[Rika SniperSugarSpirit Minami]

RP Post: The Examination Begins – Necklace of Harmonia

The double security doors of the Curation and Research Annex gave a soft hiss as they opened, revealing the pristine, climate-controlled corridors within. Rika stepped inside with quiet confidence, the glow of the artifact in her gloved hand casting a faint shimmer along the glass cases lining the walls. Every step she took echoed softly in the silence of the annex, like a drumbeat leading to truth.

At the far end, standing amidst a halo of cold white light, was Leonardo—tall, refined, and unshakably calm in his pristine lab coat. His silver hair cascaded past his shoulders, framing eyes sharp enough to read through time itself. He turned as she approached, his expression unreadable, yet familiar.

“Sir Leo,” Rika greeted respectfully, inclining her head before raising the artifact between them.

“I’m hoping you can tell me if I’m holding the real thing—or just a beautifully dangerous fake.”

The necklace pulsed faintly in her palm, the blue gems catching the overhead light with unnatural brilliance. Its golden framing was intricate, ancient, and laced with symbols she barely understood. She set it carefully on the examination cloth between them.

“I found it deep in a forgotten temple. It was buried beneath trap-laden floors, behind illusions, and surrounded by creatures that shouldn’t exist. I’ve only ever seen a sketch of it once… in an old scroll from the GrandSugarClan empire’s private library—back in the Old World. It looked nearly identical. I… I think this could be the Necklace of Harmonia.”

Leo’s eyes flicked between her and the artifact, a subtle flicker of curiosity sharpening his features. He reached forward slowly, gloved fingers adjusting the position of the necklace as runes along the examination table flickered to life.

“You made the right call bringing it here first,” he said, his voice smooth and deliberate. “Many artifacts want to be found. Few should be touched.”

As Rika stepped back to give him room, she kept her gaze fixed on the necklace—half hoping, half dreading what he might uncover.

Because if this was the Necklace of Harmonia… then they weren’t just holding a relic.

They were holding a piece of forgotten balance. @charmingsilver

[Leonardo Gintora TestarossaOkumuraSakata (ArgentoFlameSugarDemon)]

Leo’s gaze lingered on the artifact longer than Rika expected. For a moment, the silence between them was as heavy as the air in the annex, broken only by the faint hum of the containment field.

“The Necklace of Harmonia…” he finally said, his voice low but laced with a subtle edge of awe. “Or, as the old scrolls from the Old World would call it—the Necklace of Eriphyle. A treasure wrapped in gold and legend, and in equal measure… in curse.”

His silver eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he tilted the piece beneath the cold white light. The gold was unmistakable, warm even beneath the sterile glow, its intricate filigree untouched by time. The gems—amber and deep green emeralds—were set with a craftsmanship lost to mortals centuries ago. Not an ornament for the vain, but a relic for the wise to handle with reverence.

“That it has found its way here, to Skyrie, is… troubling.” His tone shifted, not alarmed, but deeply contemplative. “Whether carried here by chance, smuggled through forgotten hands, or drawn in through some errant dimensional breach… its presence is no coincidence. Objects like this choose their moments—and their worlds—carefully.”

He set the necklace back upon the cloth, withdrawing his hands slowly, almost ceremonially. “Its curse is not to be underestimated. Every queen, every princess who ever wore it met an end woven with misfortune. We will not add to that legacy.”

A faint gleam crossed his eyes—part respect, part strategy. “We’ll display it here under protective wards for a short time. Let the scholars and archivists commit its details to record. And then… it will travel under the guard of a special messenger, bound for the Ancient Cosmic SugarSanctum of the Heavenly Beings. There, its beauty may be admired, but its curse contained.”

He looked back to Rika, a hint of a wry smile breaking his otherwise steady composure. “You’ve brought me something remarkable, Rika. And perhaps, just in time.”