“If they found us, count us to be already dead.”

As I open my eyes, I see brown slabs of wood that acts like a wall. An antique grandfather clock is standing at the far right corner of this room. Though being lit by miniature fire lamps, the room doesn’t really have an inviting vibe. It is more like a place of hiding given the absence of windows and the dimly lit surrounding. The red carpet on the floor may look like a luxurious item at first glance, but when you try to look at the details, its design was rather something that would totally trigger a person with OCD.

At the far left corner of the room is a ladder made from entangled vines. Based on my observation, I can say that it is the only way in and only way out of this room. Since the ladder points upward, it could mean that we may be in a basement or we are in a secret underground base. A mini secret underground hiding base.

“Good deductions, master. Surveying an unfamiliar and new place just when you get there is a good precautionary measure.” The Fool said as he throws a dry towel and some clothes in my direction.

“If our souls are entertwined, why can you read my thoughts and I can’t read yours? Shouldn’t it work both ways?” I asked as I dry myself with the towel.

“Well, it is the same as ‘why can I use teleport and why you can’t’.” The Fool rummages through an old chest as he said his reply.

After wearing the clothes that he gave me, I noticed some vertical marks on the wall adjacent from the bed and they are similar to the marks I found on bark of the tree.

One… two… three… four…

I counted each verticals and found out that there are 12 lines written on this wall. Could it mean 12 days, just like the 4 days of my unconsciousness? What does the 12 days signify?

“It has been 12 days since the master of The Magician and The Magician himself went missing. Well, let’s make it 16 days because we were in the forest for four days straight.”

“Didn’t you tell me that they were in danger when you asked for my help? What happened then? You just watch me go unconscious, forget about the mission and just carve some lines on a tree waiting for me to get up? You know I’m running a fever but you just let me lie there in the mud? You have teleportation powers, you could’ve brought me to a hospital. And, did you even try to save your magician friend? So bold you are to call yourself his friend, you don’t even do your best to save hi---“

*BLAAAAGGGHHHH*

The vibration from the loud thump on the table resonates through the room. The Fool’s hands are still pressed firmly on the table as his heavy breathing filled the air around us.

“He should be right about this.” He whispered through clenched teeth before a yellow light sucked him in and teleported himself somewhere.

FOUR DAYS AGO…

[The Fool’s POV]

*BLEEUUURRGGHHH!* Eric is hunching down to the ground as he puke on the forest’s soil.

“First timers never surprise me.” I told him as I help him get up back on his feet. His grip is a sign that he is still weak on his knees. Given that he hasn’t eaten yet and he was just soaked in the rain, it will just be a matter of time before he gets sick.

“I—don’t feel well.” Eric coughed out a little more spit as he surveys the place around him.

“Welcome to Poland.” He glanced at me for a few seconds before checking his temperature with his hand. “So, what’s the plan?” He asked while grabbing one of the dark blueberries dangling from a branch just a few inches from his shoulders.

“You shouldn’t just pick fruits from a random plant. You don’t know if they are poisonous or not.” My tone raised as I snatch the blueberry away from his hand and into my pocket.

He grabs another blueberry, but this time, I ignored him. If his stomach hurts, and if he ever get a diarrhea, then he should be brave enough to face the consequence.

(Good thing he didn’t snatch this one. I am so hungry, I’d better have diarrhea than starve to death.) [Author’s note: Please take note that sentences enclosed in parentheses are the thoughts of Eric. Remember that this is The Fool’s POV and The Fool can read Eric’s mind.]

I chuckled at his thought. He was right about that. However, it is better to starve for a while than to get poisoned to death.

“There you are!” That husky voice will never sound unfamiliar to my ears. “How could I not recognize a handsome joker getting lost in the woods?”

“Magician!” I exclaimed as we both perform our friendship handshake. “Where is your master?” I added with a serious tone in my voice.

“What did you just call him? The Magician?” Eric shouted in my direction as he turns to face The Magician.

“I thought you’re in danger? Why are you greeting each other like this is a normal reunion? And where is the other kid like me?” Eric throws those words with aggression. Frustration is written all over his face.

“The Fool, is this your master?” The Magician said calmly while he walks towards Eric and stretches his hand to him.

I nodded as The Magician turns away from me and faces Eric who just in time, shoves The Magician’s hand away.

“If this will make you feel relief, Irina, come out.” The Magician gestures his hand as if he is calling someone out of the tall dark green bushes. There emerges a lady in an elegant green dress wearing a golden crown on her head.

“Your master is a girl?!” Both Eric and I exclaimed the moment we saw her. “Is she a princess?” I quickly added while Eric is still dumbfounded in his position.

“Let’s give a bow of respect for the princess of Poland, Ms. Irina Nowicki.” The Magician bowed and extended his hand gesturing to escort her.

“You don’t need to do that, Cian. I am a strong independent lady.” Irina smiled as she gently refused taking The Magician’s hand.

“Cian?” My thoughts came out of my mouth. “You called that guy, Cian?”

“Oh. It’s just a shortcut for The Magician. It’s too hard to say, unlike your name, The Fool. No offense.” Irina tried not to laugh after saying her last word.

“You’re not in danger?” Eric comes closer to Irina with a mad look in his eyes. “Why am I here, then? Take me home!”

“You!” Eric bellowed as he rushed toward me. “Use your teleportation skills and bring me back to my home. I command that as your master.”

“Master Eric, that can’t be done. Do you want to experience being a punching bag again? Would you rather live but almost get killed everyday by your own father who doesn’t even care about you?”

His stare turns sharper. He now lunges forward and grabs my collar. “You lied to me and you dragged me here for nothing. You grabbed that blueberry away from me and you just don’t care that I am running a fever right now. You don’t even give a damn about me so don’t act like you’re any better than him”.

“Harsh.” The Magician whispered while giving me a smirk. It was just spark of a second when The Magician lunges in my direction. “GET DOWN!”

The Magician swirls his hand in the air just in time to create a barrier that encloses me, Eric and Irina from a hundred wooden arrows darting towards our direction.

“The enemies are here. They found us.” Irina quickly moved closer into us as The Magician tries to maintain the barrier.

“Is this the enemies that you’re talking about?” Eric shifted upwards trying to maintain a comfortable position below me.

“No, master. These are just one of the other enemies that are trying to hunt us. Though they may look like a real threat, these are just one of the weakest groups who are hired to hunt us. You can’t imagine how powerful the real enemies are.”

“Master Irina, take master Eric with you. The Fool and I will try to distract these goons while you find your safety. Please stay focused. I taught you a spell, remember? Use it just in case you two get in trouble. However, don’t overdo it. You know what bad would happen if you do.” The Magician instructed as he creates a separate and more rigid enclosed barrier for me and Irina.

“I will try my best.” Irina said with a smile as we take a separate route from them in this misty and dark forest.

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

I am very sorry for a very late upload (and a very short episode as well). I am working on two projects:

1) Against the Current [Chapter 1 Part 1 has just been uploaded today],

and

2) a project co-authored and illustrated by sumayyaamin97 (aka BlackenWhiteCat / Cattie) [we are still working on the plot, I am currently writing the first few parts, and Cattie is currently working on the illustrations].

It hasn’t been uploaded yet and maybe it may take us a month or so before we can finally upload it for public viewing. By that time, I can promise a regular schedule, but for now, lemme finish my exaaaamszz.

REMINDER:

The Last Card – irregular updates

Against the Current – every Tuesdays

Thank you!