Jealousy

"Alright, Ludwig, pull out the rings," Van Dijk said, his voice calm but commanding.

Ludwig nodded, reaching into his holding ring and retrieving their collection of rings. He placed them carefully on the table, their metallic surfaces gleaming faintly in the dim light of the laboratory. Next, he pulled out the Mask of the Blind Witness, its eerie, hollow eyes staring back at him as he placed it on his face.

"Let's start with magic," Van Dijk said, opening the first book from the archives and sliding it toward Ludwig. He handed him a pen and a stack of paper, his expression serious. "Inscribe everything to the letter. No mistakes."

Ludwig nodded, his hollow eyes scanning the pages as he began to write. The room fell silent, save for the scratch of the pen against paper and the occasional rustle of pages being turned.

Hours turned into days, and Ludwig worked tirelessly, his focus unwavering.