The Broken Halo

For the first time since the Biggest Kev entered the room, genuine shock moved through Simon.

However, he made sure that It did not show on his face.

His sky-blue eyes remained calm, his breathing did not change, and the arms folded across his chest stayed exactly where they were. Inside, however, his thoughts had stopped for the briefest moment.

The Miser’s Ring looked ordinary.

The Chaos Wraps looked like strips of black cloth covering his fingers and arms.

Neither Korran, Tarvak, nor any other demon in Velmora and even in the Shadowgrave Clan had shown the slightest awareness of what they truly were.

Yet Kev had looked at them once, guessed that they were artifacts and not mere decorations, and offered information about them.

Akaza’s gaze immediately dropped toward Simon’s hand. A faint flicker passed through his eyes before disappearing.

Sonya could not see the ring or wraps, but her face turned toward Simon’s right hand after hearing Kev’s words. Surprise briefly touched her pale eyes as well.

Both had been trained as assassins of the Shadowgrave Clan, so their expressions returned to normal almost immediately.

The room became silent, and Simon was the first to break it.

”Why do you believe this ring and the black cloth around my arms are artifacts?”

His tone was calm, but the warmth had vanished from it.

Kev did not answer immediately.

He leaned forward slightly and focused on the Miser’s Ring. The dull-yellow eyes behind his Blood Jaguar helmet narrowed, while several plates around his shoulders and chest produced faint metallic clicks.

His Artifact Channels were reacting.

”Hmm... that ring does not store energy,” Kev muttered.

He sounded less like he was answering Simon and more like a craftsman thinking aloud before an unfinished creation.

”It is not drawing power from the surroundings either. There is no constant emission of energy, no visible offensive formation, and no defensive response.”

His helmet tilted to one side.

”But the energy moving through your body changes whenever it passes near the ring.”

Simon’s eyes sharpened slightly, then Kev lifted one gauntleted finger.

”Not the amount inside you. The way it leaves you.”

He became silent for several seconds.

”It smooths the expenditure... no. That is incomplete. It prevents a portion of the loss that should occur whenever energy is used.”

The Biggest Kev straightened.

”My guess is that the ring reduces its owner’s energy consumption.”

Akaza looked at the plain ring with new interest, and even Sonya’s head tilted.

Both of them had never known about the Miser’s Ring, and now they were curious.

Kev continued before anyone spoke.

”I cannot tell how much it reduces. I also cannot tell whether it affects demonic energy alone or whether it can reduce elemental, physical, and mental consumption as well.”

He rubbed the metal jaw of his helmet.

”I cannot determine its grade from sight. Either its formations are hidden extremely well, or the principle behind it does not resemble the common artifact systems I know.”

Simon studied him in silence.

’This demon...’

Kev had not touched the Miser’s Ring.

He had not sent demonic energy into it or used an examination formation. He had merely observed the minute changes around Simon’s body and reached dangerously close to the truth.

The Biggest Kev was not simply a collector wearing an absurd amount of equipment. He was a frighteningly gifted artifact craftsman and appraiser.

Then Kev’s gaze moved toward the Chaos Wraps.

His earlier excitement changed.

The Artifact Channels beneath his armour stirred again, but this time, several of them seemed to recoil. A low metallic vibration travelled through his chest plate, and his dull-yellow eyes became wary.

”Those are much worse,” he said quietly.

Simon’s eyes grew slightly colder and sharper.

”Worse?”

”More interesting,” Kev corrected. ”And far more dangerous.”

He took half a step closer, then stopped without being told.

”There is a flame inside them.”

His voice had lost all amusement.

”I cannot see it properly, but every artifact connected to my channels reacts as though it is standing near something that can burn more than metal.”

A faint shiver moved through the chains around his arm.

”That flame sends a chill through me, which should not make sense.”

Kev stared at the wraps beneath Simon’s damaged sleeve.

”I do not know what the cloth does. I do not even know whether cloth is the correct word for such a masterpiece. Whatever created it is beyond my knowledge.”

He slowly raised one hand but kept it far from Simon.

”And they are permanently bound to you.”

Simon said nothing.

”Not like an artifact tied to blood,” Kev continued. ”Not like armour connected to one’s demonic pathways or a weapon accepting someone’s Chaos Flame.”

His fascination deepened with every word.

”The bond passes through your flesh, energy, and blood, then continues somewhere my senses cannot follow. It involves concepts that feel distant, strange, and almost ethereal.”

Kev lowered his hand.

”I have never seen anything bound to a demon in that manner.”

The silence in the room grew heavier, then Kev laughed softly.

”Forget the Abyssal Tortoise Shell Bead and the artifact that concealed your rank. My request has changed.”

He pointed toward the Miser’s Ring and Chaos Wraps.

”Allow me to study those two items. I will not damage them, remove them unless you give me the permission to, or interrupt their bond. Whatever I learn will be valuable to my craft, and I will reward you handsomely.”

His helmet suddenly tilted.

”Oh yeah... What are they called by the way? I can’t keep on calling such beauties ring and clothes.”

Simon did not answer. But the coldness in his eyes became dangerous.

Akaza shifted one foot behind the other. Sonya did not move, but the floor beneath Kev’s boots quietly trembled.

Kev noticed all three reactions, and a deep laugh rolled from his helmet.

”Relax. I have no intention of taking either item by force, and I do not want to possess them.”

He placed one gauntlet against his chest.

”I have a sacred rule. I never steal a demon’s bonded artifact.”

His voice became firm.

”I will loot the dead. I will take unbound artifacts from enemies, thieves, ruins, and anyone foolish enough to lose them. But a bonded artifact has chosen its owner, or its owner has paid the price required to bind it.”

Kev paused.

”I only break that rule when an artifact is being mistreated by an owner unworthy of it.”

Sonya’s lips moved slightly, perhaps because she found that final exception suspicious.

Kev ignored her.

”Trust me, Blackmoon. I only want to uncover their secrets and learn from whatever created them.”

Simon remained silent and did not respond.

He had not expected Kev to identify the Miser’s Ring’s general purpose, much less sense anything meaningful from the Chaos Wraps.

Before he could decide how to answer, Lilith’s voice suddenly echoed from inside his Demon Heart.

[If that armoured fool attempts to study the Chaos Wraps my father created, he will suffer a fate worse than death.]