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It was a long time ago, he... was a funny little man. Once the court jester, I, the court magician.
He was called by a different name, though... I believe it would be disrespectful, after all, it was himself who said "That's not my name anymore", but I'm getting ahead of myself.
A friend...? Could I consider him a friend...? Perhaps, perhaps not, in any case, he was the only one who matched me in the games we used to play.
It was a tradition we had, twice a week, after our labors were done, we would meet in one of the empty rooms of the castle, and play a game of cards. Each of us would pick a game each day.
"Greetings, magician."
"Oh, hello, just call me Seam, though."
"Alright, Seam, so, are you on for some card playing?"
"Why would I have invited you otherwise? Here, I have my own deck."
"Well well well, what about we start with something classic, Poker, mayhaps?"
"Sounds good, though, I have to warn you that I'm very good in this game."
"I wouldn't have expected less from you!"
And let me tell you, he was really good at them, no matter what we played, our matches were always neck and neck, it made playing with anyone else a bit boring, I'd say.
He was... just a normal man that time, he had some antics, like everyone, but he was happy with what he was doing.
After many talks I had with him, I am not wrong to say that he was a man who followed his ideals.
"You know, I have seen what you did the other day."
"The other day? What do you mean?"
"In your practice, I've noticed all the things you can create: hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds... It was quite impressive!"
"Hee hee, well, as I always say, I can do anything!"
"Ha ha ha, but seriously, being able to dominate the four suits is a really amazing feat, haven't you considerated entering into the Guard?"
"Nah, that doesn't suit me at all, I'm an entertainer! No matter what capabilities I got when I born, my mission in the world is to have fun, and spread the sentiment with other people."
"That's... really noble, and such a good way to see the world."
"Oh! And you know what else?"
"What?
"I win this game."
However... from one day to another, things started to change.
One day, he told me a strange someone visited him, and from that moment, I think... he was never himself anymore.
At first, I noticed him being more... distant, like he couldn't concentrate.
Then, he started saying... weird things, to say the least.
"Why are we doing this?"
"Uh? What do you mean?"
"This! Why are we losing time doing these meaningless things when we could many more things!"
"Are you not feeling to play Poker right now? We can play something else, if you really want to."
"No, no! It's just... nevermind."
"Are you feeling alright? I know we don't usually talk about this kind of stuff, but if you want, you can-"
"Whatever, it's fine, let's just finish with this."
I'm not going to lie, some of the conversations we had after that were really interesting, but sooner than later, he started being more... hostile about his new 'ideas'.
Until one day... everything fell apart.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I?
"You haven't made a move yet..."
"Oh! I apologize, I was just thinking, wouldn't it be more fun if I do this instead?"
"...you can't do that, that's not how this game works."
"That's 'not how this GAME works'? Come on Seam! CAN'T YOU SEE yet? Everything is already A GAME! Why do you abide by these pointless, arbitrary rules when one can just HAVE FUN, FUN..."
"What's the point of all this? If you don't want to play this game now you can just..."
"UEE HEE HEE, I suppose you don't get it, after all. I do want to play, I want to PLAY on this GIGANTIC PRISON WE ARE ALL IN, and what's better to start, THAT WITH SOME CHAOS..."
"...! H-hey! What do you think you are doing? Those cards... you know how valuable they were, so why did you-?!"
"OOOW, MY DEAR SEAM, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO ME, THEN?"
"Go away."
I was quite mad about his actions, but him...
He never stopped smiling.
Sigh
And in that time, I could have never thought what was about to happen next.
Some days had passed, and he wasn't appearing in the castle anymore, we all started to think he disappeared... until one day...
...
Ugh, I apologize, it's a really bad memory of mine.
One day, a murder took place in the palace, one of the captains of the Guard, I believe, and within his rests, a note lay. A note written by him.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN
There was no time, I and some soldiers gathered and looked for him immediately.
And we found him.
However, I hardly could recognize him, a twisted smile covered his face, he looked deranged, and the things he was saying, were nothing like he once used to be.
"UE HEE, AT LAST, YOU'VE FINALLY FOUND ME, ME."
"You... what have you done?"
"DID YOU ALREADY FORGET? I SAID THAT FROM NOW, I'LL JUST START DOING THE FUNNEST FUN THINGS TO DO."
"You... you killed a man today."
"AND IT WAS HYSTERICAL!"
"..."
"WHAT HAPPENED? THE TASQUE GOT YOUR TONGUE?"
"We are a majority, and these four soldiers are from the elite, surrender now, if you have any sanity left you'll realize you are in numerical disadvantage."
"HEE HEE, I'M NOT THE BEST WITH NUMBERS, BUT I DON'T REALLY THINK YOU'RE ON AN ADVANTAGE."
"But we are-"
"FOUR YOU SAY? YOU MUST BE MISTAKEN, BECAUSE FROM HERE... I ONLY SEE THREE."
He charged directly at one of the soldiers and...
...
He was strong too, he never had been more than a jester, and yet, he overpowered our high ranked soldiers as they were nothing.
I won't get into many details but... at the end, it only remained on a battle between us two, where I could weaken him enough to get him 'caught'.
Despite it, I think what really happened is that he just got bored of all that shtick.
While I imprisoned him in the deepest part of the castle, he never stopped talking to me.
The things he said... didn't completely make sense, but didn't not make sense, either.
"AND AT LAST, I'VE BEEN CAPTURED BY THE GREAT COURT MAGICIAN ."
"You're not in a place to be mocking right now, you-"
"PLEASE, PLEASE, DON'T CALL ME BY THAT NAME, THAT OLD, STUPID CARD IS ALREADY DEAD, HE ASCENDED ONCE HE FINALLY CUT HIS CHAINS."
"Whatever, for your crimes, you're going to be imprisoned in a magic prison here, underneath the castle."
"ALRIGHT! GO AHEAD! PUT WALLS ALL AROUND YOU, LOCK YOU AWAY, I WILL BE FINE, ENJOYING MYSELF IN MY LITTLE FREEDOM."
"...You really have lost your mind, haven't you?"
"THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL SAY NOW! BUT LO, ONCE THE THREE HEROES APPEAR AND THE PROPHECY IS FULFILLED YOU WILL WISH TO CRAWL BACK AT ME AGAIN! BUT BY THEN IT WILL BE ALREADY LATE... TOO LATE."
"...Let's just get this over with."
As the court mage, and his only companion, I was forced to lock him away...
Or rather, lock US away, on his own words.
In any case, the kings called me not very long after, and I only could go to them.
They congratulated me, and offered me a higher rank on their troops. But after everything, I couldn't accept it.
I retired to this same old shop, selling stuff I have collected since then.
However, the strange words he's said have stuck inside my cotton... and my view of the world has become darker, yet darker.
Reflecting on these old memories, I think, perhaps - I miss playing games with him.
And I wonder, if I hadn't been asked to lock him up...
Would I have found a little more purpose in my life...?
...
Oh! Don't put that long face.
One day soon, you too, will begin to realize the futility of your actions.
Ha ha ha...
At that time, feel free to come back here.
I'll make you tea, and we can toast... to the end of the world!