Chapter 18: The Fool 1

The silvermoon kingdom, The Capital...

Inside a certain building's basement, that was quite dark, with only light source being a magic lamp. It shined on Spero who came straight here after completing his mission.

Spero could be seen standing with his head down, showing a respectful attitude. A man looking to be in his 30's with a ring on his thumb that glowed with a peculiar light, addressed spero, with his back to him.

This man stood on an elevated platform, a red carpet under his feet. The atmosphere was solemn.

"The assignment was completed?" The man questioned in an authoritative tone.

"Yes, sir." Spero answers seriously.

"Casualties?"

"None, Sir."

"Hoh, You managed to do a good job this time."

"Thank you,Sir."

"You confirmed the hero's location, as well?"

"Yes, sir. He is in torr town."

"The tracker?"

"It's been placed, he didn't notice anything, I made sure of it." Spero answered.

"Good." Alexander smiled.

The glow from the ring vanished and the atmosphere turned to normal, and the lights turned on.

"Now that we got official business out of the way, you can speak frankly." He spoke in a softer tone.

"Phew, it's always nerve-racking, standing infront of that artifact." Spero says gesturing to the ring on Alexander's thumb.

"Yes, but it's standard protocol. we can't mess it up. Last time, you do remember, both of us got an earful from that old man." Alexander responds, while walking towards spero.

"So.. the look on your face tells me you got something to say?" He asks Spero, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Yes teacher, I found a peculiar one this time, among the new players." Spero tells his teacher about the encounter with Ron in detail.

He shares how Ron was able to control hellfire, even though he just arrived in celestial grounds.

"Hmm, someone who can control HellFire? Are you sure? A new player? Is he one of those people perhaps. Hmm?"

Alexander's expression darkens and he throws a flurry of questions at Spero.

"Calm down teacher, I checked many times. And the artifact had no reaction either. He's definitely not a devil in disguise, nor is he an incarnation of one." Spero responds hurriedly trying to defend Ron.

"And besides the kid had a good attitude, I think it might be his innate ability, so I gave him the medallion and the quest to join the devil slayers."

Alexander looks at him carefully,

"Alright I'll believe you for now. There is always that possibility. I'll test him myself. Those old cronies might try to take this one too. So don't mention this matter to anyone."

"Alright, teacher." Spero looks at Alexander, understanding his worries.

" Meanwhile I've another assignment for you.."

"Yes, teacher."

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While Alexander was pondering how to poach Ron to his faction.....

Ron had managed to reach the huge gate that led to the silvermoon kingdom. The walls surrounding the kingdom were archaic and huge. To keep the kingdom safe from invasions and outside forces, such as beast tides and other dangers. There were many sentries stationed on the wall and guards operating the gates. The gates remained open for the entire day and closed at night.

Ron entered the gates, still riding the carriage. There were no encounters on the road. So Ron had spent his time, studying his new class The Fool.

It seemed to be heavily dependant on deception and illusions. He didn't really think it was a bad thing. Any means could be used to achieve victory. And he couldn't simply just dismiss this as he doesn't even have his pyromancy legacy but it's also fine as he already has memorized all those spells.

"Any tool is a useful tool. I just need to find the right way to use it." Ron mutters a line, he'd heard many times in his previous life. He can't clearly remember who said it though. It's as if that face is blocked by a hazy fog, not letting him remember.

He dismissed that feeling and activated the skill deception magic from the skill tab..

....and as soon as he did, a haze covered his mind and he was transported to a huge grassland.

{Heyo....welcome!!!.....we finally meet...}

The mask suddenly appears infront of him and speaks while grinning. It greets him like an old friend.

Ron isn't startled, he looks at the mask calmly and closes his left eye. Looking at it with only the sage's eye.

The grassland vanishes, it becomes an endless white space. This was Ron's sea of consciousness. He looked at the mask, which he thought too was an illusion but the mask remains floating in the white space, negating his assumption.

"Hmph...simply an illusion. You can't fool me." Ron looks at the mask in derision. Trying to trick him with an illusion at this level.

{Oh.. are you sure?}

The mask gives a grin so wide that it looks creepy...

Even while looking with the sage's eye which no illusion should be able to effect, Ron could see the landscape changing, buildings appeared then people and slowly just like that a whole city was created.

Ron looking at this, was amazed yet horrified at the same time. Someone or something that could mess with his consciousness to this extent was definitely a horrifying existence.

It was a horrifying thought that the mask might be a malicious entity trying to mess with his mind... To possess him or did it have other goals.

Yet Ron still remained calm, trying to think of solutions to this situation.

(... aren't you always the calm one....Ron..) The mask spoke again and the scenery changed.

The mask also changed from it's woody texture, it changed into a face with smooth white skin and pale black eyes. Crimson hair similar to Ron's cascaded down the figures shoulders. And the tone of the mask became feminine. The figure was half Ron's height.

Ron was a bit startled seeing the figure.

{Long time no see brother...}

"What are you playing at?"

{ I only want to be with you forever brother.} The figure giggles showing an innocent smile, with hands behind her back.

"....." Ron stays silent this time.. he knows the mask is trying to agitate him.

{Huh, but I forgot, I'm dead. Hahahaha.} The face distorts in anguish as weird laughter echoes.

Yet Ron doesn't seem fazed anymore.

"That's all...huh...I thought you had something more up your sleeve."

"A mental attack like this won't affect me. Just state your business and get this over with." Ron says, keeping a nonchalant tone, trying to sound out the mask.

{Hmm, seems like I chose the wrong memory...}

{How about this...}

The mask changes shape again and another figure appears infront of Ron. The figure also has long crimson hair that reaches her waist, and deep golden eyes that can pierce through anything.

Yet as soon as Ron see's this figure..... Intense bloodlust fills the sea of consciousness and cracks begin to form...

The mask is startled by this kind of response as the bloodlust is directed at it, manages to break the illusion..

"Do. Not. Cross. The. Limit." Ron emphasizes each word with Killing intent and rage. The illusion breaks revealing the mask in it's original form.

The whole space burns with flames and turns blue due to the heat. The mask is surrounded by intense flames trying to burn it to cinders. But it just remains floating there, unaffected, and laughing maniacally.

{Hahahaha... I didn't mean it.. alright....}

The mask's tone changes into a sincere one. And Ron calms down a bit. The flames aren't doing anything to the mask so he might as well not try to burn his soul for nothing.

{I was just reading your memory and came across some... interesting stuff.... yeah, let's call it that....}

{ It's been so long since I got out..... So I simply wanted to have some fun....}

"What do you want from me?" Ron inquires, completely skipping the part of the mask being able to read his memories. It had already infiltrated his sea of consciousness so he didn't find that weird.

He was more interested to know it's purpose and plans. If it was harmful he'd simply have to destroy it even at the cost of his life. He can't let anyone know his core plans.

{Well!.....}

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[To be continued.]