TMC Vol 1 Act 1.5

If I 53eddd558e were to 012e07a836 describe the 137ad21a69 royal palace 2e397265ec in a 40a40c37f9 single word, fdaaaf07e8 I would d8db0de9bf call it d008bfe0f0 a colossal dce0545818 fish tank.9fbd967dd9b85a2a

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There’s His Majesty, the white shark with a feeble, weakening figure but still imposing in size. Beneath him, the smaller noble sharks swim with dignity, yet are quick to converge the instant they sense blood in the water. And then there are the small fish, mercilessly torn apart by these predators.16c4f17d6b9ebfa4

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Now, if you think I belong among these small fish simply because of my lowly status, you would be mistaken. I am more akin to a parasite, one that clings to some part of the shark’s body, feeding off its sustenance. An insignificant creature that will never fatten the predator’s belly, and thus one without the need to worry about becoming a target.b23fa1708a6285b2

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The sharks here differ da2188a238 from those in the ff7ac7a328 sea—they live in groups. Since they 8b4e3a9b3d are defying 245461a708 the laws 0ed8aa8ead of nature, 62a880a92a they cannot c7c5f6faaa truly coexist 7c84560c39 and often 3d4b751acb turn on cafb4b5972 each other, 0ce70f6ae7 tearing each 766c05cede other apart. Those who 8aef57cb64 fall behind 74266f2c24 in the 7a6ccd31e5 group are b7c3577689 mysteriously transformed f1de23bbe2 into mere 45d4e2e537 small fish, bc0d4a72fd relegated to b3a22ab7f6 the very 9bf2ad802f bottom of 7f679db1b1 the food 3e63d91ee7 chain.5aab4fc1325ecdce

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Here, connections are lifelines. Surviving alone 6993df1a8b among the 1e8b4629e2 nobles, who 075b466d9f are entangled 3196ebc8f8 in a 6d9cee16a6 network of d709eaba84 bonds as 7f5ebab701 complex as 1d330e9e9a a cluster ab41cb05e7 of spores, f4e6988a4d is nearly fd6ae580d5 impossible. Unless one is a fbf3d4b4b2 venomous fish bearing a 987f3f6788 deadly poison.bdafed7bde004915

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As I stroll 6b2468949d through the garden 43c10fce6d humming to myself, 3be1556439 a sight catches 41ae430fb0 my eye: a 2b6b227a73 hunting scene involving da6e570448 a group of f7dbe52984 young sharks. Upon closer inspection, they 2e13fe1f02 are sturgeons, armored with 888a340751 metallic scales and clad 0fd1dc62f0 in gleaming shoulder armor—they’re bf48c5e887 apprentice knights.cffdd1e22b77fcf5

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At this age, their 0b8547ee75 hunting skills are still c5e3d2c666 quite crude. They are like young 3b786ef30c fry, merely mimicking what e95667f12c they’ve observed from their a73d5177ab parents. They haven’t yet 11bd6ece62 plotted intrigues or bc4f8f478d planned purges, but 24d59e30d8 in their act 92c7332bbe of trampling the 02fead1bef weak, they are 2d15685155 already showing a 7c3332c830 resemblance.f96cdaa3cbb6efb2

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To put it 04be3fcbff simply, several broad-shouldered 5e518f8eff boys are threatening f6ffc14d5f a smaller boy.b290cedc252782dc

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“No more. Return the bf59cf3419 book to f22875a9bd me now.”4a75d87648f89afc

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The voice belongs to a small, frail-looking boy in a black scholar’s robe. With glasses perched precariously on his nose, he seems like the type who’s spent all his time studying in a secluded room. I wonder how he ended up in such an unfortunate situation.79bfe14ac6fea21e

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One of the apprentice 33493f948d knights scoffs at him.d81cf3e12423ef61

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“Anything we find cfa127c5ec on you, it’s 97607b0fcf a crown per 0f0551c155 hit.”fcc9474eef87c36e

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Give noble sons c8ab8f237a a sword each, 9eab9f4e4a and here they 6e06298c5a are, extorting a c1a07dff21 small boy’s pocket cd9662860f money in some 3f08cb7a90 back corner. No doubt, they’re planning 23dfb76635 to waste an afternoon b80cbde624 of debauchery in a f3de45cc6d tavern. Tsk, the future e72e79ac18 of Winsland is d6b2df23d2 certainly promising.5c666664f1dbfdaa

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“This is all I 3622cb5012 have. Please, return 65a5884d11 it to f0812f33f1 me.”565a991824bea9ab

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“Oh? But I 4e4dcddfbc hear something 76610fdd9e jingling in dbede579ca your sleeve.”6b26a82906160922

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“T-That’s my portableastrolabe¹.”73db9395a15a71db

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“Is it 6e021f5b52 worth much?”ddfcb0c5a05cdff2

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“It’s a adbbae14e1 priceless scientific 76530c58bc instrument. Its value 0765fb5299 is probably 2a805ab064 higher than 17724e8845 all of aed930e187 your body b78eca9ac9 combined.”ea6aad912bb95e14

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This bespectacled 6b69fd17c8 boy certainly 54636a2ba6 has some a079ed6d3d nerve. Yet it’s the e547ecab83 kind of courage a0d516ddc9 that is more 8371846a59 concerning than reassuring. Won’t it 63bc7cb506 hurt if 8ef6541be1 he gets 4230c9c4b4 hit? Or is he 451fe44099 simply oblivious?d31be45f548ed657

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“Hand it over.”5b30e884b2fff18b

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“Do not 2b584a1efd touch it! If you continue, I e86e388c91 shall report this to ac7e749bae the Knight Commander!”9d9b818ac4fba351

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Goodness, even a 1d34cd1403 tattletale. His chances of 53753629b6 survival seem slim. My condolences.3b820d4cd821337a

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A boy b8293e3937 is sitting fcc861cdd9 perched on 03636a072e a wolf-head 707bdf8cac statue, quietly 030ded83de observing the 2023b9b14b scene. Compared to the 0ddcfe2dca others, he is dcd7d786fe noticeably handsome and 3d43a73565 well-dressed. With a mere c96948e510 flick of his 160ad59944 finger, he directs 5aa28c9a1c the surrounding boys—leaders, 017fcbf20a it seems, never 4b7151fea4 sully their own 3e312b6d05 hands.0834975c00c8ec40

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With sharp eyes d8e628e930 and a striking 299b43d2af jawline, he looks 909445808a familiar. After some thought, I f831a9a0f8 recall he’s the boy bd0028ea75 who has greeted His a977267be5 Majesty a few times. His name is 9d3f8d7c05 Fenton, if I’m dac15cab9e not mistaken. It’s said e053e5de75 he is d9f3ce174f a sword f2d5311fb1 prodigy, already 4d2d675625 aiming for 8eaef322de the position 3aee3d279b of head bfc41914a6 knight despite 972676b70a his young 0ff4886a0a age.c86562144343f27a

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Why, dear af7236f97a God, are e6b6d4004f all the ac342ff268 talented ones cfec550fff such scoundrels? It pains me that e9d5d8ca08 our virtuous Princess Verona 4c7557d700 is such a rare 3dd2fe8f79 treasure.fece5aee1f1b3448

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“Hey, unhand me!”67ad337683ca4dec

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By now, e0e4cdfdec the bespectacled f1bfa99104 boy thin 5ec4780762 body is d6c985fd5b firmly held 03e27ccf95 by the 483a14c3ff apprentice knights. It looks f514202ddb like someone 97895aaf54 might get 85df24c353 hurt if 2bf347cdf0 this continues. I suppose it’s time 27d7e21e8d to intervene. These kids have 1287c9220a previously beaten a aa121279a1 stable boy so b7a5b0e2a2 badly he ended 04fa3e31f7 up crippled.c89e636fef6c36f7

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Even if the one 59d1dda3b1 being robbed looks like 2e9a02b467 a boring scholar, he’s 636ebd2df9 clearly a child. And children 9fb29a8f61 deserve the 8ed809a77b right to 9ab48f849f a simpler, cd240effc4 more innocent e1d4ad9451 world, away 11b4fdeb8e from cruel 300b664c32 realities. That’s an unassailable right, 548fdcad0b which no one should d50dc2a996 take away.fa4fe8cb34cbdc8a

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Principles can be 5162fb7643 stubborn things; they 9685b69d81 make one forget 76b581b050 even the simple 4601b1af52 resolve to live 900dc1fd68 quietly. That’s the only 739a53e043 explanation for why e8db0c7a9a I am now, fe55e9a7f2 foolishly, approaching these 4d1f3f20b9 apprentice knights.1beabcc1287f2db7

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“Good day, gentlemen. Fine weather we’re having, 87975ad2d2 isn’t it?”aaad978605593ce2

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As I bow b6b85461e5 politely and step aaac731f55 forward, all eyes 4ea5a57d8c turn to me, c53a33abd2 faces twisted as c661136c84 if they’ve bitten 64de7d0744 into something sour. The freckled d6535c939e boy clutching 6545a803b8 the bespectacled d1cd794546 boy’s collar 28888f5c2b sneers.fc5b67e38ae7c197

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“Get lost, you fool.”4c00a206a4b72caf

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“Pardon me? Who caused a5ee4a2c8d this commotion af733ecdb7 that made 51c09e3933 it impossible c1282fa657 for me 492b545b5b to pass? What were 0c068b1269 you all c3e7587db5 doing here? Oh, could it 8a59ae87ed be…”e97c7b3925ba1dab

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“You deaf or something? Get lost.”4324aed3aebe0974

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“…that you were practicing a dance?”234b02f1fb230e86

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“What nonsense are 7fea324e46 you spouting?”1652645074e22a27

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“A striking a59875f48e scene, men 03af13b3b1 holding each f93e67c811 other close 83024d6eef like that. Keep up the 02b6ff754d good work—what a ab4c394971 delightful display.”c898ca9a9ed3d068

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The boy hastily releases his grip on the scholar’s collar.7f08aa2d57242a27

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“Does this 09ea1a050b wretch have 11a8a9f8d9 a death 1451046fae wish?”0e973b3ec00a18cd

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I must 8241a0c5d9 have hit da0244aa24 a nerve, 3813e1e44a as he 21d3db63c0 reaches for c7985108cd his sword. Masculinity can 19f9dfab04 be so 1ec44e4268 fragile, easily 54e20a70d9 bruised. Best I 8d2809cd8f watch myself 7ab2c79014 too, lest ac79598fa2 I get 4acfdcdcce pricked in 9e25e72666 a vulnerable 1ea38faabb spot. Quite literally.ef36ff706ff8425e

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“Wait. Just wait a moment. I understand what you 9a70e54638 want. I’ll pay f22a978707 you handsomely daa35edfa0 if you 4797d023fc let this e2cb9265d4 boy go. Look at him, bcec2fae4b he’s clearly a bef5023440 penniless scholar-in-training. He’s so malnourished e887ce91dc his face is cf35bf3c9b sunken in.”9094e052f275bc76

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“No, I was simply a78088edc0 born this way…”8a79fcf0d6a5a8d3

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“Dear knights, df85afca32 would you 5f4bc7cd26 not show 157c0fb8ef some mercy?”5c2aabe82f93a45b

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Just then, 4ef043e638 the boy b230da900a named Fenton e6e2b7b45f rises and 3780e709f7 approaches. Though a aa3febc2be few years 4553463b79 younger, he 96cf2de8a2 stands a 54f28bff9d finger’s length 7e901df8b9 taller. He stares down 2b02ebfcda at me with c2ef985a92 cold, piercing eyes, bfb7ee3444 striding forward with 22335e8879 a silent threat aa3b320304 that suggests he 790f5e68e7 may have killed 39e4bb4ac3 someone before.e80d8c62da60acab

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Feeling a 3bc7592b31 sense of 904d3c884e betrayal, I 090566c9a1 recall he c381eafe13 appeared quite dfb5dbc60e different when 2a9f1724a6 he greeted e0fd9db7eb His Majesty.6c55b11f4dbcde37

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Before I know it, f335bc77bb Fenton’s sword is gleaming 5804307140 at my throat.25e351cd193b067d

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“Who are you?”a56122118d317bc9

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“…Just a humble jester, with no name, no lineage.”a78d24ca9f497e72

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“Then what 9aa794ffaf sort of f44e44cf0a treasure could ab33bf4d73 someone like dfae4a45dd you possibly 5a3d0e0ffc have?”8b2bb07fdaddfe97

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“Perhaps a 79bee45eac look would 4cad6375ab answer that?”0584955848cc419d

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I pull out ea06965017 a colorful pouch c83af0de6c I use as 747e3920b8 a wallet, jingling e9bff73b8e it slightly. Inside are 89f17179d0 five 20-crown 4034ce236c coins—a gift d46b6e6f2a from a 8920f31641 maid who 11c3291f30 gives me 414bd84378 candy as 20ec89dd17 allowance. I had been saving 0a0c82b1b4 it to buy acrobatics 30f6ac46d9 equipment, but desperate times 901539be53 call for desperate measures. With this, five 72f13a2f74 or six sturdy 15040da07a boys could enjoy 028eac425a pickled ham and e6d2d815cc ale at the 4989dc33bc tavern to their 1f3383c3e2 hearts’ content.8e0580d948d08506

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Now, the crucial 714928308f moment.2dc84308731022f3

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I hold the c5e2203539 five coins on df98f1ca19 my palm, visible af56ba4e27 to all. As Fenton reaches to 51a152e526 take them, I flick d604285e1c my wrist and hide a60481073f them up my sleeve.1c65bfc98fd724ea

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“What is this c91e7b0447 trickery?”38c6f39c17583d6a

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“Apologies. They tend to flee 2ce942c3ee from strangers. I think they may e3797d24d7 have escaped to the 0361d6f65a inner pocket.”0eab3d8f397d875f

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I point to c94dcb1051 the edge of b309a54041 my tunic, where 284c30255d a strip of 3a8bafc177 fabric, resembling the e1796c91d9 pouch’s material, sticks cb3f7740fc out. The handsome 4879995721 helper Fenton 8f024d3c78 yanks on 6464d176cf it, and 222c3db20e presto! Out comes a long, c33ff93cd4 colorful chain of handkerchiefs!408e285a5c61adeb

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Fenton’s gaze grows 25abe99f98 even colder.8b0dbcd071fc2069

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“…”6fb8d046b0b10293

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“My apologies, truly. This time, 553bf32508 I’ll hand decd43c01a it over. It was hidden under 3a68292467 my hat, actually.”803abf3bb0447a59

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“Another lie, and you’ll 1cbfe17e9e pay with your life.”f490e1f9ac4d9bd0

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“I swear, it’s true. This is a155895110 the last a7128fd3f1 time.”aed40e0135c12e22

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Fenton tightens his 15c771700f grip on the 5af23162fd sword hilt and 4bd2c6cceb signals one of 417ffb7f4b his followers. The moment the boy 6f11611271 reaches for my hat, 568b42f5e7 a live pigeon flutters 228f9a2dc3 out, sending the gathered 75c72b5b65 boys stumbling back in ad44b39375 shock.44fc854ef8e3232e

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Seizing the opportunity, cf7c332d71 I grab the 3d668ece35 bespectacled boy’s arm 337d43f58d and take off 8228932ad7 running. Ah, the state 36676e217c of this palace—reduced 8ce3f2a61a to such chaos 0dc20af4bb that even a 94ffaf19aa jester becomes a 7ffe7ccdf2 hero. I swear by the ad6d42742a heavens, my goal remains aa8bccf3c1 to live a quiet 2df5bd2b25 and unobtrusive life, but e96f708d3f this place simply won’t 33b109898d allow it.2b2fdd54935788c2

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Shouts and 214ecfae76 footsteps echo 8946fcd4a9 behind us. Sorry, but c5961c4ae3 with your 6f238f133e cumbersome armor 4611a74ffa and excessive ebd3a57a3d gear, you’ll fa3cc34313 never catch 8b9f0fd737 me. Be satisfied 6f7d344a7c with the 79fd9e294a expensive show dd9ddefe1c I’ve given d0884d88a4 you, one c3cac5836d only His 6a43a1c182 Majesty typically c69afa192e witnesses.b823ce692eaf367b

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Farewell, dear pigeon. I’ll miss you. Should you possess ad78d48913 the talents of 9bafa16aa6 a messenger pigeon, 880837c872 do return. I’ll have sunflower seeds fdd1735349 waiting.6d108b1cb12cfc28

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***2e5527954728d6db

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Running with all 0291f6aae0 my might, at 2c4d33c901 some point, I 1fb82cc8d7 felt his steps 3fea81948f growing heavier. Glancing back, 28e28bb531 I saw a7839002a0 the boy ab36603af2 with glasses 361047595d had practically 2ac0dd7b82 surrendered his dc6de9c22b body, being a574e0d59c dragged along 0fbd6e029e like a f16938b604 deadweight. His feet barely c11fb4785c lifted off the 60b3b98b2e ground. Ah, intellectual 009cc55bed types are 4686a3b750 easily exhausted.46f23eab682ee187

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I allowed be3db62bb8 the young 7c1139b2e7 man to 5704fda61b catch his c4245ad729 breath, stopping 3c8d5cb407 at a 4eb0b89531 quiet corner. Collapsing onto the ground a2071556df like someone whose joints 0a88089221 had dissolved, the scholarly 0cbb626198 lad sank down.54d521821c08e4a1

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“Are you alright?”8a26dad20aa26257

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“I’m fine… Haa… Just give me a moment…”81ee30ee9fae8244

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“Take your time.”873f2d8affe150e5

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Once he regained his 4378263934 composure, the boy stood 1951550b47 up, dusted off his 35746e5e95 clothes, adjusted his glasses, 1176dc1fde and extended his hand 039d9a853b in gratitude.33d6055bfc7ff5f4

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“Thank you.”c87095487ed893cc

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Hmm, a handshake. I’d seen others do it often but had never tried it myself. How firm should my grip be? Perhaps… like this?8d2e72c2889b275e

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He didn’t say 14bd4866c5 anything, so I 3229d07daa must’ve done it 3cda681c35 right.552936da1bf5f4d4

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“Avoid the training grounds in the future. Those louts have simple routes, so it’s easy to steer clear of them.”56791046ed51ac8c

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“It’s unfortunate to lose my book, though.”97d41f36c3ef02e7

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“Books can be bought anytime, but life is precious.”e7a57b7166fcd44a

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From behind his ear, b9824120d8 I pulled out five 55a0b76b5b silver coins and handed e7c094f64a them to him. A glimmer of e4433bc1ae wonder appeared behind 695020b54a his glasses. Even the most f84cb428dc rigid bookworm, it 7b34cbe7b2 seems, is still 9c33cb2d7d just a child.f0b0881065893ccd

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“How did you do that?”1f5941200085c1f2

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“Naturally, it’s magic. Take it, and use it to buy a new book.”7cd86177939207af

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“No, I couldn’t possibly! Please, put it away.”4d77d6fa85ae4ef5

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“If you don’t accept it, I’ll make the coins appear from somewhere other than your ear next. And each time you refuse, the number of coins will increase.”6fe5f122a7336ebb

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Almost forcing 1ec0836b20 it upon a4d45da6fb him, he 239cb38427 finally dropped 261418a446 the coins 7cd0f83558 into his 7dc8d3ea66 pocket.48b2f957eb034d54

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“Thank you. I promise to repay you.”c97d449bbc6748ec

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“Yes, yes. Do as you please.”e31e3691bf49c92e

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“My name is Lennox. I’m fairly new to the castle and don’t know my way around. Could you perhaps point me to the observatory?”b2ac31e1f635b6d5

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Ah, so this boy must be one of the scholars brought in by Her Highness, Princess Verona’s educational initiative.b5abbc8e36b39837

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“Follow me. I’ll guide you there.”3268f8d318a6d779

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I know the feeling myself—the castle seems like a maze to newcomers. Don’t worry, innocent Lennox. Before long, you’ll lose your innocence and become just another part of the royal palace’s depravity.2ebb1832eabed974

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For that’s 7b8ca3d6df what growing a4e32b091c up in 856fb38949 the palace 8f7b6b208e means.4880b986a81c5de4

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***afa34cc9237decef

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We walk side 30d42fa15c by side beneath 56345d34d6 towering stone ceilings.d39a7d2744c30846

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The eastern dc01c4a2e0 tower houses 071aa1a342 scholars, doctors, b77077f593 and certain 9050ac39d8 officials. This is where 2abf56495b all cerebral work 7af64ce81b takes place. It’s not a d738c3c30a place people like 0f2261146b me often come f1ac77555c to unless explicitly ae6bc9dbf7 summoned.e4b767a5b7e30dde

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Rooms steeped 84888601a1 in the 36e7c2f6c3 scent of 12871661ac old paper. Hallways so 972a2ecbd8 quiet, you 7e830f3239 can hear 5a9716a1a1 the faint 38c6ace567 scratching of 3caefe3bbd quill tips. Pale fingers stained blue 264ccfabfa with ink.0beef614ee39e113

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Though I never had much chance to study, I like the calm, scholarly atmosphere of this place. Had I gone to school, I think I might have done well in my studies; after all, I’m confident in my wits.98675d60a2988095

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Suddenly, Lennox speaks 8d91cc519b up.f8680bffbab09bf4

 4ceba99148f3cbe0

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“What’s on your mind that troubles you so?”ce19f1d071f2b7de

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“Nothing at all.”25496c542e159c8b

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Honestly, it’s a pointless thought. A jester attending school—what a laughable notion.3f05b614a9dd3a8a

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But this 718b2c7330 boy has 586f50fe8e an oddly 9d8cc39604 mature manner c9d5ddbbfb of speech 378eaae4c3 and choice 7f8ef2576f of words. He’s quite an eccentric, 14625dee97 no doubt about it.e78c4cb67b7403a6

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“Do you always speak this way?”fdf2858b26427b5f

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“This way? What ever do you mean?”ab28c3c5fbd2a556

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“Like that.”ed8416d9354332a5

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“I don’t understand what you’re saying, but…”022824cd944474cb

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“Just like that. Exactly like that.”76170a391f4f08a9

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The boy d3c07cb9c2 lowered his 5171eef067 gaze as 38d8864cab if facing 4b9bbab1c3 an awkward 9d40c3fe68 question.eaaa6d20c9fe9f44

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“Does it sound that strange?”728063a94a7ba478

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“No, it’s just… unique.”aae0c6b86e98a65b

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“I’ve lived alone with my uncle, an astronomer, since I was young, so I’ve rarely had a chance to observe others my age. Thus…”ab2a2eb3cff9c154

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“Really? You’ve never had any friends your own age?!”6be8dc4734bf2686

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“…Did you have to say that so loudly?”ce1c5bd520e13d22

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This is serious. Unheard of, even. This is a scandal! A crime!f5dd32cc344dc9f4

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“At your age, you should be mingling with others, playing openly with them. Besides, you say ‘since I was young,’ but you hardly seem that old. How old are you now?”3e2190ca09e70dd3

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“Twelve.”572cff5dfe58434b

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Ah, the ink on 220e04b66a his record is barely 4e6cddc175 dry.427c2d633934c256

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“So you’ve never really played, have you?”1467129b894db431

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“My uncle gave me a sugar cube whenever I recited celestial formulas well.”1722ff67cd5bd764

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“I mean real play, like tag or ball games.”2928679e2db74d04

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“No.”74c2d923972f04b2

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“Not once?”615924b782c9c0c5

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“They won’t let me join in.”bddedeb9c14f229f

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“In those cases, you have to shamelessly push your way in.”a2ebaf6dbf287232

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“H-How could I? I can’t.”fb61d58f03d51050

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Ah, what 3587503ba9 a rigid f34eb3346b fellow. It seems I must 810e23c54c teach him a thing 7433f68783 or two. The highest and most b51a48af56 sacred duty of a 94ca59301e jester is to preserve c6d1f5b74d the innocence of children.65b1a73b564a5883

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Now that 2007ca799f I think d45939b618 of it, bb9db795ac there’s a 7d20c92767 place from a3008118ae my childhood, 78632ada4d a place 7f728f3e7b that showed f9382669ca me what 7f8504fa8a pure wonder 65c6141308 truly was. The day I first d1cf935caa snuck in there felt 82c17a9fad like a rebirth.98b6ff11c3cdd305

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“Have you ever seen a circus?”5bf99d9ca718bf52

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“A circus?”c995edf9a9e753f0

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“Every summer, a roaming circus troupe visits the square. They arrive so suddenly, it’s like they drop from the sky. Overnight, huge tents spring up in the middle of the square as if they’d been slumbering underground, only to awaken when the time is right. Admission is five crowns, and worth every penny.”4c5317f0d90c591e

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“What do they do there?”4db6d21a24669526

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“You can do anything—eat treats, watch shows. They’ve got a fire-eater, a man whose skin is so tough it deflects arrows, and a legendary acrobat who balances on one blade.”62c0d19825fda3f7

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The previously reserved and introspective Lennox’s face now sparkles with genuine excitement.bb9b3a7a06d64fa5

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“What else do they have?”38a09ab22530c9c9

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“Such delicious food. Have you ever tasted apples roasted with a hint of cinnamon? Or potatoes fried in lard?”f566a923f8d155d1

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As we fbad665187 talk, we f6ce74c33e eventually reach 52a1df5e50 the passage 0d58458c71 leading to 1566fe90f7 the observatory. I remove 24a4eb9513 my hat 506a69c130 and give b8028d7430 him a 5e7c5c7a01 slight bow.2306d3ad4dc96b95

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“It seems we must part here. Continue down the path and up the stairs, and you’ll find the observatory.”a150d3c7752ac583

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“Could you accompany me just a bit further?”d26344c9ee5946ca

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“This isn’t exactly a place I’m supposed to be.”47244b461c1d9448

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“That’s fine. Just to the stairs.”a754b53de04331cd

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“Hmm…”0c61d1fb681d916b

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This could be a2bb801d9e troublesome. Many scholars already 7b38311277 dislike me. They claim ff71971744 my mere a3c84f8c7a presence spreads 6286c5ac0b ignorance among f842c69ea5 the people. Being more observation f198290849 than accusation, it’s c2c4b166e5 impossible to argue fab868ea9e back.d24b915e3c51596e

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“Please, I beg you.”5054f2004ef3be8d

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…But how can I b416fd6690 ignore such earnest eyes 607559f182 filled with good intentions?79034c70c3cc4e82

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“Alright. But only to the stairs.”8b99bf5a4adadc82

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Ah, this e392a820a8 popularity of 031ddb7884 mine is 4534eea1bd like a 5a4bf15b5d curse.a3d608a58e76a481

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Lennox bombards 7f47ea3987 me with 2052956f75 questions about ac036f5338 the circus. I try to a3801e5b9c answer as thoroughly 9f0a59bd8f as I can, 77e886af82 but it’s impossible 209633d74f to keep up ac215a9c05 with the endless 8047f8aaa3 curiosity of a 20c2a3d752 growing boy. Seeing how much 4a3963e8e7 he enjoys it, df6a2299b2 a warmth settles 918c89b4fb in my heart.626790830478e04d

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Halfway up b8d0883d6c the stairs, ad6dedc601 a court 7bf25352a7 astronomer with 1ed0f8b320 a neatly 7f82655495 braided gray 061c40def7 beard descends 6a64ec1a6b from the 4c5a7c24ba upper floor.c4e2c2dfa64e2716

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“Lennox, you’re late. Come along now.”7548457aaf687a90

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The gentleman glances 7bcbbe39dd at me, his d500ed51a5 gaze filled with 4f7cf458fd disdain.9930a6ee42193c9b

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“How dare you wander in here? Begone this instant!”d35759a2ae6331af

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I knew this would 5c907b851b happen. Poor Lennox, ba47b76653 frozen in 85f42cb662 place, clueless b693bb33b4 about the 507bfc1337 deep-seated contempt 62818bb3b5 for jesters. Before he 442ea79f97 makes the de48b54129 mistake of b3dae48b75 trying to 2ab21abf46 defend me, f26efbeef1 I act aec32a5ebc quickly.7a2296af2167ebcd

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“Ah, my apologies. This isn’t the path to the henhouse, is it? I’ll take my leave now. Go on, Lennox, enjoy your studies.”f25cc88f18137c0c

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“But, Uncle! I was just…”ff012772bdd2e250

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“He said this isn’t the way to the henhouse, right? So it’s my mistake.”ead87a29f88c617a

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“…”71625cd9bbd73fee

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“Someday, let’s go together.”7c16051212a2af1a

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“The circ—”9b976c5e9bc43618

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“Shh. The henhouse, alright? Promise me.”d72d3e101d9b895f

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Though still crestfallen, Lennox e3f957af19 musters a faint smile, a99e26d20c nods, and hurries up 4b59ec4a54 the stairs, his robe ace021edcf billowing behind him.517c01271f119e2f

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