The Fair Maiden, The Wise Man, and the Fool

“Letters are signs of things, symbols of words, whose power is so great that without a voice they speak to us the words of the absent; for they introduce words by the eye, not by the ear." the maiden told him, whispering softly in his ear. “I like this,” she then said. “Letters are touching. You were very well chosen.” she finished. Her fingernails. Her eyelashes. Her perfume. It all smelled the same. “Please, don’t send me away yet,” Leo repeated his request. “In one month’s time you will know what happens to the written word.” the maiden replied. “You will know. You will see.” The wise man nodded, and started back towards the magnificent tower. He could smell it. His heart sped up. It had felt familiar there.

Within one month of his final departure from his home, Leo had written a long and elaborate letter to the City of Beginnings. On the paper he wrote all that he knew about his time with the maiden, the arrival of the wise man, and the arrival of himself in the City of Beginnings. The letter he wrote could be summarized as this: “I believe that the world changes around us and that life changes with it. The Change. For me the Change is a thing. I think the Change is something small and green. Small and green and yellow. If I drink water and eat leaves and drink water and eat leaves and drink water and eat leaves and drink water and eat leaves, the Change becomes bigger.

“People don’t know. People don’t really care. People try to push The Change. I know that I have a saying. People don’t care. They don’t.” Leo rubbed his forehead as he talked, catching his voice. He continued, his breathing erratic. “Look. I’m sitting here, and I’m lonely. Loneliness is like hunger, or maybe like the lack of gravity in space. It goes away, but it’s always there. People think that The Change and loneliness are nothing to be concerned about, and it is not my place to tell anyone otherwise. They are only words, not feelings.”

Leo paused to think. How could he be talking so to himself?

“I don’t know.” He continued, “I don’t know. If I told you what it is like to be lonely, would you be scared? Would you try to help me? To stop me from suffering? Do you know what it feels like? Do you know what I’m talking about? “Oh, I’m sorry. Do you have a pen? A paper? A place where we can talk, where I can say what I want, and you can write it down? I don’t know if this makes sense, but it’s all that I can think of to write. “If you have questions, you must ask me. That is all. You will find me sitting in the park, perhaps. Just sit down with me. I’m sorry.”

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“Where is the best place to find your pond?” Leo asked, and pointed towards the town square. A man in a black suit strolled by the pair, carrying a newspaper under one arm. He looked like he’d come to report to his friend that he had not yet found the fair maiden.

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” the man said, folding his arms. “There isn’t a pond, though I’d hazard to guess that there is a sign somewhere about it. Would it be…that the old library? It used to be the school library, but now it’s just one big room, completely devoid of books.”

Leo continued on, scanning the rest of the square. The library seemed out of place in this stark and unpretentious district of New York City. Leo thought that perhaps the library was also one of the few places in the city where one could find the realization that it was, in fact, the City of Beginnings. Finally he was met with the sight of the pond. Leo marveled at its broad expanse. For a few moments he stood in contemplation, catching the water suspended in moonlight as it dripped onto the iridescent pavement. Suddenly, Leo stepped back from the pond, jerking his head backwards to search for any other echo of his footsteps. The grass underfoot was still wet. Someone had waded in the pond, perhaps in anger. Leo suddenly found a change of tempering him, so he heeded the apparent intruder’s threat and continued on his way.

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The Wise Man greeted Leo with his brow furrowed. “Have you ever walked in the depths of a city,” Leo asked, “and truly, truly just wanted to be on your own? And be protected from even the tiniest godspawn? I have found solitude to be cleansing. I have found some small way, barely noticeable, to join an existence I once called my own. And by extension, to have a life that doesn’t occur in others. They grow, young thorns of significance from wilting fragrant trees.

"Have you found the change, Leo?" The Wise Man asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. The Fool flinched at the contact, his eyes fixed on the ground.

"The... change?" He stuttered, his voice wavering.

The Wise Man let out a deep sigh. "Yes, change. It's something that happens to all of us at some point in our lives." He paused, allowing the Fool time to process his words.

"But it's not just a physical change," he continued. "It's a change in perspective, a change in our mindset, a change in our world view." The Wise Man looked at the Fool, his gaze intense.

"And it's something you need to experience, something you need to find within yourself." He paused again, this time waiting for the Fool to respond. But all the fool did was stare back at him, a blank look on his face.

"But don't worry," the Wise Man said, his voice soothing. "I believe in you. I think you're capable of finding that change within yourself, and I'm willing to help you along the way."

The Wise Man stood up, offering his hand to the Fool. "Come with me," he said. "I'll show you a path to finding that change." The Fool stared at his hand for a moment before taking it, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.

He had no idea what lay ahead, but he knew that having the Wise Man by his side made him feel a little less foolish. And perhaps that was the start of the change he needed.

Leo crouched low, drawn up in close combat, his sword draped across his back. He grimaced in spite of himself, kicking his leg out for the turn, both foot and ankle twisting. A shard of metal whizzed past his ear, finding its mark in the wall behind him. The knight spun, deflecting another steel sliver. The knight followed suit, both glancing off each other’s armor. Their assault continued, neither pausing. As they played tag with their opponents, Leo leaned to the side, away from his opponent and towards the open doorway.

Peeking out the doorway, he noticed a voice. It belonged to a tall man in a fine gold-braided tunic and white pants. An old man in a simple cloak stood in the doorway of an ancient library, face lighting up when he saw the Fool peering from the doorway. The man moved forward quickly, motioning for the Fool to enter. As the Fool carefully stepped through the doorway, two tall stone men before him, the old man beckoned him towards a throne in the library.

"Come Leo," The old man said, "Commonly known as.." Leo glanced over his shoulder, eyes widening in surprise. He let out a little yelp, realising the old man’s golden sigil. He was an arcanist!

"Leo, it's wonderful to meet you," the old man said, pulling out a book from within the leather backpack he carried, opening it and turning it towards the Fool. "And who might you be?"

"I'm the Fool," he said, hoping that would get the man to continue talking. The old man studied the book before him, frowning slightly before placing it on a smooth stone beside him.

"Ah," the man said, reading over Leo’s shoulder. He gave the Fool a warm smile, revealing row after row of perfectly aligned teeth. "I see you have a new toy to play with." Leo blushed brightly. "But first, let me introduce myself. You may call me Horus."

He waited for an answer, trying to look collected and intelligent. But as the silence lengthened, his head ducked lower to hide from the pirate’s unblinking eyes.

"Now then Leo," Horus continued. "Here's an order of business I have with you. You must travel to the depths of the ocean, joining with the dying vortex that haunts that part of the world. Go on now, as long as you stay focused, you'll be fine."

"I may be a Fool, but I am not that much of one, Horus. You are the Wise Man." Leo curled his lip. "Where is the Fair Maiden?" he asked, rolling his eyes.

Horus laughed, his deep chestnut eyes lighting up. "You got me!" he said, grinning at Leo. "You still feel the pull of the ring, and in exchange for all that self control, I give you the Fates’ Gift!"

Horus opened his hands in front of him, offering an impressive display of fantastical objects. What held the Fool's attention, however, was the ring hovering behind Horus' head. Leo sat, stunned. The ring was floating gently in the air above the round table, its gold ring clinking merrily. Its surface shone in a strange way. Leo cocked his head to the side, inspecting the ring's odd charm. There was some red spray-painted designs worked into the band, but it looked more like a pin-up girl's poster than it did a weapon. It was beautiful. Its features softened when the Fool met its enchanting dark eyes.

"This," Horus said, holding up a finger, "Is a Card of Marriage. Your fiancée demands your presence!" Leo let out a low whistle.

"Now you may choose who you wish to marry," Horus continued, a knowing smile upon his wrinkled face. Leo wasn’t convinced this was a good idea. Horus reminded him a little too much of Mayu, his classmates chattering the most annoying songs. Leo felt his blood run cold as he considered his companions. If it came down to protecting their precious damsel in distress, then he'd do just about anything. And that included smuggling himself and his companions off the city. To do anything else would go against everything he’d lived for up until now.

"…but I do not know the Fates' name!" he said, shocked as the perfect smile fell from Horus' lips. "I do not know her, her friend’s name or even how she comes to wear the ring! And I'm sure she hates me for having to find this out myself!"

Horus waved the Fool’s objections away with the wave of a hand, waving it back and forth gently. "Worry not, young Leo," Horus said. "I do. It is rude of you not to ask. But please, don't try to rush into this engagement. The cards are-"

"But you are the one rushing me into this. I don't know her. I don't want a wife. What is in it for you?" Leo glared menacingly at the gold ring with its unique design, shading his eyes as he looked into it.

"Sorry?" said Horus, holding out a gnarled hand to stop the bickering. "To work, that would be far too dangerous. By marrying her, we earn enough supplies for us and a newly turned Fool-"

Leo frowned. "Stop. Do not bestow that name upon anyone. You are less wise than my namesake," he said, his face twisting into a scary, evil grimace. Horus grabbed Leo's arm.

"I know of a fine shop in Boston, situated above a betting club. The proprietor is overjoyed at having two lovers on his table. However, I will have to make this quick. His place is busy, and the Gold Ring would get away otherwise. He will be watching our ship for just-"

"I already told you no!" Leo laughed, shaking the old man off his arm and looking around the tavern. "Nobody wants a gold ring. I don't to get married." The Fool sighed, rubbing his thin brown chin.

"Will you come?" asked Horus. "It will be unspeakably dull, but at least you can be of service to the traveler." Leo felt his stomach turn with butterflies.

A strange pressure filled the air. Suddenly, a rickety wooden leg leaned against Leo. He looked up to see the old man sneaking up behind him. His hand was over the Fool's mouth, his other hand held a hefty steel switch.

"…but in the end, this is your decision," said the wizard. Leo glared back. Inching away from the witch, Leo left his hands held up, leaving Horus' features in their sinister misty form. "I cannot help but sense that you are a man trying to show-"

"Wait-" Leo frowned. "Why do you want me to marry her?"

Horus ran a heavy wrinkled hand through his graying hair, a sign of worry and exhaustion. "You know how these things can go," said Horus, beginning to relax. "I have seen it happen many times with those my eyes and my magic. You are a gifted goldsmith and an adept Swordswoman. The Fates meant you for a fitting match. You two are kin in some ways. You will save each other from dying too soon."

"Elder Craft?" Leo looked him up and down with a frown. "I don’t believe in the old words. I said no. That is that." He turned to walk away..