Noah organized his belongings and quickly left the room, heading in search of coffee or tea, as his visit to the Gray Mist Castle had been… stressful. It wasn't physical exhaustion, but something deeper, as if his mind had been pulled in opposite directions and then abruptly released. Fragments of what he had seen still echoed, persistent, like memories that did not fully belong to him.
He made his way toward the courtyard normally, without using the power of the Door Symbol. In Noah's view, sometimes it was good to walk. There was no logical reason for it, since the evolution of the Symbols constantly enhanced his body, making physical effort almost irrelevant. Even so, there was something about the act of walking that kept him… grounded.
'Damn Amon, your nonsense gives me a splitting headache.' Noah thought as he looked at his hand, slightly injured but already healing. The regeneration was fast, almost instantaneous, but it did not erase the memory of the impact. The pain was gone, but its imprint remained.
...
The Gray Mist Castle was in ruins. Structures that were once stable now lay fragmented, as if reality itself had been violently torn apart. The mist churned irregularly, and at the center of it all, Amon was pinned against the shattered walls, his arms and legs restrained by worms pouring out of the mist. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth, contrasting with the irritating smile that still lingered.
"Damn it… you bastard…" Amon said, spitting blood. "How did you figure out my weakness?"
Even in that state, he didn't seem defeated.
Just… curious.
"Valuing one's own life above all else… not hard to understand. So if I aimed at him, who is… a bit far from here, instead of you, I'd win easily without even using my Symbols at full power." Noah said, cracking his neck as he returned to his human form. His tone was neutral, as if explaining something simple.
Amon's eyes widened, surprised for the first time.
"You recovered your memories?"
Noah looked at him briefly, evaluating.
"Some fragments of Klein Moretti—both as a human and as The Fool, but nothing major." Noah replied, freeing Amon while wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Was this pointless fight meant to test me or to unlock some memories?"
As soon as he was released, Amon quickly composed himself and made a sound, feigning confusion.
"Hmm?" His tone was light, but completely fake.
Noah sighed, glancing away for a moment, resisting the urge to punch him right there.
"Forget it."
With another sigh, Noah gathered himself to ask about his predecessor. The question did not come with haste, but with weight—as if even forming it required more than simple curiosity. There was something there… a restlessness that could no longer be ignored.
"What happened? From the fragments, Klein was extremely powerful as The Fool and the Lord of the Mysteries. It would take a large number of Outer Deities to defeat him."
The words came out direct, but carried an implicit analysis. Noah wasn't just asking… he was confirming a hypothesis he already considered likely.
"And it did. All the Outer Deities surrounded him. In a way, he was the most powerful and the most dangerous. So after his defeat, they destroyed his body and his organization. They also tried to destroy his Path and his Symbols—but that would be impossible. Because without The Fool, the concepts tied to his symbolism cease to exist. In other words, they would lose power, since some of the same concepts governed by The Fool are also under the domain of certain Outer Deities." Amon said as he approached Noah. "So, fortunately, the Symbols of The Fool traveled to this world, far from their curious gaze. But the arrival of The Fool completely altered the composition of this world."
The way Amon said it… was far too light.
Almost casual.
As if he were describing an ordinary event, not something involving entities capable of erasing entire concepts from existence. His steps were calm, his expression unbothered, yet his words carried an overwhelming weight.
Noah seemed concerned. If this world had been altered… had he drawn the attention of the Outer Deities?
The idea wasn't comforting.
It wasn't something that could simply be ignored.
Because if it were true… then he wasn't just evolving.
He was being watched.
"They…"
"Not yet. A change of this magnitude in a world is quite common to the Outer Deities, but eventually they will notice the return of the Lord of the Mysteries—The Fool." Amon said as he sat down in a chair, while the Castle rapidly reconstructed itself.
Around them, the destruction faded.
The walls rose once more.
The mist returned to its natural state—dense and silent, as if nothing had happened. The process was too fast, almost automatic, as if the Castle itself rejected the idea of remaining damaged.
Noah sat down as well and began to think.
His thoughts organized themselves in layers.
If the Outer Deities had not noticed yet, then there was time.
Little… but there was.
"Look, I'd like to give more details, but all the Outer Deities are acting together to eliminate the remaining allies of The Fool, and it's already becoming difficult to keep the avatars and him safe…"
Amon didn't seem as carefree as before.
There was a faint tension hidden in his voice—something rare coming from him. Even as he tried to maintain a casual tone, his words carried a different weight—more urgent, more… real. For the first time, it didn't sound like a game or a provocation.
Noah interrupted him quickly.
"I get it, I'm on my own." Noah said, holding back a sigh. "You should leave before their attention turns here, Amon. Stay safe."
It was direct, leaving no room for discussion.
He had already understood enough. More details wouldn't change the main fact—at that moment, he couldn't rely on anyone. And, in a way… that didn't surprise him as much as it should have.
...
Back in the present, Noah arrived at the snack bar of Nevermore Academy, located in the main courtyard.
The environment was lively, but not chaotic. Conversations blended into a constant murmur, students moved around in small groups, and there was a strange sense of normalcy—almost artificial, considering everything that existed behind that place.
However, as he approached, he suddenly bumped into something.
Baam!
The impact was sharp.
Unexpected.
Naturally, Noah didn't fall due to his enhanced balance, and before the person he collided with could hit the ground, he reacted quickly, grabbing her hand.
"Careful." Noah said, looking at the girl in front of him.
Time seemed to slow for a brief moment.
She was a blonde girl with blue eyes. Her hair had blue and pink streaks at the ends, creating a vibrant contrast. Light freckles were scattered across her face, and her nails were painted in different colors. Her clothes were multicolored, eye-catching—almost chaotic—paired with traditional school shoes, but with bright pink laces replacing the usual black ones.
An excess of color.
An excess of energy.
Something that would normally… bother him.
But it didn't.
And that was the first strange detail.
The second… was what he felt.
A faint, familiar tightness in his chest.
A shift in rhythm—small, but far too noticeable to ignore.
"Ah…" A blush spread across the girl's cheeks. "I'm Enid… Enid Sinclair."
Her voice was light, a little nervous, but genuine.
Different from many others he had heard that day.
Noah observed her for a moment longer than necessary.
And then he smiled.
A controlled smile, but… softer than usual.
He noticed his own reaction.
And still, he didn't fully suppress it.
"You can call me Noah."
____________________________________________________
Damian Magnus here, in the voting DC won with more than 20 votes, I wasn't surprised to be honest, well I'll see the ideas I have saved and then separate them, if there are difficulties in choosing I'll do a vote, or would you prefer the vote right away?
Just say the word and that's it, see you next time!