Aillun watched the actors set up a tiny stage near the city square. Someday, that was going to be them… All they had to do was get the necessary supplies, and then pass an audition with one of the troupes. It had been their dream, since that very first glimpse of a performance, to be an entertainer… and they finally had a chance at it.

It was a brand new start, a clean slate. They could truly and fully leave their past behind to do what they wanted. No more living in their father's pitch black shadows. They could be happy and their real self without worry or shame.

The world was so bright and colorful. Aillun felt so much more at ease and free surrounded by all the brilliance. This was just like they'd always dreamed of… It was hard to believe it was real.

Suddenly, across the plaza, a man sharply called out a name and Aillun looked over on instinct. It took them a moment to remind themself that there was no way it could be someone trying to get their attention. Their father and his people weren't here and it wasn't their name. The expectation and responsibilities had no way to follow them to this place.

“Young master. Are you ready?”

The young man nodded solemnly at the question. He'd learned early that he should always maintain his dignified presence no matter the circumstances. It was the very least expected from the heir of the clan. “We will leave as soon as the others are ready as well.”

“Very well.” Sebastian had watched the talented heir grow from babe to the skilled youth who stood before him now. He gave the younger man a look over. “Are you sure you are not forgetting anything?” Even the perfect appearance could have cracks. The young master would occasionally forget important aspects required of him. In those moments, Sebastian had passing thoughts that maybe it was due to this not really being the life his future leader wished for.

The current head had harbored a passing interest in a different life in his youth as well. But this life and position was in their blood. The young master would soon also lose interest in other lifestyles and embrace his role in the world. Any desires outside of it were clearly just a phase.

“Do you believe I've forgotten something of importance, Sebastian?” The tone implied the question could just as easily be a challenge as it was an inquiry. Sebastian had not lived as long as he had in his position by recklessly interacting with those in power.

“Your father assigned me to assist you. I would not assume myself at a level to imply I know better than you, young master. I just intended to give you enough pause to discover, for yourself, if there was anything which could have slipped your mind.”

“Playing ignorant is not a good look for you, Sebastian… We both know your wisdom and experience are why my father assigned you to me. You are as much his trusted weapon as the blade he keeps on his hip, and the illusion of giving you to me is also a double edged sword. He may have said you were to be under my command, but it is clear you have been tasked with instructing me in becoming to my father's standards and are to report back to him about every aspect of my life. The clan head must think poorly of me if he thought I wouldn't easily figure at least that much out.”

“My apologies, young master, if you felt underestimated by my actions and behavior.” The subordinate gave a quick but respectful bow. 

A few hours later, the previously immaculately dressed young master returned to his room in much less clean clothes. When he'd left, not a thread of the mostly black outfit was out of place, but coming back, while he still wore them with dignity, the cloth was splattered with liquid that was only less noticeable due to the dark color. The young man couldn't stand staying in the clothes longer than necessary.

“Sebastian. Have a maid draw me a bath immediately.”

“As you wish, young master.” He was only gone long enough to pass on the instructions. Then he returned to the room, at the young master’s beck and call. Said younger man gave a slight frown.

“You look like you have something you would like to say…. Speak.”

“I just noticed you seem more… bothered continuing to wear those clothes than your father or siblings tend to be. If it is something I can assist with…?”

There was something too quick for Sebastian to identify before the slight frown turned more sour. “They were unworthy foes. It makes sense I would not like any form of them lingering longer than absolutely necessary. That I even let such inferior blood touch my person in the first place shows how much I need to improve to be at my father's skill level.”

“You are still young and have time to grow.” Sebastian’s attempt at encouragement didn't seem to make him any happier. If anything, his frown seemed to deepen.

“Thank you, Sebastian. I will be going to bed after my bath, so you may be dismissed for the evening.”

The assistant gave a bow and exited the room but didn't leave. He was to stay with the young master and even being dismissed by said man was not enough to be relieved of that responsibility. As the servant to a powerful clan that specialized in violence, it would be a mercy if the punishment for defying the head’s orders was simply death. The only way he would be allowed to abandon his assignment at the young master's side would be by order of said young master's father—the clan head—or by Sebastian's own personal death.

When Aillun was first summoned, they felt such an unbridled joy at finally becoming free. Which was quickly suppressed once their summoners explained the purpose of summoning everyone. Aillun had been trained, ever since they could first grip an object, how to fight—so obviously their stats would reflect that. They had been summoned out of one life of blood and fighting, just to find themself in a new situation with the same future. It was just trading one cage for another of a different color.

Sure, the summoners claimed no one would be forced into fighting, but there was no way anyone would give up such a skilled warrior when desperate enough to summon ‘heroes’ from other worlds. The desperate were particularly despicable people when it came to keeping their word. Aillun had seen it first hand numerous times.

When everyone lined up to get their stats read, they positioned themself near the back of the line in a desperate hope that the summoners would have found enough competent and promising people before them, so that they could decline helping without much hassle.

So imagine their surprise when the summoners weren't falling over each other to convince them to help out. In fact, according to the readings, their title was the supposedly useless one of “Jester”. They looked at the summoner doing the reading with disbelief. 

“Excuse me, er, Mx Aillun…? I still have some others to check after you. Could you please just move along down the hall?” They looked more focused at the man in surprise.

“What did you call me?”

“I apologize if I used the wrong term, but I had to take an educated guess, and you are holding up the line.”

“Not that… Why did you call me that name?” It wasn't the name given to them at birth or even what people called them. In fact, it had been just a name they'd started thinking of themself as in the privacy of their own mind. They had hated the name their parents had assigned to them, so ‘Aillun’ had become the secret part of them that was everything they felt like they had to hide from the world… Every hidden desire and realization about themself.

“Aillun…? That is what your status window says is your name.” Aillun looked at where the summoner had been staring, and could actually faintly see the window he had been referring to. They got a wide smile.

“I apologize for taking up your time. It was just a bit unexpected for complicated reasons…” This was a sign, right? It was like every tie to their past life had been erased when they were summoned. They could live with a completely blank slate and make this life whatever they wished of it.

Aillun dreamed of becoming an entertainer, and whatever force gave the job titles determined they were. This time around they would be free to do whatever they wanted… wear what they feel comfortable in, go wherever they felt drawn… there were no restrictions on how they should act. They wouldn't let anyone cage them ever again.

Aillun felt reborn and, from that moment on, they would hold the keys to their own life.