Chapter 19: The Fool 2

{As you've guessed already.....I am the legacy of the class you obtained due to sheer luck or was it fate?} The broken mask spoke.

{Meh!! Who believes stupid things like fate... It was probably just your dumb luck.....}

"....." Ron is speechless at this chatterbox. First it tries to agitate him just for fun. Now it keeps rambling on about stupid things.

{Don't you think so?.....hmmm?...hmmm?}

"Get to the point already." Ron says stopping it from rambling further.

{Alright...Alright.... you're no fun.}. Just like a foolish child, the mask complains.

{You remember how I gave you the choice to select the class right? yet you refused..... So I merely deceived the system...into thinking you chose the miracle invoker class...yet in reality it was the fool...}

"Merely deceived? You think deceiving an entity akin to the heavens is something a broken mask can accomplish?" Ron snorts in contempt and suspicion.

{Oh! You still think I'm a broken mask at only the fragmented legendary rank... Even after all this?}

The consciousness space shifts again and the city appears, filled with people moving on and about their business. Ron stands in the middle of the city, observing around to confirm things...

Everything seems exactly like the real thing, the people, the land, the air, the smell..the taste....everything seems perfectly replicated. And Ron is sure that he's never been to this place before.

{Hahaha... What are you thinking.. isn't this your hometown..}

All his senses are being deceived, even his memory is seemingly changing to match the masks perspective. He's starting to feel an affinity to this place. A feeling akin to staying in his hometown. But as he keeps sinking further.

{Alright.... that's enough for now.} The mask stops the process and everything returns to normal.

{So how is it... Deception, is not mere party tricks as illusions, is it?}

Ron nods, gathering a bit of his faculties. It was a strange force, messing with his head yet he could do nothing but accept what was happening. It felt like he had no power.

{Fool Others..

Fool the world..

Fool the heavens..

And in the end..

Fool even yourself..

For self deception is the Ultimate deception.. }

The mask continues to speak and countless masks surround the consciousness space. The masks all have different faces. The countless masks address Ron.

{The test starts...

Pass and I shall hand you my legacy..

Fail and be lost in an endless fantasy..}

The voice becomes emotionless and hoarse and buzzes in Ron's head.

{Find the real mask....The real you...Among all these lies you've created.....}

Still in the consciousness space, Ron looks at the countless masks, in the sky and on the ground.

"What kind of fucking test is this? Do I even need your legacy.. I'll follow my own path."

{You must find It... refuse and stay here forever.}

"Damn it. It doesn't seem like there's any other options. I'll find your stupid mask." Ron resigns to this fate and accepts the test.

Although he was reluctant to believe in anything the mask said. As it was capable of messing with his head, he didn't want it to stay here for even a second longer. So he wants to get it over with.

But if it refuses to leave, he can only use his final trump card.

.....

"What a stupid quest to find yourself." Ron is not amused. It simply seems like tricks from a charlatan trying to deceive him into something.

He doesn't think there really exists his real self in here. Everyone has countless masks they wear infront of different people. Is there anyone who acts same towards a stranger as they do towards a loved one. Does one not show a different face to parents and siblings. And the same face changes when one is with friends. The same face yet so many different sides to it.

Does one not don a mask of self confidence and become, for one moment, what they are not. Does one not act differently when in public and differently when in private.

So many faces to one person. And so many masks to face so many situations.

But as he thinks further and keeps thinking on this topic, his head is filled with doubts.

"Do I too have so many masks..."

Ron slowly walks towards the mask nearest him and puts it on his face.

He see's the perspective of the flower girl that's selling flowers to make ends meet. He see's himself from her perspective. The flower girl was not a significant part, it was just a random encounter at the station. He always tried to smile and encourage her, yet when she wasn't looking he couldn't keep that smile at such a scene, forcing a child into labor. He hated that he couldn't do anything about it.

Looking through the flower girl's perspective, he finally see's how miserably he fails to hide the pitying gaze even through his smiling face. It was a laughable thing, trying to comfort a stranger, yet still failing and even hurting them in the process.

He finally see's, underneath that mask of encouragement, lies such pity and insincerity, no sincerity nor genuineness. Why was he even trying to do that he wonders.

Was it really because he felt bad? Did he make it about himself? Was he always such a narcissist? Did he want to show others how well he behaved? Even trying to encourage a stranger. Did he want others to see and praise him for a good job he was doing. Would people seeing him think he was pitying a poor child, and helping her. Was it all about image?

As Ron thinks further, the mask on his face disappears. And Ron gets out of his stupor,

"Huh! Who was that? I don't remember ever interacting with anyone like that." Ron mutters in confusion, clutching his head. It was not his memory.

"It was definitely a trick from the mask. I should avoid touching any weird ones." Ron's head clears up a bit. But those feelings passed on from the mask still remain.

He moves on looking at the different masks, each one of them is unique and intriguing. But Ron now knows that there are traps mixed in as well. Like the first mask, those feelings and memories, they definitely weren't his. It just seemed like someone overanalyzing everything. A definite lunatic.

....

He walks around and suddenly a glowing red mask catches his attention, a mask with complex features. It draws him in.

He picks it up and puts it on his face.

This time he is pulled into his own perspective..

It's a starry world and he is floating through it, an event in the future. Ron Agnis, the Pyromaniac, floating aimlessly through space, encounters a planet that blocks his way.

A ball of flame, hot as the sun appears on his palm and the planet burns to cinders. The countless life forms burnt to a crisp. Everylife being cooked alive,like hell has descended onto their world. Those unaware creatures merely going about their own life, and such random calamity ensues. Yet his expression remains the same. Unfeeling, unaffected, unfettered. A time when he had lost everything, a time when he had nothing holding him back. Was that time when he was truly himself. A truly unfettered Ron, Or was it just an empty husk interacting with the world through his anger and rage. No constraints binding him, no morality and not even humanity.

He didn't know the answer to that but he refused to believe that the worst time of his life, the mask he put on at that time to cope with his loss would be his true self. It was merely an amalgamation of guilt and anger. For all that was left for him was to burn the world in the flames that were rampaging inside him. An endless pain...

The mask cracks as those feelings are passed on to Ron, as he's once again reminded of that time. There is no remorse, no acknowledgement, it's pure rage and unbridled guilt. So Ron rejects this self. And the mask breaks into countless pieces.

---

Ron looks around.

There are many kinds of masks, faceless ones, smiling ones,sad ones...

The masks he wore Infront of his friends, the masks he wore Infront of his parents. He is seeing the reality of "himself" all too well.

The masks he wore Infront of his teachers. Was any of those even he himself. Were his interactions genuine or mere facades to impress others.

This time another mask caught his attention, a pitch black mask, an oddly familiar sensation.

Like something he'd experienced just recently.

The mask takes him to the Pyromaniac, trapped in the abyss. Enduring eons of solitude, and loneliness. Waiting for the chance to destroy the abyss. Only looking towards that goal as his one guidepost. Was this his true self? Determined and working towards his goals. Not trying to impress anyone, all alone, not looking for rewards. Just being himself in a place no one else existed. Would this be himself when no one else existed in his world, to judge and no one to impress. Only his own ambitions reign supreme only his will remains eternal.

Yet he has an urge in the back of his head, the answer he seeks is not like this.

He takes off the mask, neither accepting nor rejecting it. He sets it aside.

----

Walking around some more, he comes across a barely noticeable mask....

The perspective of Ron who had passed the 5th challenge and had entered the celestial grounds for the first time. A different beginner's town then he had arrived at now. A different atmosphere, countless players gathering to complete different quests provided by the NPCs. Slowly leveling up, grinding all day just to make ends meet.

An unnoticeable character Ron Agnis, amidst the sea of more unnoticeable players. People looking at others better than them, like watching the stars or the sun. Basking in their light for a while and being content.

At the almost bottom rung of society. No need to care for huge matters, just worrying over tomorrow's meal and gathering with like minded people. Working hard to earn one's keep and be content with what you eat. Because you are powerless. Trying to smile and laugh even in those hard times, while looking at others doing the same.

Was such a Ron, the true Ron... Was this his true self?

No!! He refuses to be mediocre, to be the sheep once more. He'll be the wolf and hunt the Shepherd.

This mask breaks too.

----

He finds another mask, a pink one this time.

The mask takes Ron to his middle aged self. When he finally got his success, finding a lucky break, he got out of mediocrity and became a noble, through constant hardwork. Yet still being rejected by those people of that circle, his results of the hard work denied by attitudes of stuck up people. He indulged in lust and desire. Drinking alcohol and whoring around, wasting his energy and hard earned place in a different world. Yet he wasn't satisfied, always angry, always dissatisfied, taking out his emotions on others and drinking away his troubles. It was a time, that he'd surely have lost himself in once.

Yet no, he rejected this. it wasn't his true self, it couldn't be....It just seemed like someone forced by external circumstances. Someone with nothing else to do but vent, someone too dependant on other's approval. Someone who's entire life depended on getting the approval of people of high status. That's not what he was,atleast not anymore. Rejected.

Thus this mask too broke.

{Hahahaha, seems like time's up. you really suck at this.} The masks vanish and one single mask appears. The broken mask looks at Ron and it cackles with crazy laughter.

...

.....

...

[To be continued.]