Glimmerwhisk begins to speak:
"So, you trust me? People toss that word around—trust—but very few ever back it up. I guess… I trust you to a tiny degree as well. And I'm actually serious. Your performance during the last mission impressed me, and you kept your word. So let's put your trust to the test, okay? I didn't think I'd ever use this… maybe right before the end, if you'd make it this far. But you said those words—no backing out now."
"I'll sponsor you regardless of what you're about to do, so don't worry. This is just a little game about your earlier words—your so-called trust," Glimmerwhisk says in a playful tone.
She sounds playful… but she's dead serious. Almost scarily so.
[??? Runic Choker]
World: Fantasy Realm
Quality: ???
Type: Choker
Effect: ???
Note: ???
"An unknown item," Alex says, inspecting the choker. It's just a sleek piece of shiny black metal.
"Scary, isn't it? Put it on quickly and you'll never get away from me again. You trust me, right? This shouldn't be a problem," she says with a smile.
Alex glances at her and notices something—her eyes are flickering ever so slightly.
Really curious what happened to her… She seems wounded. I feel like she is about to cry.
Alex takes the choker and casually puts it on.
[Warning, equipping this item will have unknown effects. Proceed?]
"Yes," Alex replies, his expression confident.
"There, I've worn your stupid choker. Now let's talk about the auction," Alex says, brushing it off.
Glimmerwhisk, meanwhile, stares at him in disbelief.
"Are you stupid?! You really equipped it?! You total moron! You do realize this is obviously a trick, right? You can't be this dense—it couldn't have been more obvious!" She screams, her mood shifting from shock to joy and finally to madness.
Alex sighs. "Yes, yes, whatever. So, with your sponsorship I can attend the audience and sell my items without having to worry about people teaming up against me?"
"Yes, that's right. I'll even give you a small section to yourself, and you can auction your items together. Since they follow a specific theme, that might attract more attention from buyers. Seeing your whole little collecti— wait. That doesn't matter right now! Do you realize what you've done?! You just gave me absolute control! Are you insane?!"
"It's fine. I still trust you," Alex says simply.
"You! Get on your knees!" she commands.
Without warning, a mysterious force compels Alex to do exactly that.
"I bow to you, great mistress Glimmerwhisk," Alex says in a sarcastic tone, kneeling in front of her.
"You?! Are you insane?! Didn't you feel what just happened? I have absolute control over you now. I can make you do anything I want!" she shouts—not teasing this time, but confused, even angry.
"Yes, please don't abuse that. Anything else? I've already said I trust you, and we agreed to work together. Also, Glimmerwhisk—you're not the type who would misuse something like this. That's not your style. You'd feel personally insulted if you had to rely on an item like this. Your pride wouldn't allow it. I don't know everything about you, but I know this much—you're someone I can trust. So this doesn't scare me at all."
Glimmerwhisk throws him a long, unreadable look. Then, she snaps her fingers. The choker begins to change—golden lines start glowing across the black metal.
[Glimmerwhisk's Runic Choker (locked)]
World: Fantasy Realm
Quality: Deep-Gold
Type: Choker (Special)
Effect: Fully enslaves the wearer, forcing him or her to obey every order of Glimmerwhisk.
Note: Prove your trust and loyalty to me!
Note: For A. from G.
"Yeah… I mean, it was obvious," Alex mutters. "A… can't be me, right?"
"No… it's a long story. A painful one," she says softly, then snaps her fingers again. The choker shifts once more, this time unlocking itself.
[Glimmerwhisk's Runic Choker (unlocked)]
"Is it important to you? Do you want it back?" Alex asks, his voice gentler now, concern written on his face.
"No… it no longer serves a purpose for me. I'll get rid of it. I've already unlocked it. Congratulations, you're free again. Your stupidity is really… mind-blowing. I'll start the preparations for the audience. Leave me alone now. The event is in a few weeks, and I'll have to sign you up today."
Alex gives her a warm smile and slowly gets to his feet. "I really am thankful. Let's talk again soon—once you're feeling a little better, okay?"
He walks slowly toward the door.
Glimmerwhisk bolts up from her bed, rushing after him.
"Are you demented or outright insane?! You're still wearing the choker!"
I need it for my plan! This couldn't have gone better! I'll be rich and nobody can fuck with me!
"Does it really matter, Glimmerwhisk?" Alex asks, pausing by the door. "The way I see it… you have trust issues. Understandably so—your father's biased, unfair treatment? I get that. And I can tell there's a backstory behind all of this. Which is why… I'm tempted to do just this."
He closes the choker again, locking it around his neck.
"Since it got my name on it I'll keep this Light-Gold beauty, hehe. I'll see you next time," he says as he walks away.
Just before he closes the door, he glances back—and sees Glimmerwhisk turning around, her shoulders trembling.
He hears her sobbing softly, desperately.
Returning to the lobby, Alex waves at Menchi, Tereza, and Jewel, who all rush toward him, visibly worried.
As soon as Softspark sees Alex, her eyes nearly bulge out. "No way…?! She still had that thing, and you actually wore it? Are you insane?!"
"Obviously, I am! Anyway, we're busy—let's go!"
Alex exits the bank with his friends, all of whom are now looking at him with curious expressions.
"She's actually a very nice girl. Seems to carry a lot of scars though—definitely has trust issues," Alex explains.
"That choker," Menchi says, pointing at it with a frown.
"Mind-control device. Don't worry, it won't affect me much!"
"What?! Are you insane?!" Tereza yells, almost screaming.
ALEX!!! THIS IS A HUGE MISTAKE!
"You only call me by my name when you're serious, Jewel. Honestly, it was worth wearing it just to hear you say that," he jokes.
Suddenly, he receives a new message.
[Glimmerwhisk:
If you tell anyone what you learned, you'll regret the day you entered the Realm and wish you had simply died instead <3
Check your choker! I don't need something this cheap. You're already as good as under my control without it. A pathetic, dumb fool like you may pretend to act careful and frightened, but I can see through you. I can read you like a book. This is just a reminder! You can take it off—see if I care!
I'll talk to you soon, and you'll have a terrible time. I'll make sure of it <3]
"Hmph. Your heart, the one you constantly communicate through your mind, is much more honest and cute, Jewel," Alex mutters.
He then inspects the choker through his system, spotting on the screen in front of him that not only the effects, but also the appearance of the item, have significantly changed.
[Glimmerwhisk's broken Runic Choker (locked)]
World: Fantasy Realm
Quality: Light-Green (Downgraded from Deep-Gold)
Type: Choker (Special)
Effect: A locked choker, that can easily be removed if enough force is applied to it. Once unlocked it will never be able to be locked again.
Note: Prove your trust and loyalty to me!
Note: Broken choker, kept promises.
Note: For Alex from Glimmerwhisk
Alex blushes as he finishes reading the final note and examines the choker again.
Why does that feel strangely romantic? She really is cute…. Silly goblin.
Menchi and Tereza, each looking over Alex's shoulders, standing on their toes, glance at the message too. Tereza audibly sighs in relief.
"Looks like she set you free. You knew she'd do that? Anyway, seems like you'll be able to remove that thing after all."
"I'm afraid I can't… or I'd be breaking her trust. Doesn't look that bad, though. Cool black metal. The golden lines turned white, but honestly, I like it better this way," Alex says with a grin.
More importantly, I want everyone to see it.
Soulmate… is picking up more women?! Princess Jewel will need to take careful steps very soon!
"Calm down. She's a friend. Someone who desperately needs help… someone who feels alone. I had to help her. I know that feeling... I wish someone had done this for me, all those years ago… when… It's fine. Forget it," Alex says, his voice softening with each word.
… Princess Jewel believes her Soulmate. But the goblin clearly has deeper intentions!
Tereza and Menchi exchange a glance, then simply move in closer, gently grabbing one of Alex's arms each—quietly supportive.
"Let's get to work, then. How about we head to the ranking-up facility? I've got a bunch of items to convert into shards," Alex suggests.
"Yeah, good idea," Menchi nods.
"Will you use your [False Legend Merging Token] with your rings then?" Tereza asks, clearly curious.
"You'll see!" Alex replies, heading toward the facility while both women cling to his arms and Jewel squeezes herself tightly against his head.
As they enter the ranking-up building, Alex quickly moves into a free room.
Alex gives the command:
"System, activate [False Legend Merging Token]! Use [Azure Flame Ring] and [Sealion's Might]!"
Activating False Legend Merging Token…
You have unequipped Azure Flame Ring.
You have unequipped Sealion's Might.
You have lost Soul Crystal (Medium) x2
You have received Cataclysmic Frost-Fire Ring.
[Cataclysmic Frost-Fire Ring]
World: Fantasy Realm / Harry Potter / Wizarding World / Final Fantasy 9
Quality: Deep Gold
Type: Ring
Required Stats: MNA - 15, SPR - 15, PHY - 10, SNS - 10
Required Skills: Basic Meditation lvl 5, Basic Mana Control 5
Effect: Increase MNA by 2 and Max MP by 30 (Flat boost, not increased by other skills).
Effect: Moderate Frost-Fire Aptitude - Increases Fire and Frost Resistance and the Potency of all fire and frost-related abilities by 20%.
Effect: Your fire and frost abilities and spells are now azure-crimson-colored, gaining 30% Spell Piercing.
Note: Spell Piercing ignores the target's spell resistance, acquired through stats, abilities, skills, or items.
Note: Made of two rings, one crimson, one azure-colored.
Note: A false legend, powerful enough to surpass the real one. Limitations of [False Legend Merging Token].
"Everything was kept… even upgraded?! Only the frost-retention—basically the one generic effect—disappeared!" Alex says, eyes wide with excitement. "This is simply incredible!"
Soulmate made the correct decision! ❤️
Alex gently strokes Jewel.
Poor girl was worried about me. I really need to spend some time with her.
------------------------------------------------
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