The God of Jesters

The life of an individual might be boring and uneventful, but the same was not true for the world as a whole.

Stories were playing out in many places all at once. And some of these stories were interesting, while others boring with no appeal to them at all.

In this backward world where magic has impeded the growth of most technology, the dissemination of knowledge was harder. The ignorant masses were everywhere, making stupid mistakes that starts complete wars among parties.

But what am I even saying, the world I came from was pretty much similar. There was even a great war that started with such a small mistake.

And then there was Remira, who was going to make a similar mistake, birthing a new story.

Dissatisfied with Maxim's order and his work motif, Remira left the library in an annoying mood.

She was arrogant, as one can see from her drunken act before she informed Pierta of the wooden slab she found.

An act, but it tells us too much about her personality.

And that single act after being berated over her obsession with the child with a heavy curse. Remira was in no mood to do her job properly.

Currently, she was waiting for the warrant to enter the academy premises and conduct her investigation.

But it didn't mean she was free, Maxim, in order to divert her mind, had given her a job.

"Go find me another person capable of reading the forbidden text."

Same request that had previously attracted Farhad towards them. Though the same method won't been useful anymore since the death of Farhad.

The Kelps magazine that originally advertised their recruitment won't accept any request from them anymore, because there was someone dead already and they can't afford to have their name muddied any further.

And those that were in the know about this recruitment won't dare to, for they feared death more than anything.

Which was adorable, considering that with proper means, there was no death in this world.

But I presume, the fear of death is universal. Even gods might fear death.

Oh, I am not talking about you guys, you are way greater than the fake gods of this world. You have been with me for so long that I can't imagine living without you.

But I am getting sentimental.

Let's get back to the mistake that Remira would make.

There she was, walking the streets and using her nose to smell things. Which was odd considering that there was no smell of a soul.

Beside mine of course. But I am no ordinary soul, I am a wraith. Unlike the living souls, the wraith manifests in the purest form of a soul and that is what I am.

As for what form is that? I don't even know. That memory has long been forgotten by me with time. So I take the form that suits me the most. Just like the Jester in Kairut's dream from before.

"Where is it?" Remira's actions were odd. She kept using her nose, trying to find something.

But I wondered what she wished to find by smelling it out?

Then I noticed something.

She was getting closer and closer to a particular shop that I have been giving a lot of attention to.

And if she was going to visit that place, then this situation would be intriguing, to say the least.

It was the mistake I was talking about before.

"Is this the shop?" She asked, looking around at the board.

"Vaisal's Enchanted Potions."

A simple board with a simple name.

This shop was not even big and even the bench outside of the shop had dust on it. As if no one has bothered to clean this place in a long while.

But this is how it generally is for potion masters. They are too busy with their work to care about these little details.

"Such audacity to open a shop in a busy street." She complained but still moved forward and entered the place.

Making me curious.

I recall that her mind was truly searching for someone that can read forbidden text. So why would she be here?

Truly an enigmatic choice.

As for the reason why this shop was on a busy street? 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝘯𝘰𝘷ℯ𝘭.𝑐𝘰𝑚

There wasn't any. The shop was already enchanted in a way that would push the mundane people away from it and only those in the world of sorcery would be able to enter it.

Still weird considering that a potion master requires absolute peace while working.

"Is anyone here?' Remira asked, finding the derelict Potion shop pretty generic.

A dirty shop with a lost shopkeeper.

If she was someone new in the world of sorcery, she might have tried to steal the thing on racks. But she was all too familiar with this setting and the trap hidden behind this facade.

"Yes, Please wait a bit. I am eating."

A young voice filled with vitality. Probably an assistant that supports the potion master.

Or so what Remira thought.

"I don't have much time, please hurry." She announced, that her mood hasn't changed since leaving the library. And how would it, the condescending tone of Maxim still irk her ears?

"I apologize for the delay." From the back of the shop, a young man in green garments and goggles walked out while still chewing his food.

There was not a hint of annoyance on his face even after he was disturbed during his lunchtime. More than that, he was glad that a customer finally came to him.

And as the owner of this shop has set, the more he sells, the more he can earn.

"Are you a potions apprentice?"

"Of course I am, but if you wish to talk to my master, he is at his lab away from here." With his years of experience, it was easier to identify if someone is an actual shopper or came here for a reason.

And from her surprised look, she was happy with this situation?

'Heh, wait?'

Before the young man can think anything. Remira used. "I wonder if you are an enchanter? As well?"

"Etto, well... This is an enchanted potions shop and my master is an enchanter as well." Although confused, the young man answered, confused about what was happening at the moment.

Just why would this woman ask such a question from him? Such an obvious one at that.

He even wondered if something was wrong going on here.

The opponent was not a customer, this was something he was sure of. But the odd thing was, that even after learning that his master was not here, she still chose to remain here.

"Then that's great." A smile surfaced on Remira's face before she asked. "Now listen boy, I am from the Radiance society and in need of some help."

"If you do help us, we can give you around 100k Dirium as a starting price along with fulfilling any feasible request you might have for us. Nothing illegal though."

"So how about it? Will you accept?"

"Waah?"

And so she made the mistake.

The young man she just gave this offer to was called Soros Bloodheart, an up-and-coming great potion, and enchanting master.

Though due to his ignorant upbringing in the slums and literacy of society, he was inexperienced in dealing with such offers even though he knew of the dangers.

Not to mention, for someone of his background, the sum of money on offer was too much and hard to ignore for him. And then there was an additional request as well.

So like a chick, the boy nodded his head and accepted the offer.

With no support from his master, once the contract has been signed, the boy will be stuck with Radiance society for the next month. And after hearing about the money, the boy was already planning on hiding this fact from his master that dragged him out of the filth of slums.

Because he knew that with the personality of that old man. He would probably prevent him from joining the good folks.

And this is the reason why I love these good folks, they do some of the most shameless and heinous things to support what is just for them.

It's why Remira didn't feel much remorse to give hope to this ignorant young man and let him join her group.

It's so evil. Such pure evil would be accepted by many.

As for why Remira chose this young man, it was simple.

As the young man claimed, he was a potion and enchanting student. And while Potions can be learned by anyone, only a few special people can learn enchanting.

Because to enchant, one needs to have a strong soul. Making enchanters perfect for the job that Maxim currently possesses.

"Now that's done." Informing the young man of where to go and what he needs to do, Remira happily left the potions shop, a bit happy with the result.

But while she was leaving, her eyes failed to notice a small figure silently watching her from the roof, his body blurry like a reflection.

Though a bit hectic and unpredictable, things were moving as I had expected them to. But it still worried me to have multiple people whose soul was harder to understand sometimes.

But no worries. Not like they can act out of the predesignated part they are meant to play anyways.

And the last piece of the puzzle was also obtained by the party of heroes.

I can't wait for them to enter my domain any longer.