me now?"
Maria lowered her gaze, visibly emotional. The room seemed to grow heavier with each passing second.
"When I was younger, I had many adventures. I always believed that even if some were born heirs, they couldn't be so different from us—those who inherit racial powers. But that day… when I saw what that thing did… I realized we're like ants compared to some beings. I was afraid. Afraid to tell you, afraid to burden you. And that made me feel like a terrible mother."
Adrian stepped forward, his gaze unwavering, filled with emotion.
"Don't say that. You took us in—all of us forgotten orphans—and gave us a home. You gave a family to someone who had lost everything. That… that means the world to me."
Maria smiled, her eyes misty, and gently touched his face.
"Well… I'll leave you alone now. You have something important in your hands."
She left the room quietly, closing the door softly behind her.
Adrian sat in the silent room, the air still, the walls thick with silence. The weight of the ring in his hand seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment.
(Thinking) "Mom… Dad… what were you trying to show me?"
He pricked his finger gently, letting a drop of blood fall onto the ring. A faint glow appeared. The space around him shimmered and warped, revealing a hidden compartment.
Inside, there was only one item: a book.
Adrian reached in and carefully pulled it out.
It was a diary.
His mother's diary. Eliana's.
His breath caught in his throat. His fingers trembled as he looked at the worn cover.
(Whispering) "Mom…"
He opened to the first page. The soft, familiar handwriting seemed to bring her presence back into the room.
The world disappeared.
In that moment, there was only him… and her words… waiting to be read.
---