The one who has secrets and the one who plays tricks

I happen to wake up early, so I go for a walk around the town. There I see many stores opening. One of the shops has weapons in it, so I decided to have a look. There I find a good quality sword and some nice armor within my budget. I bought them and I'm on my way.

After looking through the town a bit, I decided to head back to the palace. There I'm guided to a meeting room and I see the crimson ruby, Aktor and Jau'klom from the talks in the room. Then Aktor starts talking

- You are finally here. Now we can resume our talk.

Jau'klom: Now that that one is here, I can talk? This one didn't expect that one to be of enough importance, but let's start at the beginning. This one came here to talk about whether or not the person calling himself Sario Arca the II heard voices in his head. This was this one's purpose here during the talks.

Nor: That is something I wondered about myself. So what is the truth?

Jau'klom: This one felt presence in Arca's mind other than himself. Though this one is unsure who this presence belonged to.

Crimson Ruby: I also felt his heartbeat increasing in random moments. So that was the reason.

Aktor: Now we need to find out what that was and what was its purpose.

I think a bit and realize there is a person who might know.

Nor: I might know a guy. Though, I don't know how to get in contact with him.

Crimson Ruby: Then what is knowing that useful for? If you don't know how to find him, then it is as good as nothing.

???: I do agree with her on that part.

We are all surprised and look at the source of the voice. It was someone I know.

Nor: Tur.

Tur: Though in my case I would not be blaming you for not knowing. I mean I'm quite hard to find when I don't want to be found.

Crimson Ruby: Tur? What are you doing here? How did you get past my guards?

Tur: Too many questions with no payment thrown at me beforehand. You need to get better friends, young lad.

Crimson Ruby: You dare...!

Jau'klom: Wait! Don't anger him! This one senses that he is powerful. More powerful than we can deal with.

Nor: I think you two can calm down a bit. He is the person I was talking about earlier. Though, I did not expect him to just appear like that.

Aktor: I couldn't sense him at all.

Crimson Ruby: I can sense every person's heartbeat in this city and I didn't sense him anywhere before he appeared. That's why I'm surprised. So this is him. Well, he certainly knows how to make an entrance.

Nor: He certainly has his ways of appearing out of nowhere. How did you... no... nevermind. I don't want to spend my question here.

Tur: You certainly have learned how to talk with me, young lad. Though I kind of miss your innocent way of asking me everything. Feel free to ask me small things like that. I will answer if it is something small.

Jau'klom: This one wishes to know who is the person who has such a powerful aura around him.

Nor: That person is Tur and he is one of the many hands of the demon prince of secrets Rahasia. Or rather, Rahasia herself in a way.

Crimson Ruby: What?! Well that would explain the ability to appear from out of nowhere. But still.

Tur: Young lad, I would have hoped you keep my identity as a demon prince out of this.

Nor: Sorry, but it is the only way to explain this to them.

Aktor: You could have told them that he is just a worshiper of Rahasia. I think that would have been enough to convince them.

Tur: I like how he said exactly what I was going to say. I'm more interested in you two now than I was before. Now to the question. What will you give me in order for me to answer? Any souls from anyone.

Crimson Ruby: What is he talking about?

Nor: Before he answers one of our questions, we have to give him something worthy of that information. Apparently souls would suffice.

Crimson Ruby: While I could offer one of my soldiers souls as a price, I think I will pass on that given the way I would look to the other soldiers. Though if we can't give something worth of that information, I will gladly give the soul of a worthy soldier.

Nor: Information that he wants also is an option. Anything you want to know, Rahasia?

Tur: Tur is enough. And I do have something I want to know. Now then, Opal, care to tell me what is inside the chamber far beneath the palace?

Crimson ruby looks annoyed.

Crimson Ruby: Is that the price of you telling us what is talking to that fool Sario's mind?

Tur: That would be the price. That or three souls of your most prized soldiers.

Crimson Ruby: Is it worth that much?

Tur: It is.

There is a small pause.

Crimson Ruby: This information is to stay inside this room.

Tur snaps his fingers and some spell gets cast around the room.

Tur: Now no one will hear what is being said in this room. Though I must warn you, If someone gives me something I consider worthy of this information and they wish to know it, I will not keep this a secret. Unless you want to bring the price up by giving me the soul of someone.

Crimson Ruby: I will give you the souls of the three criminals who are to be executed tomorrow. Is that enough to bring up the price?

Tur: It does give it a higher price.

Crimson Ruby: Then it is a deal. Now then the secret of that chamber. There is a catalyst, made by my ancestors, to gather the blood of the ones in our bloodline when they die. Its purpose is to make sure that, in case of an emergency, we of the bloodline can use it to make sure this city is not lost. The secret of how to use that chamber is passed on by the patriarch of our bloodline to the next patriarch. I now told you what is inside the chamber. Now will you tell us what is speaking to Sario's mind?

Tur: That was some juicy information. I've been trying to get that information for four centuries, and now I got it. It is enough for me to tell the identity of the person who is plaguing the poor Sario's mind for a decade.

Crimson Ruby: Glad it is enough.

Tur: The person who has been talking to Sario's mind is my twin brother Kiat, the demon prince of lies and tricks. Other names include Dusta, Menipu and Penipu.

Jau'klom: Penipu the deceiver? This one wonders what does the great trickster have to gain by making someone almost cause a war?

Tur: That is something even I don't know. My guess is that my twin brother is just doing it for fun.

Crimson Ruby: He is doing it for fun?

Tur: If I know him, then that is my guess. Even though I'm the closest person to him, I can't say for sure if I know the true him. He is a trickster after all.

Aktor: So even the great knower of secrets doesn't know for sure what her brother is like.

Tur: All I know for certain is that he likes to pull tricks on people. Both mortal and immortal.

Jau'klom: The records do say that the great deceiver does not care for if you are a rat on a sewers or god up high, he will always find a way to trick someone.

Tur: That is true. I've even been tricked multiple times by him. He holds many secrets, but unlike me, there is no sure way to make him tell them to you.

Nor: Almost like he is better at keeping secrets than you.

Tur: Not the first time hearing that. But I hold pride in how many things I do know. He just happens to know some things. If I ever find a way to get correct information from him, then I have finally won our little game.

Nor: So wait. Does it mean he never tells the truth?

Tur: You never can't know for certain. A true liar and trickster makes sure you doubt every word they say and the things you already know. If you ever meet him, make sure to not listen to all that he says.

Nor: So the only way for us to stop the voices coming to Sario is to convince Kiat to stop. Or at least find out why he is doing it.

Tur: What you will gain from that is something that might become interesting to me. But I doubt you will find an answer there. Now I bid you farewell for now. I have other matters to attend to in this body.

Tur suddenly vanishes like a mist.

Nor: Now if we want to get to Kiat, we probably first need to get to his realm. Siel'Kel is probably the best option.

Aktor: I don't think I should come with you this time.

Nor: Why not?

Aktor: I don't think going there will solve much. Even if you convince Kiat to stop talking to Sario, it probably won't change Sario's wish to turn as many people to demons as he can. It is rooted to him now.

Nor: Don't you want to know why he does this?

Aktor: I think Rahasia has a point. You won't get a straight answer from him no matter how you try. She knows Dusta better than anyone, so I think it's best to not even try.

Crimson Ruby: I think you should not go there, as well.

Jau'klom: This one thinks that the great deceiver will not bend easily to the whims of mortals.

Nor: Still, I'm going to try. Now I need to prepare for the trip, so excuse me.

I leave the room and make some preparations. Food and water supplies, trinkets and gadgets for the trip to another demon prince's realm. Though useful gadgets might be hard to find.

Couple of days have passed. I have done some jobs from the hunters guild and found some supplies for my trip to another realm. I contacted Siel'Kel and explained the situation.

- No.

- What?

- I will not transport you to the Realm of Judi to find the demon prince of lies and tricks.

- But I need to go there. Why won't you?

- This time you are going to meet a demon prince. I can't take a risk of you going there and getting tricked.

- I do my best to not get tricked. I promise to listen carefully when agreeing to something.

- Hhm...

- Well?

- Fine. I will transport you to the town of Kecanduan in the realm of Judi. But first I will cast a spell so that you won't easily lose your soul.

I feel something happen to my body.

- Now, be careful.

Then I am transported to a town. Must be Kecanduan. Now first I need to find out where to go. Then I see a giant chess piece in the middle of the town. It is a king piece the size of a very tall tower. I think I heard that way. When I'm at the king piece, I try to go in but I'm stopped by some guy. He tells me that if I want to enter the King, I first must beat him at a card game. I accept the challenge and I pay my entering fee.

I lost. I pay and try again. I lost again. I pay a couple of more times and I keep losing. We make a crowd and I hear laughter around me. I pay again and lose.

Then someone comes from the crowd and tells the guy I was playing with to stop harassing a newcomer. The guy I've been playing with laughs and moves the table away and lets me pass. Then the guy who told him grabs my shoulder and says.

- You should be more careful to not get tricked. There might not be a guy who feels sorry for you next time.

So I was tricked. Damn! Well, it is the realm of lies and tricks so it is to be expected. I climb to the top of the tower, which takes a while, and I see a riddle. "To find the king of the land, you first must find the fool of the court'' What could it mean? What is fools equivalent to demon prince? Someone who entertains him. A mortal? But there are so many mortals here. Perhaps a player of many games. But there are so many players in this town.

I go around and ask people for help and I receive similar thoughts. One was something I didn't think of. "Perhaps it is the literal fool of the town hall" I'm out of options, so let's go there.

I find someone who is juggling balls and is saying some weird things. I go and ask this.

- Do you know where I can find the king of this land?

He keeps juggling the balls and jumping from one leg to the other. I repeat.

- Do you know where I can find the king of this land?

He keeps doing what he's doing then I ask.

- Where can I find your lord?

- You can find him at the top of the world when the stars start dancing. Then answer "My shoes used to be made from the leather of a man of white and the leather of a lizard of red". Then he will answer thee the question you are seeking.

- Thanks. I guess.

- Have a wonderful day. For it is the day when the traitorous chicken was hanged. Toodaloo.

I left, a bit confused, but at least I got an answer.

I see a tall mountain on the horizon and I think it is "the top of the world" the fool speaked of. Though there might be another mountain that is taller, I can't think of anything else at the moment so I head there.

It took a day on foot to get at the bottom of the mountain. I start my climb.

It is hard and arduous, but I keep on climbing. It starts to get cold, but luckily I brought a warm coat with me from the Kecanduan. I keep on climbing.

It takes me a couple of days to get to the top of the mountain, because of the brakes I needed to take on the way. I finally saw him. The king from the riddle. I say the words the fool told me to say to him.

- My shoes used to be made from the leather of a man of white and the leather of a lizard of red.

- What on the name of Kiat are you saying? Did you hit your head on the way here?

- But, the fool told me to tell you that.

- Fool? Oh! You mean Frank! Yeah, he does say things like that. What do you need me for? I'm just an ordinary guy who runs a business.

- So wait, you aren't the king of this land? I asked the fool, Frank, to tell me where his lord is. The riddle told me to find the fool first, so I thought he was the fool I was looking for.

- Well, I am the employer of many people and Frank is one of them. You said something about a riddle? Never heard that one before. Might as well be one of Kiat's pranks for all I know.

- So I climbed this mountain for nothing then?

- Wait, did you climb all the way here? Did you not know about the escalators that runs throughout the mountain? This mountain is the hotspot for people who like to ski and the likes.

- Escalator? What in the world is an escalator?

- Oh, a newcomer. An escalator is stairs that move up or down on their own. They work with magic.

- So you are telling me I didn't have to climb this mountain and I could have used these "escalators" to just stand and wait to get up?

- Basically yes.

I give a deep sigh. I feel so frustrated right now. The whole riddle might have been nonsense the whole time and I could have just used these escalators to get up here.

- You mentioned a king of this land. Did you mean Kiat? If you are looking for him, he's at the edge of the realm in the city of Palsu, near the tower of rook.

- At the edge of the realm. Which way do I need to go?

- South-west. It is far away, so I would recommend you take a ransu with you. Ransu is a horse equivalent to this realm, but it is a lizard.

- I see. Can I find one in Kecanduan?

- I think the fastest option would be to go to the town of Menipu. It is the town where the escalator leads from here. It also has the tower of the queen.

- I think I will go there. Thanks for the tips.

- No problem. You should be careful though who you trust here. In the realm of Judi, it is easier to count the honest people than the dishonest.

- Don't worry. I took what you said with a grain of salt.

- Good. Now bye.

He starts going down the mountain with his skis and I go to search for this escalator. Wouldn't you know it, there they were, the moving stairs. Now it is easy to go way down. If only I knew they existed before I climbed the mountain.

I get to the town of Menipu and I buy some supplies, since I'm starting to run out. I also found someone who sells these ransu I was told about. They are crazy expensive, but I have no other choice, so I buy one. I probably got cheated. Now it's time to head to the town of Palsu. The guy at the mountain didn't tell me how long it would take, but I guess I just have to see for myself.