Rio, unaware of Artemis's thoughts, was busy chatting with Alia. He took out a simple folded paper from his pockets, and held up a single earring, beautifully crafted with a golden color tal and a shimring green jewel at its center.
However, Alia's innocent surprise was evident when she noticed that it was only ant for one ear. Confusion flickered across her face as she tried to make sense of it. She looked at Rio with a questioning expression, wondering why there was only one earring.
Rio took out the other earring but instead of placing it in her hands like before, he extended his hand towards Artemis. Artemis took the earring which had the similar designs as the other, but this one had a red jewel in it, instead of a green one.
"The other one is for Mother." Rio said, as he looked at Alia's face. He smiled when he watched Alia's doubting face turning into an angry face.
"You always do this, brother. It was my gift, not mother's."
Alia said in a pouting tone, as she looked at her mother who had a winning smile on her face, and was copying her pose.
"It's an artifact Amy, so you should always keep it on." Rio said, as he gently placed the green earring near Alia's ear, a subtle magical energy radiated from it, when it made contact with her skin, there was a slight sensation as it pierced through a small part of her earlobe. Alia's eyes winced in surprise, but she didn't feel any pain. To her amazent, the earring magically attached itself to her ear and stayed securely in place, even after Rio removed his hand.
Alia's initial surprise turned into a delighted smile as she touched it with her fingers, feeling the smooth tal and the gentle warmth it emitted. She looked up at Rio, her eyes filled with love and excitent for the gift he had given her. 'I'll always keep it safe.' She promised herself in her heart.
Artemis looked at her earring for so ti in amazent and doubt, and then wore it too without asking anything. After both of them wore their earrings, the jewels in them shone for a little and then the light disappeared like it was never there.
Alia looked at the shining red jewel and said in her cute voice, as she pointed her finger at her mother's face -"No I want the red one, green looks blergh."
"Heyy, it looks good on you. So keep it for now." Rio said and patted Amy's head, as he ruffled her hair much to the displeasure of the little girl. Rio smiled as he saw her mad look with those ssy hair, he coughed and started acting as if he was combing it.
"I'll get you sothing else more pretty next ti, okay. Now don't be mad." Rio said and watched as Alia's expressions did a 180 and flipped to happiness in a mont.
Alia jumped and tentatively wrapped her small arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You promised now, you can't go back."
"When did I _ sigh Fine, I promise." Rio said and patted her back.
As they stood there hugging each other, Rio couldn't help but close his eyes. The weight of his guilt and past regrets began to fade, replaced by a sense of hope and a fresh start.'It feels good to have you back, Ria.'
'I can get one more gift, hehehe.' As Alia hung her head on his shoulder, she thought with an evil smirk - 'It's vengeance for Mr Bear.'
Artemis, who looked at that little villain's evil grin, shook her head and said - "Let's go have dinner, I'm starving."
Hearing her mother's voice, Alia just chuckled -"Hmm you're just jealous that brother got a gift."
Artemis didn't reply and just pointed her finger towards her earring, then she turned around and started walking ahead.
"Did you see that brother, it's all your fault."
Alia's eyes narrowed with a hint of anger, clearly holding Rio responsible for their mother's teasing. Rio felt helpless, realizing that his gift may have unintentionally led to this, but it wasn't like he could give both earrings to her, even though they were a pair, but they were ant to be worn by 2 different people.
_____
***[Call of Duty - An artifact made by ancient Egyptian God Ptah, as a gift to his wife Sekht. But before he could finish making it completely, their son Nefertem threw it in the lower world in his tantrum, asking for sothing which all 3 could wear.
Effects - It transfers the wearer to their partner's location, in a mont of danger or when their life is at risk.
–When the wearer's life is in danger, it teleports the other to their location to protect them, as a call of duty that cannot be rejected.
Call of Duty distance depends on the power of wearers.
______
Rio would've liked to keep this earring to himself so he can co to her location, if ever there was a danger to her life. But since he's as weak as fuck right now, even if he got there, he wouldn't be able to do anything to protect her, and could only pray that he dies before her this ti.
That's why he gave it to Artemis, as she is her mother, there's no chance that she would ever ignore Alia in danger, and would do everything in her powers to keep Amy safe.
With the "Call of Duty" earrings in their possession, Artemis could sense Alia's condition, though the sa can't be said for Alia, as she is still unawakened, but this one way use is what Rio needed for now.
As for those jewels, well that was purely because Ria on earth didn't like the color red, so he just habitually thought that, and gave it to Artemis. But looks like it isn't the case with Alia.
In the original plotline this gift was sothing that the sad replacent of Rio, who was adopted into Blake family, and later took his place as official heir, gave it to Alia, when they first t.
But since Rio had already decided to ss up plotlines for his own benefit, and this artifact seed useful, why not take it himself?
'Can't believe that fucker bought it from an old hag on the roadside, lucky bastard.'
Rio still couldn't believe how sothing this useful and divine artifact could be just picked up on roadside stalls by those lucky sons of fates. (Fates a bitch - so those sons of bitches)
But that wasn't the only reason why Rio decided to take this artifact, these earrings played a very crucial part in pushing Alia and Rio's relationship down the drain. Aside from so small argunts it led between him and his new replacent, which ruined his public image. They played their main role in another event. Which is what Rio decided to change, to save both him and her.
These earrings were very useful and perfect on the surface, but these could also be used in other ways. Since the call of duty cannot be ignored, if soone trapped one person, sooner or later the other would helplessly be transported there. Just like a fish to a chopping board - one attack and two kills.
His enemies had done the sa in the novel. During Rio's fight with Artemis, when Artemis was losing, these earrings were the ones who teleported Alia to that place, watching her brother fighting her mother and Myra's death, Alia lost control of herself and …
Rio, who was going through the full plotline of the event which pushed him and Alia on totally opposite sides in the novel, was woken up from his thoughts by a sweet voice.
"Now what're looking lost in thoughts for." Alia said as she tugged at Rio's shirt. "Are you acting like our father, when he has to choose between and mama?" She asked, rembering how her father would always go silent and start thinking stuff whenever he had to pick a side between her and mother.
Getting out of his thoughts, Rio looked at Alia, and said -"Don't be jealous of this little thing, I promise next ti I'll give you an even better gift, sothing that even our mother would envy."
"Yayy" Alia excitedly bumped her fists in the air, thinking she would wear that and show off to her mother. But before she could ask what the gift would be, Rio put one finger on his lips and said -"shhh, It's our secret." To which Alia nodded in a hurry, putting both her hands on her mouth.
Artemis raised her ears as she heard Rio's words and then smiled and continued walking while saying -"keep dreaming."
"Hmmm we'll see." Alia said and started walking faster pulling Rio along with her.
Of course even if she said that her heart really felt curious now, sothing that even she as Duchess and Raven's daughter would feel jealous of. She didn't doubt Rio's words as a lie now, he had beco far too mysterious in her eyes with everything he has done in past - from that potion, to items on that list, to ordering Es, and just monts ago those earrings - 'Wonder what it is?"
[Host… ]
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A/N - what do you think is wrong with the system now? If you had a call of duty earring, who would you give it too? What do you think Rio's next gift might be?
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