"Angels and Demons and Clowns huh" The Director says more relaxed now then I've ever heard him. The crowd roars to life." Now that this Selection has ended with a record breaking 12 out 50 students chosen by patrons!" the Director says proudly. The crowds roars again, "1 Fallen Angel , 2 Princes of hell, 2 high ranking demons, 1 Archangel, and more then a few unknowns" the Director says "and a fucking clown" Lucy says with a laugh. "damn I think even the parents are laughing at you" Will says stifling his own laugh. After laughing he turns to me with shock "S-Sorry I don't why I laughed at that" he apologizes "wait you face paint changed!" he says wide-eyed. You study his expression, genuine sadness a single tear falling down his cheek. "you wanna reign your powers in a bit dumb-dumb" Preriot says "don't be such a crybaby" I playfully push Will. Before noticing the entire room was watching me with teary eyes. "uhhh Perry why is this happening?" I ask anxiously "that's what we do dumb-dumb, we force everyone to play along. When you turned into a little crybaby you tugged on everyone's heart strings." Preriot says seemingly proud of their own power.
[Skill Level Up]: Play Along
"Ahem" The Director clears his throat "This Concludes the 47th Selection Ritual, as many of you know he 3 faction's Anti Violence Peace treaty protects only academy students and high ranking government officials. Once you leave the academy gates shortly, members of opposing factions may attack or even kill you without fear of punishment" Lucy eyes Will like a hungry predator, she was one before Lilith greatly empowered her. Like her Aasir and Lucky stare at me not as passionate but still bloodthirsty. As we make our way the door Will whispers to me "I can get us out of this, follow my lead" I smile and nod. I trust him, its always been us alone against the wall of highly sponsored and golden spoon fed youth. As we approach the front door Will says without turning to me "who are we now?" I barley hear him over the constant clatter of shoes against stones floor "huh?" I asked as the light of outside world begins to warm my face. "a Vampire and a Clown" he says, something about his tone made me feel like one day I'll remember this moment and cry, or laugh. In one sudden movement , far to fast for eyes to even follow he pushes me directly in the arms of Aasir. Somehow more surprised than me Aasir grabs me and smiles as he grapples to makes sense of this new development.
"Betrayal? Hehehehehe that's the last thing I expected" he says while laughing. Will is the first the get outside, his distraction working wonders. His form shifts into a swarm of bats as he gives me one last look "bye joey thank you, truly" he says with a genuine smile. Then he's gone. "pfft hehehehehehehe KHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA good plan asshole" I say wiping tears from my eyes. As Aasir drags me outside Lucy runs ahead, searching the sky in disbelief "no way he left the clown, the has the be some elaborate scheme" she says while frantically scanning hoping to spot her prey, sunlight bouncing off her emerald eyes while her face clenches to displays her raw rage. "you saw this coming dumb-dumb! Why not stop it" Preriot asks with obvious frustration. I knew my answer but i wouldn't share
"Lucy really wanted him dead so he wouldn't talk about that nigh-." I say to Aasir and Leon in a whisper that's way to loud to count as one, before Lucy cuts me off "DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" Lucy growls, as Lucky drags me to meet her on the front steps of the cathedral. The sun hits my eyes forcing me to squint, as the remaining students reunite with their families and servants "oh I'm sorry is that still of limits Luce" I say with a grin ass Lucky pull me into an nearby alleyway "you have plan don't you little jester?" Preriot says, I can tell he's smiling "I'm not your FUCKING Luce, and whatever we went through is not yours to share!" Lucy says jabbing her now clawed finger in my chest "killing me is has no merit to you upper demons, wouldn't it be pretty funny if you just.... let me go" I say with a shrug "heh I guess... that would be..... funny" Lucky says. He rarely spoke but when he did it was always slow and even, almost like it caused him physical pain.
[Skill Level Up]: Play Along
They start to talk amongst themselves about how hilarious it would be to let me go now and rip me apart after they've gotten even stronger. While they I began to slowly back out of the alley onto the sparsely traveled road leading to the outskirts of the small All Moon District were only the Cathedral and Academy remain "PFFT might wanna move a little faster" Preriot says. I take their advice and break into a sprint, I don't know where I'm going I'll decide later.
"wait!" Aasir says "why would we wait lets just kill him right now" Lucy and Lucky realize that waiting is pointless and decide to finish it here and now. But when they turn to find me i'm already gone "He fucking played us!" Lucy yells.
I had run for 2 days straight only stopping to sleep, deeply surprised by my stamina or lack of hunger "hey perry, could you explain my powers in more detail" I ask "ughh that sounds pretty boring, I'm sure you'll figure it out. After all this version of me was born from your sub conscious need for guidance" Preriot says with a yawn. "wait" I stop running, suddenly aware of the chirping insects, crisp clean air, and most noticeably the pale moonlight peaking through the canopy . The Velda Forest. "Are you saying I created you to guide me?" I ask "yeah, more or less" preriot answers casually "you might become stronger then most patrons if your demon buddies don't kill you first, oh! Or the angels, if they find out you woke a calamity it's the end of both of us hehehe" "a calamity?" I ask "what do they teach you brats in school geez. A calamity is designation giving to a potential cause of the worlds destabilization or destruction." Perry's like my clown advisor. Like the grizzled veteran who teaches you the ropes "hehehe" I laugh at my thoughts "hey asshole don't ask for help if yer not gonna listen" Preriot screams in my ear "little shit" says the little clown floating in the air near my face. "when did you get a physical form?" I asked the floating small clown dressed in tailored blue suit, a nose painted red, two green diamond paints around her eyes, a 3 pointed hat each point adorned with bronze bells. "I guess you see me as a women, interesting…. hope its not mommy issues khehe" Preriot says "thanks for giving me form little jester, and to think you've done this much without looking at your status" says Preriot. "Status?" as I repeat Preriot's words a blue screen appears in front of my face.
[Name]: Josef 'Little Jester' Grey
[Level]: 1
[Patron]: Preriot The Progenitor of Clowns
[HP]:60/60
[MP]:470/500
[STRENGTH]: 5
[DEXTERITY]: 5
[INTELLIGENCE]: 5
[CHARISMA]: 100
[LUCK]: 134
[SKILLS]: Play Along LVL 3, Survival LVL 1, Parlor Tricks LVL 1, Balloon Magic LVL 1, Mana Circulation LVL1
"What the hell, I don't know what I was expecting but this is something else" Preriot says "what am I super weak" I ask. But perry just stares at my status "yes and no. Your strength, dexterity, and intelligence are all greatly stunted, childhood trauma tends to freeze you time mentally and physically. However, what do you think the average MP for a level 1 is? "uhhh maybe around 1000" Perry looks at me for about 3 minutes without saying a word "no…its 60. Your charisma and luck are also absurd, luck is just a statistical representation of fate's favor. Charisma represents the peoples favor... As I thought" Perry trails off. While in thought my hair stands on end and feels an urge and lean left, so I do. An arrow whizzes past my face and lodges into a tree.
[Skill Level Up]: Survival
"Redcaps" Perry mumbles "we should run" Perry says eyeing the small green creature standing about 4 foot tall. Its gnashing sharp teeth, yellowing eyes, and finally its blood red cap. For some reason i don't want to run, I wanted to kill... I close my eyes and focus on the blood lust when was the last time i felt this way?
The Rocks, the sharp and jagged stones jutting out of sea. "I knew id find you here" Mothers sing song cuts through the sounds of waves and sea birds. She found me like always, on a hill overlooking The Roaring Sea. My favorite hill, not a hiding place exactly it was far too close to home to count as one. "Is today the day you jump? Please don't! You have so much to live for." mother says sarcastically as she motions down the hill towards our run down hovel. "Its high enough to kill and those rock would grind you bones and tear your flesh, ahhh" mother finishes with a sigh now right in my ear "or should I just push the little coward" she wouldn't, it'd be more mercy then she was capable of.
I focus on the spires of sharp stone rising for the foaming sea, preferable to mother's voice. If only a spire could rise from the dirt she stood on. Rid me of my devil, the thought made me smile big and bright.
[Skill Acquired]: Sea Spire