Chapter 3: Shadows Closing In

The sound of footsteps from downstairs grew closer, accompanied by low murmurs that shattered the midnight silence, like a pack of stealthy predators quietly closing in. Giovanni held his breath, his palms sweating slightly, the lingering warmth of the ring offering a faint unease. He turned to Arethia, who had emerged from the ring, gripping her golden short sword. Her stance was as elegant and lethal as a sculpted warrior, her silver hair swaying without a breeze, radiating a soft, ghostly glow.

"Master, let me handle this," Arethia said in a low voice, her emerald eyes gleaming with resolve. "These mortals aren't worth your effort."

Giovanni shook his head, keeping his voice hushed. "No, we can't reveal your existence—not yet." His gaze darted around the room, searching for a hiding spot, while his father's warning flashed through his mind: *"Beware the Vatican's 'shadows'… Could this be them?"* He clenched his jaw, whispering, "Get back into the ring. Wait for my signal to act."

Arethia frowned, clearly displeased with the decision, but she nodded. Her form dissolved into a streak of blue light, vanishing into the ring in an instant. The room's temperature dropped, a chill prickling his skin like needles, making him shiver involuntarily.

The footsteps outside came to a halt, replaced by a series of rapid knocks, each one striking Giovanni's heart like a heavy hammer. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, and slowly approached the door. Peering through the peephole, he saw two men in black trench coats standing outside. The taller one held a photograph—Giovanni's own face stared back at him. The shorter man fiddled with something in his hands, exuding a familiar scent—earth and blood, identical to that eerie deliveryman.

"Mr. Giovanni Russo?" the tall man spoke, his voice deep and cold, as if rising from the depths of the earth. "We're emissaries from the Vatican. There are matters we need to discuss with you."

Giovanni's heart raced, his father's warning echoing in his mind: *"These are the 'shadows'? They've come…"* He forced a strained smile and slid the chain off the door, saying, "It's awfully late. What's this about?"

The two men exchanged a meaningful glance before stepping inside uninvited. Their movements were steady and imposing, the air thick with an invisible menace, like the stifling heat before a storm. Giovanni clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, trying to mask his rising panic.

"We know you've recently received a… peculiar relic," the tall man said, his hawk-like gaze sweeping the room before settling on Giovanni's right hand. "That ring—perhaps you'd care to tell us about its origins?"

Giovanni's fingers instinctively brushed the ring, alarm bells ringing in his head. The scent of earth and blood, the commanding tone—it was too much like the enemies his father had warned of. He shrugged, feigning calm. "I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just an ordinary high school student. What special relic?"

The shorter man let out a cold laugh, pulling a yellowed parchment from his pocket. Sketched upon it was an exact replica of the ring, its edges singed with burn marks eerily similar to his father's letter. "Don't play dumb, kid," he sneered. "This ring is tied to ancient secrets—secrets you're not fit to possess."

Giovanni's pupils contracted, his mind flashing to his father's scorched letter and its unfinished words: *"Did you kill him?"* The question nearly burst from his lips, but he swallowed it down. Now wasn't the time for recklessness. The ring pulsed faintly, as if reminding him of Arethia's presence.

"Look," Giovanni said, striving to keep his voice steady, "after my father passed, I did receive some belongings, but they're just archaeological notes and keepsakes. If you're after something 'special,' I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

The tall man narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. He took a step closer, his tone icier. "We don't want to waste time—or hurt you. Hand over the ring. It's better for everyone."

At that moment, the room's lights flickered wildly, and the Roman wall clock on the wall spun frantically, its ticking a piercing clamor, as if time itself were unraveling. Startled, the two men stepped back, the shorter one muttering under his breath, "What the hell is this?"

Giovanni felt a surge of warmth from the ring, a fleeting sense of his father's final protection. He raised his head, meeting their gaze, and said softly, "Sorry, I can't help you." Inside, he screamed, *"I won't let my father's death be for nothing!"*

The tall man snorted, drawing a dagger from inside his coat. Its blade was etched with strange runes, glowing with an eerie blue light. "It seems you've chosen the wrong path, kid," he said, reciting an obscure incantation under his breath. The air filled with a stench of decay.

Giovanni's heart pounded as if it would burst, but he knew retreat was no longer an option. He closed his eyes, silently calling out in his mind: *"Arethia, I need you!"*

In the next instant, a dazzling golden light erupted from the ring, and Arethia's figure materialized before him. She knelt briefly, her golden short sword aimed at the intruders, silver hair flowing like a cascade under moonlight, radiant as a war goddess.

"Master, what is your command?" She lifted her head, her eyes glinting with danger, her voice calm yet chilling.

Giovanni swallowed hard, feeling the weight of responsibility for the first time. He took a deep breath, pointing at the men. "Make them leave—but don't kill them."

A faint smirk curved Arethia's lips. "As you wish, Master."

Her form solidified in the golden light, emerald eyes locking onto the intruders with an icy glare. "It seems you don't understand how to respect my master's will," she said, her tone as cold as frost. She swung her sword, a searing arc of light slicing through the air toward them.

The tall man hastily raised his dagger to block, blue and gold clashing with a deafening screech, the room trembling from the impact. Books tumbled from the shelves, and the desk lamp crashed to the floor, glass shards scattering. The shorter man darted behind Arethia for a sneak attack, but Giovanni spotted his move.

"Don't touch her!" he shouted, a firmness in his voice he hadn't known he possessed. Mustering his courage, he lunged forward, shoving the man away, only to stumble from the force and crash into the wall clock. Its hands spun wildly, as if mocking the chaos.

The shorter man staggered back, glaring furiously. "You little brat, you're asking for death!" But in that split-second distraction, Arethia seized her chance, sweeping her sword in a wide arc. A wave of golden energy surged forth, hurling both men back to the doorway. They hit the ground hard, their weapons flying from their grasp.

"Enough!" The tall man struggled to his feet, his face ashen. "We'll be back, kid. You'll pay for this choice." He tossed down a slip of paper inscribed with Latin before retreating with his companion into the shadows of the stairwell.

The room's tension gradually dissipated, leaving only a mess behind. Arethia sheathed her sword and turned to Giovanni, her expression shifting with complexity. "Master, why did you risk yourself to save me? You could've stayed back and let me handle it alone."

Giovanni panted, offering a weak smile. "Because… you're my partner. And without you, I'd have been paralyzed with fear by these guys." He glanced at the bloodstains on his palm, a warmth rising within him. "Besides, I can't let my father's death be in vain."

Arethia froze, caught off guard by his words. She lowered her head, whispering, "Thank you, Master. But please remember—my duty is to protect you, not to put you in danger."

Giovanni picked up the paper from the floor, reading the Latin inscription: *"Tempus Revelabit Omnia"* (Time Will Reveal All). He frowned, murmuring, "What does this mean? Is it connected to Dad's letter?"

Arethia took the note, her face growing grave. "It's an ancient prophecy from the Trojan temple, hinting at an impending calamity… possibly tied to the ring's power."

Giovanni's heart sank. "So, this is just the beginning?"

Arethia nodded. "Yes, Master. We must uncover the ring's true purpose soon, or not only we but the entire world could fall into peril."

Outside, clouds gathered once more, obscuring the moonlight. A low tolling of bells echoed from the distance, as if foretelling a greater storm on the horizon. Giovanni clenched his fists, his gaze resolute. "Alright, then we'll face it together."