A Thousand Plateaus

“You!” Mr. Ren called, pointing his sword at the Smiling Man.

“So you were the one behind the Journeyman’s death.” Lady Scarlet added. Pointing her sword at him as well.

“~KeKeKeKe Indeed, poor little Journeyman ventured one too many times. I thought I would finish off the kid, but it seemed fate was on my side. To take out the biggest nuisance KeKeKeKe. It makes me so joyous. KeKeKeKe~”

“Why did you kill Mr. Journeyman?” I asked.

“~KeKeKeKe because he was getting in my way. He was too close to the truth. Aiding those who would get in my way. KeKeKeKe. So he had to meet his end. ~”

With swords drawn, Mr. Ren and Lady Scarlet slowly approached the Smiling Man, the Maestro of Misinformation.

Before, I hadn’t gotten a proper look at him, but now I can see he is completely white. Other than his blank face without any features other than his giant smile, he appeared almost human.

He did not appear to have any weapons on him. Then again, He managed to kill Mr. Jason with his own hand and even claimed to have been behind Mr. Journeyman’s death. If he could kill so many people, it was good for Lady Scarlet and Mr. Ren to be cautious. I, too, had to be careful of the Maestro.

“Please don’t get hurt,” I told them.

“Don’t worry kid, we won’t get taken down by this loser.”

“~KeKeKeKe, oh how so many have told me that before, yet look at how many have lived. Not even the dear Journeyman could harm me. And you expect to defeat me. KeKeKeKe. It makes me laugh.~”

That was true; Mr. Journeyman wasn’t able to hurt the scary Maestro; if he couldn’t, then how could Mr. Ren and Lady Scarlet? Would they get hurt trying to fight him?

Mr. Ren swung at the Maestro but blocked it effortlessly with his arm. It seemed his arm was as hard as a blade.

Lady Scarlet lunged forward, her arm going under his raised arm, which was blocking Mr. Rens, and aiming at his stomach. He grabbed the blade with his free hand and swung it at Lady Scarlet back.

He then used the same arm that had stopped Lady Scarlet from attacking to punch Mr Ren, forcing him to block it with his blade. The impact of the Maestro’s fist on the blade caused a loud ringing noise, sending Mr Ren flying several meters backwards.

“~KeKeKeKe, I love the spirit you are showing, but did you honestly think that would work on me?~”

“I admit you are strong. Perhaps we cannot beat you. But there is only one option for us: to defeat you.”

“~KeKeKeKe. I wish you luck.~”

The Maestro punched the ground, his hand completely being swallowed up by the earth. Lady Scarlet and Mr. Ren seemed on edge.

A moment later, I felt a rumble beneath my feet, and Mr. Ren yanked me towards him as the Maestro’s hand shot up from the ground where I had just been standing. If Mr. Ren had not moved me, I likely would have been killed by the Maestro.

“~You both are very observant. This may be more fun than I initially thought. KeKeKeKe.~”

“Kid, stay close to us.” Mr. Ren instructed.

I wanted to stay close to them because I felt safer the closer I was to them. But at the same time, I didn’t want to get in their way.

“Ren, he’s dangerous. We still don’t know the full extent of his powers.” Lady Scarlet commented.

“It seems that, at the bare minimum, he can change his shape and has superhuman strength and tough skin.” He replied.

“Do you think we can cut him?” Lady Scarlet asked.

“No idea. He certainly is as hard as iron. But I guess there is only one way to find out.” Mr. Ren responded.

“Agreed.”

Lady Scarlet lunged once more at the Maestro, who looked unimpressed as she aimed for his chest. He raised his arms to block it, but at the last moment, she redirected the blade. Simultaneously, Mr. Ren lunged forward as well.

Lady Scarlet’s blade shifted upward towards the Maestro’s face, forcing him to tilt his head aside just as Mr. Ren’s blade was aligned with the new position of his head. This forced the Maestro to jump backwards and to the side, just by the edge of the cliff, to avoid Mr. Ren and Lady Scarlet’s combined attack.

“Did you see that?” Lady Scarlet asked.

“I did.” Mr Ren smirked.

I saw their attack but didn’t know why they were so pleased. The Maestro avoided their attack. They didn’t even scratch him. Why would they be so happy he avoided their attack?

“~KeKeKeKe I acknowledge your combined strength, but you will have to do much better than that if you wish to harm me. It seems you are pre-emptively celebrating a futile attack.~”

“Oh, but now we know. You wouldn’t have avoided our attacks twice if we couldn’t harm you.” Lady Scarlet smiled at him.

“~So what if you know that? You still can’t land a hit on me. Nobody has ever been able to. KeKeKeKe~”

They both gripped their blades, and the Maestro readied himself for an attack.

“Ren, take care of the kid.” She instructed him before turning to face me. “Take care; I love you, my dear daughter. I’ll meet up with you in the Forest of Voices.” Lady Scarlet commented as she lunged at the Maestro.

“~KeKeKeKe. What are you planning?~”

She swung her sword at him with full force, and he blocked it. For a split moment, as she did so, she continued her advance and ran straight into him.

For the first time since seeing the Maestro, it seemed like he was genuinely caught off guard.

“’ ~Curse you bitch. KeKeKeKe~” He laughed and cried as he lost his balance and went over the edge of the cliff.

Lady Scarlet spun around, and I caught her eyes, which were filled with sadness, before she, too, tumbled over the edge of the cliff along with the Maestro.

“I’ll meet up with you soon.” She called as she fell.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

End Chapter 24