Soren Arden POV
"Let's go! Let's go!"
Esper practically bounced along the street, her steps light enough that it looked like she was hopping from stone to stone rather than walking.
Every few seconds she would spin halfway around to make sure Soren was still keeping up, her side-tail swishing like it had a mind of its own.
"Do you even know where we're going?" Soren asked, unable to keep the dry amusement out of his voice.
"Not a clue!" she answered cheerfully, clasping her hands behind her back as she walked backwards in front of him. "What's the plan, Cutie?"
He sighed.
"What's with that?" he muttered. "I'm going to buy a ring and a new axe."
Esper's shoulders slumped so dramatically he almost heard them drop.
"Bleh…" she groaned. "So boring…"
Soren let out a small laugh.
Her honesty was almost refreshing.
"We can look at other places on the way. I've got a decent amount of money with me today, so I don't mind browsing."
Her head snapped back up.
"Shopping?" she asked, eyes suddenly sparkling. "Like, actual shopping?"
"Within reason," Soren said, already regretting it a little.
That was all it took.
"Are you getting married or something?" she fired back immediately.
Soren's feet stopped mid-step.
"…What are you going on about?" he asked, staring at her.
"Well, you want a ring, right?" she replied, tilting her head like it was the most natural conclusion in the world.
"...Not for that," he said, rubbing his temple. "I just want one that I can wear."
Preferably one he could convincingly pass off as a spatial ring, but he didn't bother explaining that part.
Esper hummed, expression flipping in an instant from teasing to interested.
"Can I choose?" she asked.
She leaned forward slightly as she spoke, eyes bright, body practically vibrating.
If she had been a beastkin, Soren was pretty sure her tail would have been wagging hard enough to knock someone over.
"Sure, why not, as long as it's not awful."
Her grin stretched from ear to ear.
"Then come with me!"
Before he could react, she grabbed his arm and linked theirs together like it was a matter of course, pressing close without the slightest sense of distance.
Soren blinked, a little thrown by the physical contact, but he didn't pull away.
Compared to some of the people he had dealt with, Esper's straightforwardness felt… harmless.
Loud, but harmless.
"Do you always do this when you meet someone new?" he asked as she started dragging him along.
"Nope," she said, swinging their linked arms back and forth. "Just with people I like."
"…Already decided that, have you?" he muttered.
"Obviously. Your hair is pretty, your eyes are pretty, and you fed me pancakes," she replied as if listing facts from a textbook. "What's not to like?"
He had no comeback for that, so he just sighed and let her pull him along.
They walked through the early-morning streets of the academy city, the air still cool from the night.
The sky was a pale blue, clouds streaking across it in thin lines.
Most students were either still asleep or off preparing for their own weekend plans, but the shopfronts were already alive.
Street vendors were setting up their stalls, laying out potions, scrolls, and random trinkets.
Weapon shops and armouries rolled up their shutters, the clanking of metal spilling into the street.
Cafés and diners had their doors open, the smell of coffee and breakfast drifting lazily on the breeze.
It was the kind of atmosphere Soren wouldn't have appreciated back when he first arrived in Ivansia.
Back then, everything had been noise, a reminder that the world moved on with or without him.
Now, it felt… normal.
Busy, but not suffocating.
"Cutie, walk faster, you're so slow," Esper whined, leaning more of her weight against his arm.
"You're just impatient, and stop calling me Cutie."
"Nope. You can't stop me," she said, sticking her tongue out. "You'll just have to live with it."
"You know you can call me Ren if you want," he added, more out of habit than anything.
"Hmm…"
Esper pretended to think deeply, putting a finger to her chin as they walked.
"Nah. I like Cutie more. It suits you."
"How exactly does Cutie suit me?"
"Because your face looks like you'd rather die than admit you're cute," she said immediately. "It's funny."
He clicked his tongue.
"You're the weirdest noble I've ever met," he muttered.
"Thank you," she replied, sounding genuinely pleased.
They turned down a narrower street lined with jewellers and accessory shops.
Most of them had glittering displays in the window, bracelets inlaid with low-grade mana stones, enchanted earrings, and pendants with minor effects.
It was the kind of place that catered to nobles, rich adventurers, or students looking to show off.
Esper's grip on his arm tightened.
"Let's go here," she said, pointing at the nearest shop.
"You just picked the closest one, didn't you?"
"Obviously. If we go into too many, you'll start overthinking and get all, 'Hmm, cost-efficiency, hmm, practicality,' and I'll get bored."
"…I do not sound like that."
She ignored him and pulled him towards the door.
Jingle—
A small bell chimed as they stepped inside.
The shop was bright but not gaudy, rows of glass cases lining the walls.
Rings, necklaces, and bracelets were arranged neatly on velvet, with little handwritten tags marking prices and enchantments.
A middle-aged clerk behind the counter glanced up, saw Esper first, and immediately straightened.
"Welcome, Miss…" he began politely, eyes flicking to the small emblem pinned discreetly at her collar.
The subtle crest of a duke's house was easy to miss if you weren't looking for it.
Then his gaze shifted to Soren, in simple clothes, with white hair and red eyes, and his expression turned a touch more cautious.
"Can I help you with anything today?" the clerk asked.
"I wanna pick out a ring," Esper said, puffing her chest out proudly. "For him."
The clerk's eyes sharpened with interest.
"An engagement piece?" he asked delicately.
Soren almost choked.
"No," he said sharply. "Just something I can wear. Nothing like that."
Esper burst into laughter.
"Pft—Look at your face," she said between giggles.
Soren ignored her, stepping closer to the glass cases to get a better look.
The prices were as painful as he expected.
Some of the rings had basic enchantments, such as minor temperature resistance or self-cleaning; others were purely decorative yet still expensive, thanks to the gemstones and craftsmanship.
He wasn't here for any of that.
He just needed something that looked solid and believable, something that would make people accept "spatial ring" at a glance without asking questions.
He folded his arms, scanning the display.
"Something simple. Not too flashy, but not cheap-looking."
"So… good quality, low-key, and cool," Esper summarised.
"Basically."
"You have a type even with jewellery," she snorted. "Alright, leave it to me, Cutie."
She circled the closest case with surprising focus, leaning down until her nose was almost pressed against the glass, mumbling to herself.
Soren watched her out of the corner of his eye.
For all her bouncing energy, she was strangely serious when she was choosing something.
"Hmmm… No… That one's too chunky. That one's too shiny. That one looks like something an old man would wear…"
She paused in front of one of the corner displays, then suddenly grinned.
"Found it."
She pointed, and Soren stepped closer to see.
Inside the case, snug in a small velvet groove, was a thin black ring.
Its band was smooth, a deep matte black that didn't reflect much light.
Set into the front was a single red gemstone, not enormous but vivid, like a drop of crystallised blood.
"How about this one?" Esper asked, already certain.
Soren stared at it for a long moment.
"It's…" he paused, searching for the right word. "Beautiful."
It suited him almost too well.
The black band matched his usual clothes, while the red stone echoed the colour of his eyes.
It looked sharp without being over the top.
'It's perfect to pass off as a spatial ring too…' he thought. 'It looks expensive enough that no one will question it.'
That was the problem.
"But it's too expensive…" he muttered, glancing at the tiny price tag beneath it.
Four gold coins.
For a noble, barely anything.
For him, that was a huge chunk of his savings on something that did nothing but look good and serve as a cover.
"If you like it, get it. It suits you," Esper said immediately.
"It's not about that. It just… doesn't make sense to spend that much on something that doesn't even have an effect."
"Want me to buy it?" she asked, like she was offering to pick up a snack.
Soren blinked.
"What are you going on about?" he frowned. "Why would you?"
"Well…"
Esper puffed up her cheeks, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm loaded?"
The words overlapped for a heartbeat with another voice in his memory.
— I'm loaded, aren't I?
Aria used to say that all the time, usually right before offering to pay for something stupid just because she could.
His frown faltered, the familiar sting of nostalgia tugging at his chest for a second before he pushed it down.
"We just met today," he said quietly. "It's too much."
"Then take it as a gift," she replied easily.
"It's not my birthday, though…?" he pointed out.
Esper clicked her tongue.
"Ugh… Then, as a celebration of us becoming friends!"
Her words were cheesy and overdramatic, but she said them so naturally that Soren couldn't even roll his eyes properly.
"Pfft."
A short laugh escaped before he could stop it.
"Heyyyy! Don't laugh! I'm trying to be nice here!" she complained, puffing her cheeks out even more.
"Okay, okay, my bad," he said, raising his hands in surrender. "You win."
"Obviously," she said, satisfied.
Before he could change his mind, Esper signalled the clerk, who hurried over.
She pointed at the ring with a bright smile.
"This one, please."
The clerk carefully removed it from the display and placed it on a small velvet pad.
Esper paid without blinking, sliding the coins across the counter as if they were nothing.
Soren watched, guilt pulling at him.
He felt bad accepting something so expensive from someone he had met a few hours ago, but at the same time, he recognised the way she was looking at him, expectant, a little excited, wanting him to take it.
He had never been good at rejecting sincerity, even when it came wrapped in loud colours and questionable nicknames.
"Here ya go!" Esper turned and pressed the ring into his palm with a tiny flourish.
"Thank you, Esper," he said, bowing his head slightly.
"Whatever, don't be so stiff," she replied. "You're making it weird."
"What do you mean?"
"Just call me Essy."
Soren stared at her for a moment.
"You're so weird," he muttered.
That particular thought was meant to stay in his head, but it slipped out anyway.
"Wha– How?!" she yelped. "How am I weird?!"
In response to her wounded expression, she lightly punched his side, not enough to hurt, just enough to complain.
Soren rushed to clarify.
"Not in a bad way. You're just… very sociable. I've never met anyone like you before."
"Is that a bad thing?" she demanded.
"Not necessarily…?" he answered honestly.
She squinted at him for another second, then huffed.
"Mmm… Okay then!"
She rummaged in the small paper bag the clerk had handed over and pulled out a tiny box, popping it open and thrusting it toward him.
"Now wear this!"
Inside, resting on soft fabric, was the same black ring, its red gemstone gleaming softly under the shop lights.
"This is exactly what I mean…" Soren muttered under his breath.
The scene wasn't great for misunderstandings, duke's daughter, jewellery store, ring box being pushed at him with that earnest look, but under Esper's intense stare, he let it go.
And realistically, he didn't have much choice in where to wear it.
In combat, his right hand was always gripping his handaxe, while his left was reserved for casting magic.
Putting a ring on his dominant weapon hand was asking for scratches, dents, or worse; one mis-swing, and the ring would become shrapnel.
So he slid the ring onto the fourth finger of his left hand.
For a brief second, he felt strangely self-conscious.
The gesture felt heavier than it should, even though he knew perfectly well it was just a practical choice.
Esper's grin brightened when she saw it in place.
"Told you! It looks so good!" she said proudly.
"Yeah, it does," he admitted, glancing at the ring again. "Thanks, Essy."
"No probs!" she replied, rocking on her heels. "Where to next, Cutie?"
"You know you can call me Ren if you'd prefer," he reminded her.
"Hmm…"
She tapped her chin again, pretending to consider it very carefully.
"Nah! I still like Cutie more."
Soren sighed.
"I figured. Alright then. Next, I need to buy an axe."
"An axe, huh…" she repeated, eyes glittering with curiosity. "Righty'o! Let's go!"
Before he could blink, she had linked their arms again, her mood as bright as the gemstone on his finger, and began bouncing toward the door, dragging him with her, straight towards their next destination.
————「❤︎」————