The God of Jesters
Chapter 298 - 5.08.3 Burn it.

Chapter 298: 5.08.3 Burn it.

Should I approach him?

Well, that was my job to begin with, I had to get closer to Henry for this specific mission and learn what or why he is being so introverted right about now.

His weakness will shan’t be the only reason. There should be something else, something much more delectable to my taste.

So why not go and meet him? Not like I needed an excuse after what we both went through together. And with his simple mind, he probably won’t find me weird.

So I did just that, ignoring some weird glances that were sent my way from the school, I left the moment the classes were over. But then stopped after thinking about it for a while.

"Too early. And I am too normal considering the experience I had before. I should have put some acting into practice when in school, a great alibi in case he comes across information over how I was in school."

"But then again, he doesn’t think things through, a simple mind is easy to fool and he is just the perfect target for that."

"So what to do here, what can I do or should I do?" As my thoughts clashed in my mind, something attracted my interest again.

"How much for the kebabs?" Or should I say the interest of my stomach?

But well, not to lie, what actually took my interest were a couple of street urchins that were playing not too far from here.

Each one played a game that was more akin to fighting, well because it was fighting.

"Kids, how about getting some kebabs to do something for me?" Kids with this much freedom to play such dangerous games probably don’t have overbearing parents, they won’t notice if their kid goes on a long journey in this small town for some errand, as most of the time, they are probably working some jobs.

Giving these kids ample time to relish in their ignorance and the tough life ahead. But it was why they were easy to make work of. With some food and a coin, as these kids knew how to bargain, he carried my little message to him. To Henry.

*****

The act in school can be relegated to me trying to return to normal, he won’t probably call it out, but if I were to meet him personally after all that happened, even going so far as to approach his house, he would know that something is wrong, something very wrong with either me or my head.

And it doesn’t depend on one’s intelligence, no one can be so stupid to ignore the oddities in such a situation, not even a fool like him.

Because if he were really a simple fool, he would have come here and not fallen into depression.

So I used some theatrics.

"How are you? And if you were wondering, I am good. But school today was tough." I wrote him a letter.

"It was harder to keep on the act of normality after what had happened and seeing you not there, the reality kept hitting me in the face. We really did that, we experienced hell."

"But after that hell ended, I had wanted to meet you again when I was fixed. But sadly, the maid knows who you are and has banned me from meeting you. And if not for my pleading, she would have put a word to the police... but she didn’t, so you don’t have to worry, it’s not like you were at fault to begin with. Unlike Rashid."

A highly informal letter with no mention of what happened, just in case someone else picked on this letter. All in an attempt to let Henry feel some familiarity. To make him feel my own emotions concerning the whole situation.

I didn’t forget to include some erased sections that I crossed off to show I never preplanned the letter but wrote it in a hurry.

Followed by a small rant, showing my hint of anger toward Rashid. For he truly shot me and although I might not feel much during the heat of battle, when all was said and done, I got the chance for self-reflection, I felt anger.

An understandable anger that was shown through how my writing became chaotic citing the emotion I might be feeling while writing this letter.

An emotion of disillusionment over our false friendship and how I felt betrayed by him.

Such simple changes ought to achieve what I want. He should know that I am also not ok just like him.

Making it easier for him to relate with me, and well, let’s say. Fun things might happen if this works.

Which it should. I know this would work no matter what happens.

*****

Day three since school began again and still no Henry, he really has disappeared and the distance from the new friends I built recently became wider as time went on.

Which was really odd, because a bit of distance can be understandable, but things were becoming too bizarre in school for me. They directly threw me off and completely ignored me when I tried to start a conversation with them.

And the gazes I felt got stronger with time.

’Someone is messing with me. Someone like some bully.’

Ah yes, it was not easy to come to such a conclusion when I had to think hard.

The Bully problem had reared its head again, and this time with no protection from either Rashid or Henry, things were getting bad. People were being swayed and I started to become an outcast again.

’Ah yes, perfect.’

I gave one look to Henry’s girlfriend, who I knew also visited Henry’s house multiple times to give him notes from school. She was the key here.

*****

"He is having his fun," Baldar spoke while the hint of distaste that he originally felt for Crow was nowhere to be seen.

No, there was not much left in his eyes besides suppressed bloodlust. One that even caused Kahna to go mute when he looked at him.

"But this fun is delaying his mission. There hadn’t been any result from his side for the past two weeks, nor has Henry shown his head in public since then."

"Leave him be, Henry is just a distraction anyways, we shouldn’t forget what our priority here is." Baldar held no emotion at this moment. However, it would be better to say that it takes a while for his old self to surface again.

As the former, he looked at the whole situation like a simple chess game.

"We are keeping an eye on them, there is no weakness in their defense, not like we can harm them anyways." As was the case, due to the insinuation of the Daemon of Incarnation, they can’t cheat, which means that they can’t touch any of the participants in this game, all in an attempt to keep it clean.

Making it frustrating for Baldar to just stay in his place quietly.

It took them a while, they put one idea after another, but all were put down after considering that none of them were as useful when looked at in isolation and the losses it might incur.

Then, all of a sudden Baldar said something absurd. "Then make some, put out a bait, the orphans from Sheva’s orphanage should do." Hearing that, the eyes of Kanha turned a bit worried.

He was an orphan, most under Jester were orphans of war who were ignored by society before being picked by jester and trained to be who they were today. So when Kahna heard something like this, he couldn’t help but say. "I beg your pardon!! But what do you mean sir."

"Sheva grew up there, she had told me storie..." Baldar paused, as some of these stories felt a bit broken in his memories. "She cares for that place, she will come to the rescue no matter what happens."

"Sir..."

"You can’t expect to gain something without sacrifice. Let them panic, let her panic, she will come out of the hole to see the devastation, the death herself. And she should know what their goal should be, she is with them and should be privy to it."

There was a reason I had chosen to give Baldar the height I had promised him during the last year he was still Baldar, I would let him experience the very thing I had promised long ago, let him be the leader he could have been before he is devoured by the abyss.

And see, wasn’t I right?

He is the very man I had expected him to be, if not for Sheva’s corruption, he would have been a perfect leader. Sadly, now all I can give him is a year of feeling at the height of this world.

’No, considering the current situation, he might not live past three months. And it’s not because of his abyss corruption. But just the fact that I had none to do this dangerous mission.

Team One is out there doing their own thing, while Team Two is here, protecting the country. Among which the strongest had disappeared and all I had been left with was an Abyss-corrupted Baldar, who was the only one that might be able to contend with Remira.

Meaning, that unless Team One is back from their mission, Baldar has to shoulder the responsibilities and face death in this game when he eventually comes to confront Remira. Once again I might add.

"What if she doesn’t know?" Kanha couldn’t help but ask. Although he was not aware of the relationship between the two or how deep it went, he had some inkling and knew very well that Baldar would never harm her.

But when looking into Baldar’s eyes, Kanha couldn’t be sure if he could still call it Baldar, or just a man who is acting on behalf of the notes he left to himself.