The Lemniscates

8. Jean Clerc, Hiram (Part 1):

- Mr Clerc. What can I do for you?

- I'm looking for information on a very special ring. The ring of Avir.

- Really?

- I cannot say why but it's like it was talking to me. I want to understand why and how Avir created the ring.

- I think I understand your problem. Tell me, what do you know about it?

- Avir created the ring 1500 years ago. But the ring proved to be far more powerful than he anticipated. Frightened, he destroyed his research but was unable to do the same for the ring. I do not know the circumstances, but Avir ended up giving the ring to Damien, a vampire struggling against the Blood Clans. By himself, he defeated the clans and the Blood Clans' war ended. The ring disappeared after that. Damien was killed in Chicago in 1920. The ring was found by Antonov who gave it to Ienan. I do not know why. He was executed for that.

- Well, I understand why it's calling you.

- Tell me.

- First, answer a question: I understand that you attended a crusade to find the Holy Grail. And you found it. It's because of that that you became an immortal and a member of the Lemniscates. Is it not?

- Yes.

- That's what I thought. You are right on that part of the history unless Avir did not create the ring. It's way older than that.

- How so?

- Even if I wanted to, I couldn't give you a date.

- Why?

- Well, it existed long before the dawn of humanity.

- Do you know who created the ring?

- Not sure, but I think it is reasonable to think that God did.

- God?

- Yes. It also confirms your connection to the ring.

- What else?

- I know the ring carried many names throughout the centuries: the Flood Ring, The Massacre Ring, Death in Circle. Nobody knows its real name but it is custom to call it Mercy.

- The ring of Avir is Mercy? The ring of the plagues of Egypt?

- You understand that Avir was afraid of its power, don't you?

- We cannot let this Divine weapon in the hands of the vampires!

- You know, it's power is greatly overvalued.

- You mean it's not as powerful as the legends describe it?

- Oh, yes. It's just that there are many other more powerful items.

- Really?

- For example, there is also the Winged Staff, the Caduceus or the Spirit Blade, Eriss.

- Tell me everything you know on the ring.

- Everything?

- Everything.