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THE FOOLS ROUTE

Chapter 4

There will be spelling errors

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So, it's been a while.

I'm not one for writing, my hands cramp so I need to take inconvenient breaks. But I thought it would be helpful, something to look back on. It's been a few weeks, maybe 3? Nearly 4. Much has happened, where to start? My heart sank when Julian was revealed as the killer. It just felt wrong, he didn't feel bad. I don't like strangers, they make me uncomfortable. But Julian? I didn't get one bad vibe from him. He was a bit odd, but not bad.

That night I snuck out of bed to find the truth. The floor sent a fridged spike up my back, keeping on my toes. At night I almost always walk on the front of my feet, it not only feels comfortable but it makes less sound. I try to avoid walking in such a strange manor around people. It's embarrassing when I get caught. I open the door to Lucio's somber bedroom. How's the best way to put this? The room felt stale, empty. He wasn't here. He had an entire wing of the palace, he has to be somewhere.

Evey room I searched felt empty and cold. I was wondering around for maybe 10 minutes or so? How is it this hard to find a giant Goat? This Is worse then a " Where's Waldo " book. I heard a loud crash and the sound of dogs barking from a few room down. Found him. I open the door and a ottoman flew over my head crashing into the wall behind me.

" Leave me be! " He snarled.

" Lucio! It's me! "

He whips around, and his body relaxes one he sees me. His dogs bounce toward me, expecting affection. The tall, dusty windows behind him give off a soft light, causing Lucio to illuminate like a lamp. The room is littered with broken furniture, I probably shouldn't walk much farther into the room. Bear feet and splinters are not a good mix.

" Why are you breaking stuff? "

He scoffs and kicks a broken table away.

" None of your damn business. " He spits with annoyance.

" Why are you here so late? Y-you need sleep, stop being stupid and go to bed. "

He acts all big and bad all the time, but I can tell he cares. At least a little bit.

" I have a question to ask you, but first let's leave this room. I don't really want to be in here, and you probably don't want to either. "

I lead him to the dreary halls to talk. Me, Lucio, and his dogs walk the long winding corridors as we talk softy of his destructive tendencies. He expressed his anger of being dead, he's envious of the fact that I am living. And he is not. He misses food, alcohol, and partying. He misses attention. I reassured him that I'd visit very often, so he wouldn't be lonely. He was skeptical of my kindness, but didn't oppose it. We eventually got to the topic of Julian, and of the murder. When I asked the question, Lucio laughed. No, he didn't laugh. He cackled with amusement.

" That poor excuse of a docter could never kill me, he's to soft. " he snorts.

Apparently, Julian never killed him. Lucio wouldn't tell me how exactly he died, so it was probably embarrassing. He shooed me away complaining that " it was too late for company " . His dogs follow me close behind as I leave his wing, the pitter patter of their narrow paws are drowned out by my racing thoughts. This knowledge entrusted to me can change the fate of what seems like everything. Even though Lucio told me like it was nothing, this weighs heavy on my shoulders. Can I tell anyone? Anyone at all?

" Leigh? "

I was so stuck in my head that I didn't hear or see Portia walk up to me.

" Are you ok? I heard loud noises. Was that you? "

Time to panic.

" Uh-no, no that wasn't me. "

She crossed her arm and raised a playful brow.

" So all that loud noise didn't come from you? None of it? "

Mercedes sneezes and gives me an idea.

" Uh-yeah, yeah! I couldnt sleep so i went for a walk and heard a load noise, the dogs had knocked something over. "

Portia crosses her arms and shifts most of her weight on one leg, a very sassy pose if I must say.

" Yep, that's what happened. "

"Mmm, ok. But I don't believe you. "

I've become familiar to the faces that blur by me as I run the winding halls. Me and Portia are practically best friends now. We make pillow forts at her cottage and talk about books we've read with a cup of sweet tea. I taught her how to make southern style sweet tea and she was sold, she now makes it on hot days at the palace for everyone to enjoy. It's too sweet for Nadia however, so Portia make half and half for her.

Asra has been teaching me magic, real magic. Not that that hocas pocas " There's a quarter behind your ear " stuff. I told them that I was likely incapable of learning. But they haven't given up on me yet. I had meny lessons to learn very simple spells, all were fruitless until more recently. We were at his shop, how do I describe it? Smells like incense, and some of the crystals make me think of hard candy. It's fuzzy? The floor and walls are adorned with fabrics and rugs. It's homey. After a few days of learning, I made small blinding sparks crackle from my hands. It happened so fast I screamed and shook my hands rapidly, sending the sparks everywhere. They popped and fizzed as they scattered and bounced off every surface.

Asra leaned back and cackled with amusement. I giggle with him and ask if that was supposed to happen.

"Hmm, probably not." He said with a grin.

Eventually, I was able to successfully use magic. Kinda. I made a small bubble. Literally a soapy bubble. We were sitting on the floor wrapped in blankets when they asked me a weird question.

" What makes you feel safe? "

I had to think about my answer.

" Confinement, like a blanket. Blankets make me feel safe. "

My cupped hands start to feel wet, but they look dry. A shimmering bubble emerges from my skin. Blowing up, it separates from my hand and floats gently. Asra looks at me with an " I told you so " face and leans toward my bubble, inspecting it.

" I think- " they begin.

" You have ward like magic, for protection of self and for others. "

They poke my bubble and his finger sinks in without penitrating the glistening orb, he pulls back and the bubble jiggles back to its original shape

" Huh, neat. "

My favorite thing to do now is make finger guns and " shoot " bubbles at people.

In these few weeks I've even befriended most of the courters. I baked Volta cookies, chocolate chip and a poor attempt at oreos. I made a dozen of each and when I presented the sweet treats to her, she started bawling with appreciation. I'm a sucker for sugar but I have never seen someone inhale 24 cookies in a few minutes. She thanked me and said I was so kind to her, she invited me to her manor if I bring more cookies. Meny more cookies. I was up all night with Portia baking in the kitchen that night, we both ate way too much raw cookie dough then we should have. We were covered in flour and eggs and laughed together all night.

The next day, when Volta saw me she drew her small hands to her mouth and shreeked with glee. She ran to me and wrapped her small body around my waist and thanked me a thousand times. She pulled me by my pants and led me indoors. Her manor was filled with junk, cool junk. " Normal " people probably wouldn't much like all the stuff laying around, I however am not normal. She had old suits of armor and gorgeously carved wooden tables. So meny fascinating thing piled in tall dusty towers. I asked her where she found all of these things,

She scampered around telling me everything.

After a while we sat on a stiff red cushioned couch and I showed her some cooking shows on my phone. She was so engrossed into the phone, it was like a toddler watching CocoMelon. For some reason, my phone battery will not drain. My internet works perfectly fine, the only things I can't do is check my location and send messages. I've been taking lots of pictures of where I've been. The market, my bedroom, the palace. Pictures of Lucio look kinda funny, he's either near invisible or a bright glare.

A few days later I was in the garden after a particularly hard rain to admire the wet foliage, when I found Vlastomil on his knees swiping his boney hands on the slick cobblestone, he spotted me and desperately waved me over. He wailed his woes before I even got to him. Apparently, he was distressed regarding the earthworms scattered on the ground. He didn't want them to shrivel once the sun came out. He begged for my help, so I did. We gathered worms for around a hour, they wriggled in my hands and it was a little bit gross but Vlastomil looked so pleased. He told me that I was a very kind person and that he very much appreciated the help.

Then later that day Volgora talked me into hide and seek, but with a twist. I guess after a long meeting of some kind, Volgora was so bored from that " stupid meeting " they were willing to do anything to keep busy for a while. I agreed and immediately after Volgora yelled " Run! ". I hid in a tiny broom closet, I wasn't there for very long. I heard Volgora sprint down the hall towards me. They then proceeded to nearly rip the door off of the wall and yank me out of stuffed closet. I am held in the air over their head as Volgora screams triumphantly.

" How did you find me so fast ? "

" Because I'm better then you! " they yell.

They run off while I'm still flailing around trying to break free. Volgora came across a parlor and found a couch. I was then not tossed but thrown into said couch. Volgora now throws me into chairs and couches every time we meet, which really threw Nadia off one day.

And then, once at dinner, I discussed the black plague with Vladimar. They seemed quite interested with my knowledge and kept asking questions, most I didn't have answers for. Valarias ( forgot how to spell his name ) looked disgusted with the conversation and asked if I knew anything of " actual importance. " He doesn't seem to like me very much. His loss, I guess.

Nadia has been planning a masquerade, and she's been asking for my advice. I didn't think i had been very much help with the first few questions she asked. She needed a few more ideas for themed rooms. She seemed to like my ideas, though. I suggested a quiet room to get away from the party. Not everyone likes being around so many people.

Honestly, I'm kinda excited for the masquerade. There will be delicious food, fun games, and ( hopefully ) even nicer people.

But I think that's all I will write today. My hand hurts.

-Leigh

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I set my quill down and lean back in my chair sighing, my hand is cramping like crazy after all that writing. My room has changed a bit. I have a desk and a chair now, for writing and drawing. I have a plush pillow under my desk for Candlewick to lay on, he's so big that he sinks into the cushion. I'm finally wrapping my head around my predicament. Asra has been trying to help me find out how I came here. But so far, nothing. I'm going to hang out with him again today, something about visiting a friend. Its mid day so they should be here soon.

*Knock*

" Speak of the devil. "

Outside the city walls lie wheat fields, golden and glowing from the sun's warm rays. I let the plants brush over my hands as I walk by. I decided to bring Candlewick with us, Nadia had a beautiful bag made for him to make traveling easy. I wear it like a backpack and he sits inside, very simple and practical. Past the fields, I can see where the forest begins. The gnarled trees wrap around eachother, acting almost as a wall trying to ward us away. But when has a wall ever stopped me.

The ground is soft under my boots, and the air smells of sweet dirt.

" So, why are we out here again? " I kick a rock into the weeds as we enter the forest.

" Because I know someone who has a similar kind of magic as you, and he might be able to teach you a thing or two. He's due for a visit anyway. "

The sun is overhead and hot. Bugs swarm and pester me, I think I saw Candlewick swat at a few from behind my head. The trees soon become thick, blocking out the light.

" You know know, my friend does like to visit a stream. Not too far from here, why don't you go check. I'll catch up in a bit. I need to do something alone. " Asra points me in a direction, I ask I'd it's safe for me to be alone. He assures me that nothing will happen.

The leave crunch and sticks break under my boots as I walk the way Asra instructed me too when I thought I heard him catch up to me.

" Am I going in the right way Asra? "

I turn, waiting for his response. But Asra wasn't behind me. A wolf was. I had never seen one in person before. She was huge. I was frozen in fear and couldn't move. Candlewick, however, was not afraid. He climbed onto my shoulders, causing me to nearly lose my footing, and he jumped off. Candlewick approached the wolf and sat. The wolf just stared. I have never seen a more serious starting contest. The wolf then walks around Candlewick and past me. I turned to watch the wolf disappear into the bushes, but she hardly walked a few feet before she stopped and locked eyes with me. She wants me to follow her. So I do. I seriously need to stop following random animals. Me and Wicky are led to a beautiful creek. The water looks cool and inviting. But the closer I get to the water, I see someone.

A man, a very big man. He was dead silent and hardly moved. The wolf walked down to greet him. A large hand reached out from a black cloak and petted her.

" Hello? "

He tenses. He grabs his cloak and pulls it tighter around him.

" Leave. . . Please. "

He sounds scared. Why does he sound so scared?

" I'm sorry to bother, I'm looking for a friend of asras. "

He sighs deeply.

" That's me. " he replies in an emotionless tone.

Why are you out here all alone?

" Because I like it, and I'm not alone. "

The wolf stands vigilant at his side, protecting him. She wanted me here, she lead me to him.

" Is she your friend? "

No answer.

I slowly walk to the creek bed to sit on the rocks, and I make sure to give him a lot of space between us. I sit on a bolder, we'll not quite a bolder, but it was large enough for me to sit on. I watch the cold water rush by for a while. We don't share any words, but I feel the tension dissipate. I glance at him a few times and see his shoulders are no longer tense and that he's playing in the water, too.

I've always liked rocks. smooth rocks, sharp rocks, sparkling rocks, I love them all. I saw something glitter from the middle of the stream, so I had to see what it was. I took my boots and socks off and wade to nearly the middle of the stream. It was slippery and cold and didn't anticipate falling. But I did. I slipped and fell forward in the water. It became deep. Well, not really deep, but my head was underwater. I then feel someone grab me and lift me out of the water. I'm thrusted into the air by that man with my feet dangling and his hands under my arms. His hood fell from his head. I can see his scars and his eyes. He has sad eyes.

" It's good to know you are both well acquainted now. "

Asra leans against a mossy tree with Candlewick at his feet, smiling. He definitely saw me fall.

" How much of that did you see? " I ask

" Oh, don't worry, I saw everything. " they smirk.

" Is this. . .yours? " the man asks as he still holds me as far away from himself as he can.

" Leigh, this is Muriel. Muriel, this is Leigh. She's stuck here in Vesuvia, so I'm showing her around. " they start walk down to the creek to join us.

" Can I. . .put her down? " Muriels deep voice whispers.

Not much happened after that. We went to Muriels home a bit farther in the woods. It was a small warm hut, it was sparsely decorated but it was very homey. I was plopped by the fire to warm up after my " little tumble." I kept to myself as Asra and Muriel quietly discussed something. But I heard bits and pieces. Stuff about wards and spells, but one thing mentioned made me feel sick. They were talking about Julian and the murder. I feel a disgusting pit form in my stomach. I need to tell someone. I can't just keep this to myself. So I wait till we leave, I wait till we are out of the woods and into the city. A bell rings as Asra, Candlewick, and I enter his store.

" Hey, Asra? "

They hum, waiting for my question as they prepare some tea immediately.

" I need to tell you something. It's kinda really important. "

" Go on. "

" Julian didn't kill Lucio. "

" Oh yeah? How do you know. " They pour tea in a small white cup

" Because Lucio told me so. "

He freezes. The tea stops pouring. He places the kettle down and turns to me and asks very softly.

" What did you say? "

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