The God of Jesters

When Remira eventually came back to the library, she was dumbfounded by the good news.

The man that Maxim claimed to be a pain in the ass for him, has chosen to support them and even wishes to catch the killers of his son himself.

This was surprising, to say the least, but when she thought about how approachable Maisel was when she first met him, this was to be expected.

No one reaches such a high post in the military with strength alone, a good mind over the head is also needed and Maisel was just that kind of person. He was not the kind to become the tool of his son's killers and incriminate Radiance for it.

Well for now at least. As long as Radiance is fulfilling their job properly, Maisel will support them. And the moment they are done, he will take revenge on them whether they deserve it or not.

This was how he was and Maxim was a bit aware of this. But he didn't speak out about this, he was just happy that he can continue his work in the city without any restrictions.

And as things were, there would be a warrant to enter the vicinity of Farhad's college soon enough. He just wishes that the clue they have at hand doesn't go to waste. Not now when things have come too far.

"Well, I also have something to inform you as well." After the happy news that Remira was exposed to now, it was time to ruin it by telling the details of her earlier meet-up with the child.

"A third party?" Maxim asked with wonderment but then nodded. "That is to be expected, there is always someone in cases as high profile as this." Maxim nodded, before continuing. "Don't focus on that though. Ignore it and focus on the academy, we will be getting a warrant soon enough."

Maxim was an experienced individual and he understood the importance of priority more than anyone else in the library.

"Old man, don't ignore it. These guys are following us and not for good reason, I imagine." But even if he was an experienced individual, Remira still chose to profess the importance of the danger these people might possess.

She still hasn't forgotten about the child with an insane amount of curses on him.

'That can't be a child, she thought, for how can a child remain alive in that situation?

"Remira, this is not a request but an order." Although a bit mild, the tone of maxim held weight when he said this. "You should just focus on investigating the academy and nothing else. Don't be distracted by anything."

A pragmatic decision that few would make in this situation.

General, most humans would run around finding a way to save their life and focus on defense.

Even while doing their job, they would struggle to function properly under the worry of an enemy attack. Making their work slow and coming out flimsy at the end.

But Maxim was an experienced one, he has experienced similar scenarios multiple times in his life. And in most of those situations, when they were distracted from the case, worse things happened.

Something that he doesn't wish to repeat in this case. He already has a lot of things to regret and he doesn't wish to add one more on top of all that. 𝑓𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"But don't worry about the safety, I will request the blue eyes to tighten the security around the library."

This was the most he could do at the moment.

As for requesting support from the mayor or Maisel?

Maxim didn't do that for personal reasons, nor did he bother to explain this to Remira or Pierta, who were busy sending out new orders to the blue eyes.

To him, this was the perfect scenario. He doesn't wish for any more parties to get involved with their work.

It was already a miracle enough that Maisel was able to keep his calm and even support lightly from his side.

And what Maxim thought was pretty right on point. At the moment the father that lost his child was sitting at the dinner table with the mayor talking lightly about his military feats and such.

But the true reason he was there was something else.

Maisel wished to find the killer on his own. Only this way he can regain the honor that was besmirched by the death of his son.

No one manipulates him and leaves unharmed.

And the individual with whom he started his investigation was the Mayor himself.

"I heard the Mayor also fought on the Yethel frontlines in your youth?" Maisel was doing small talk to have the guard of the mayor down.

And the best weapon for that is some alcohol and compliments. And as Maisel expected, the mayor started to lower his guard down.

"Yes I did, it was one of the worst wars of that year. Our principality was facing drought and we were told that Yethel had barred the river."

"Turns out, it was just a ploy to decrease population, decreasing the mouths to feed. If not for my father, I would have joined those extra mouths."

Yethel was an oddity within itself, rarely do magi and sorcerers show interest in mortal affairs. So them creating their own country was weird when it originally happened.

"They truly were hard times, and who would expect that Yethel would become so strong with time."

Their talks went on and on for so long that I felt bored.

So I left the scene.

It was not like these two would be able to achieve anything with their limited knowledge. Among the many parties that were somewhat aware of my existence and tried to pursue it, these two were at the very last.

Even worse than a commoner who had started to worship me as a god of sorts.

Truly pathetic.

*****

How about instead of those two, I tell you something interesting.

There was I, a small rat running in the forest using the shade of trees to hide from the sun. But at one point, I understood that this was not efficient.

To my knowledge, ghosts are the creatures of the night. So going out at night might have been a better option.

Hiding from any predators that might kill me, I hid between the roots of an elder tree. But even then I didn't feel any great.

There was something that was pushing me out of the body the longer I remained in it.

But that was not all, I can feel this body dying.

Such a bizarre feeling, but it was somewhat interesting.

I never even thought possessing a creature was possible, I just did it out of instinct.

Though at that time I was unaware of how odd it was for a wraith to possess living creatures, even if I was only ever limited to a small rat.

For Wraiths were spiritual entities born out of strong emotions and corrupted souls. They are a mad bunch that only wish to devour.

A desire that was absent in me, as I was capable of maintaining my sense of self even in the body of a rat.

But when I felt it at a deeper level, it was my murky spirit that was killing the rat.

I was unconsciously feasting on every aspect of this little critter. From its soul to its vitality.

I was leaving nothing.

And if I didn't stop, I would lose this body and be defenseless against the sun.

So the moment the night arrived, I ran and tried to find a new body. A new rat that would become my vessel. And to my surprise, I succeeded.

I lived that way for years. I don't remember how long or how many bodies I changed, But I eventually arrived in a small township ravaged by war. It looked decrepit and defeated.

It even made my own mood a bit bad.

But that is something for later. For now, I wish to learn more about this new world. And what better place to learn all of this than a library.

And in a town this small, I eventually found the only library and met its owner.

A young man with a great future ahead of him. Though at that time, he was a fallen noble that was handed the library with important documents hidden in it by the Djistrum Empire, the owner of Wortham Principality.

The documents turned out to be a pretty handful and useful for me and that young man.

The same young man that taught me about this world

And the first person I ever contracted with.

My first owner.

But I am getting nostalgic. So don't mind me.

He was a great man and helped me learn about what I was in return for some knowledge from my world.

He was pretty interested in the mundane world and science. And I was all the happier to tell him everything that I knew while hiding the fact that I also held some knowledge about his own world.

The knowledge that I stole from Lakyus. But calling it stealing would be too much.

What I did was just pick up things that he left on the spot.

"Is this all of it?"

My bad, it seems I was a bit distracted. Now, where were we?

Oh yes, we were in Lucian Adobe or Lucian Academy, whatever name fits it.

And there was my little piggie Kairut, overseeing a small operation.

"Yes, this is everything we could find about Farhad Maisel before his departure." The security chief of the Academy informed the headmaster before leaving the room.

Why did the headmaster ask for all these things?

He didn't know, nor did he dare to question any of this.

He still wished to live for longer.