Gift

The magical circles glowed brighter, their light rising around us, wrapping us in a luminous embrace. The teleportation was just about to happen.

But suddenly, a voice cut through the air, interrupting the moment.

"Sorry to spoil the mood, but I forgot to give you something," Leopold said, smiling mischievously. He approached each of us, halting the process that had already begun. "It's my gift to you, for deciding to take part in this crazy plan of mine."

One by one, he came closer, handing something over as he hugged each of us. I watched him, trying to understand what was happening, but the sense of urgency didn't allow me to analyze it calmly.

When he finally reached me, Leopold extended his hand and handed me a ring. The object was simple in appearance—completely black but with golden streaks that seemed to intertwine like tree branches or even lightning, depending on how you looked at it. It was beautiful, but it had an enigmatic air that sparked more curiosity than certainty.

He placed the ring in my palm and, with a careful gesture, pulled me into a hug. His voice lowered, becoming solemn, almost a whisper, just for my ears.

"When you're alone, and wearing it on your index finger—it has to be the index finger—say these words: 'I love fruit juice.' You'll only need to do it the first time."

"'I love fruit juice?'" I asked, confused, unable to grasp the meaning or reasoning behind those words.

"Don't worry about the details. Good luck," Leopold said with a serenity that felt strangely out of character for him.

'The more I talk to him, the weirder he gets, I muttered internally.'

With a quick movement, he stepped away, and the teleportation resumed. The light around us began to rise, enveloping us in an increasingly intense glow. The world around me started to distort, the edges of reality blurring, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself in a new place.

The sense of disorientation was immediate. I took a deep breath, trying to process what was happening. The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was a room. It was vast, imposing, with a decor that exuded a subtle kind of luxury, like those grand mansions I'd seen in movies. The walls, in a deep and welcoming tone, seemed to absorb the soft light of the rising sun streaming through the windows. The space had an air of grandeur, but at the same time, it felt surprisingly cozy.

I touched the ring in my hand, trying to process what Leopold had said. 'I love fruit juice? That doesn't make any sense.'

Moving slowly, I approached a large mirror standing against the wall. The dim light reflected on its polished surface, and I gazed at my reflection. I had already accepted my fate, but I was still struggling to understand who I was now.

What would this "new me" be? And what exactly was I supposed to do in this new world? Leopold had only mentioned that we were to help the kingdom, but he never explained how.

Lost in these thoughts, a deep and respectful voice broke my concentration.

"Young master?" The soft voice, carrying a firmness that commanded respect, made me turn instantly. The door was slightly ajar, and I could see the figure of a man bowing at the entrance.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure, and replied in a calm, almost automatic tone. "Albert?"

"Ah, I see you're already awake. Yes, it's me, young master," his voice held a note of restrained joy, as if relieved to see I was well. "I came to let you know that breakfast is ready. Will you be coming down to the dining hall, or would you prefer to eat in your room?"

The name Albert felt familiar, and without hesitation, I responded, "Bring it to my room. I'd like to eat alone today."

"Yes, young master. I'll return in 15 minutes with your meal. Shall I bring fruit tea, as always?"

I paused for a moment, considering his offer. "No. Bring me a midnight orange juice with honey and lemon."

"..." Albert was silent for a few seconds, as if pondering, perhaps a bit surprised by the request. Then he finally replied in a gentle tone, "Understood. I'll be back shortly, young master."

After his departure, a sigh escaped my lips. It was the first time I had interacted with anyone in this new world as Alexander Dracknum, and although it still felt strange, Albert's reaction gave me a sense of familiarity. His gestures, his words—everything seemed to follow a well-established rhythm.

I was surprised at how easily I was beginning to adopt the role.

"It shouldn't be that hard," I muttered to myself as I stepped away from the mirror. Alexander's personality was strikingly similar to mine, only refined in certain ways, as if his upbringing and noble customs had sculpted who he was. But his core essence? It was almost identical. I could be him, just by adjusting my behavior when necessary.

I turned to the massive bed that dominated the room, and the grandeur of the environment made me smile.

'Well, it's mine now', I thought, and with a slight push, I threw myself onto it, sinking into the softness of the mattress. It was the kind of bed I'd only ever seen on TV, the kind reserved for the rich and powerful, where they rested in absolute luxury. I could almost imagine the sense of power they must feel, laying down on something like this every night.

'Not too bad', I mused, allowing myself to relax for a few moments. The comfort was undeniable, and somehow, that simple act of flopping onto the bed felt like a reflection of the new luxury I was beginning to embrace.

But my thoughts didn't linger in laziness for long. They snapped back to the present as my gaze returned to the ring still resting in my hand, glinting faintly under the light of the room.

'Can't say it's ugly,' I thought, examining it. It was simple, but its subtle details caught the light in a way that made it seem alive. I rolled it between my fingers, testing its feel.

"He said to wear it on the index finger," I murmured, sliding the ring onto the index finger of my right hand. The moment it touched my skin, I felt a faint discomfort.

'It's too big', I thought instinctively. But almost immediately, the ring began to shrink, adjusting itself until it fit perfectly.

"Self-adjusting—nice," I muttered, impressed. A small smile played on my lips as I watched it conform as if it were alive.

Now firmly in place, I studied the ring again, my mind still full of questions. Following Leopold's instructions, I said the words he had told me to:

—"I love fruit juice."—

Seconds passed, and nothing happened.

"Huh?" I stared at the ring, waiting for something—anything—to occur, but the silence stretched on.

"Nothing happened. That stingy old man," I grumbled, irritation bubbling up briefly before it faded away, as if this was just another one of destiny's quirks to poke fun at me.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp, unexpected prick on my finger. "Ouch!" A faint sting lingered, and then the ring began to vibrate softly. At that moment, a strange sensation coursed through me, as if it were drawing something from my body.

"Is this ring vampiric? Or is it forming some kind of bond like in those fantasy novels?" I wondered aloud, my voice betraying my unease. I hoped it was the latter—something fantastical, controllable, less... unsettling.