There was one thing you and Zandik shared—an odd sort of affinity for the hush associated with death. During the late hours of the night, while the vast majority sought the comfort of fuzzy blankets, frayed at the seams from the passage of time, you would slip into the tenebrous grounds of the local graveyard. Its stillness, etched in finality, contrasted the brisk pulse of modern society and provided a refuge from the demands and expectations of everyday life.

However, your first encounter with Zandik was anything but amiable—he'd instantly deemed you an inconvenience. When you entered his periphery, he was halfway through unearthing a coffin, its respective tombstone swallowed by moss, obscuring the name of the deceased. Zandik had no need for the prying eyes of a witness or a loquacious presence at his side while he carried out his deeds. Fortunately, you merely lingered, drowned in shadows and quietude as you observed him, akin to one of the cemetery's many monuments. You didn't question, nor deter him, and he didn't bother to explain. The silence wasn't oppressive, and your presence didn't grate on his nerves.

As the days passed, these meetings transormed into a routine. He came to harvest what the dead no longer needed, and you came to unwind amongst them. Your presence slipped from tolerated to anticipated. You'd warn him when the grave-keeper wandered too close for comfort, and when mere company became insufficient, you'd exchange murmured words as he shovelled away.

Tonight, as the moon cast its pilfered light upon the earth, Zandik approached arrived with the same composed stride, shoulders drawn back. Except now, his fingers were curled around an object. Without preamble, his arm extended towards you, revealing a ring. Its meticulous detail hinted at the kind of craftsmanship that outlives its creator.

"One of yesterday's finds. I personally disinfected it. The cadaver had no further use for it, but you might." His voice was smooth, eyes boring into yours attentively.

"Unless you're worried about ghostly curses," he added, the corners of his mouth lifting into a fleeting smile.