Chapter 3 : The Journey Begins

Nat learned about the Artifacts while she was still a citizen in the capital, though she wasn't exactly what one would consider a "normal" citizen. The Jester didn't understand Jerry's words, but they sounded nostalgic to him. The Artifacts were one of the great mysteries of the world; some believed they were just fabled items, while others claimed they truly existed. Based on Jerry's tone, it was likely the latter.

"We'll be leaving at daybreak," announced Nat.

"Do we have enough provisions for the journey?" Jarvis asked, sounding a bit concerned.

"Both Nakisa and I have been regulating the distribution of rations, but we'll soon run out," reported Casey. "We need supplies here as soon as possible," her voice sounded concerned as she spoke.

As the conversation unfolded, the Jester's eyes darted from one person to another. All he could do was wait and observe, unsure of what to say or do.

"I don't know a single thing about any of this, and what is this 'Capital' they keep talking about?" the Jester thought, feeling a bit perplexed and out of the loop.

"We'll take the off-road vehicle we stole during the last incursion; it should be able to carry six of us," Nat said.

The day had come to an end with everything that had happened. The Jester felt like taking a nap, but he knew he couldn't.

"How many nights have I been like this? Was there ever really a 'before' to begin with?" the Jester thought to himself, feeling disoriented and questioning his own sense of time.

As everyone slept in their bags, some tents lit and some dark, Nat sat outside on a smooth stone, smoking and gazing at the stars. A shooting star streaked by, reminding her of the important day ahead.

"You're up?" the Jester asked.

"Yeah, I can't contain myself," Nat smiled at the Jester.

"You know, I can tell when people are lying," the Jester replied as he sat down beside her. "Is it about what Jerry mentioned?"

"You're not half bad, I'll give you that," Nat smiled warmly at the Jester, but her expression quickly shifted as she took a puff of her cigarette. "I don't know who that person Jerry spoke about is, but I have a bad feeling about it. It feels off, and I usually get this feeling when something is really wrong," Nat explained.

"It's all right to think like that. You care about the people around you. It's only natural," the Jester replied.

"I still have my reservations about you for later. You're as unknown to me as the history of this weird world. But we owe you a lot. If it wasn't for you, I'd be facing the guillotine," Nat let out a chuckle as she finished her sentence.

The Jester smiled in response to Nat's words.

"What are you eating, and why is smoke coming out of your mouth? That's a strange kind of food," The Jester inquired.

"Oh, this?" Nat noticed that the Jester had been staring at her cigarette. "It's a magical stick that clears your head when you inhale from the bottom," she explained.

After the explanation, the Jester kept looking at her. He wanted to try it for himself.

"May I?" The Jester reached out for Nat's cigarette.

"Not so fast, Mr. Jester. I'll get you one of your own when we reach the Capital," Nat replied, pulling away.

The Jester looked a bit disappointed at Nat, and she couldn't help but laugh at how pouty he became when he didn't get his way.

"I'm going to take a nap for a bit. Can't stay up too late," Nat said.

"Of course," the Jester replied.

"What about you? Aren't you tired?" Nat asked.

"No, I'm not," the Jester said.

"I see. Well, I'll leave you to it. The night is pretty, isn't it? Goodnight," Nat said.

After Nat left for her tent, the Jester replied a bit hesitantly, "Good night?" All that was left was to spend the night feeling lonely, but it was peaceful nonetheless.

The next day, Nat made an announcement: "Everyone, get ready, we're leaving soon. Me, Jarvis, Nakisa, Ranald, Festo, and the Jester will go. The rest of you, hold the fort."

Bark, Casey, Azim, and the rest remained at the camp while the main crew gathered and packed their necessary items, including hoods for disguises. They already had fake IDs in case they were detained at the Capital. Nat had to be especially careful since the local police there were familiar with her appearance, well, at least most of them were.

Ranald handed a card to the Jester and said, "Here."

"What's this strange thing, and what's this strange language?" asked the Jester.

"This is an ID, and this strange language is English. Your name on this ID is Jay. If anyone asks for your name, you should say Jay. Nat planned for the Capital, and I understood she wouldn't be leaving without you, so I had to make it quickly," explained Ranald as he handed the ID to the Jester.

"You're so kind, Ranald," the wide-eyed Jester said, prompting an "Awww" from Casey as she watched the adorable display.

Nat glanced over at Bark, indicating with their eyes to look towards Jerry. Bark caught on and understood the silent communication.

The team was ready to depart, all six of them making their way towards the parked vehicle behind a large tree. Its roots were strong and clawed through the earth, leaving the Jester in awe as he had never seen anything like it before.

"What kind of creature is that?" the Jester asked.

"That's my most treasured possession, the Armored Dragon model 677," Jarvis said, admitting that he was the one who stole it the last time.

"This must be a new kind of dragon. But where are its wings?" the Jester wondered.

"Alright, boys, get in and buckle up," Nat instructed. "We have a two-hour drive ahead of us until we reach our destination."

"Towards Gideon's Fall!" Nakisa raised his fist, and the rest of the group cheered and followed suit.

They all got settled in the vehicle, with the Jester sitting beside Ranald at the back. "Jay, buckle up, my babe is crazy fast," Jarvis warned the Jester.

"Seat belt wha-" the Jester started to ask, but before he could finish, the armored car took off with a burst of the engine. The Jester had never experienced such speed before. A few minutes later, he finally managed to fasten his seatbelt. Little did they know, what awaited them in the capital would be beyond their expectations.