The Fool's Journey

There was a soul lost in a white fog that drifted between worlds, torn from its host in a liminal place, where only rainbows could exist, and humans were separated from their senses of self. Each layer of the rainbow the soul passed through removed a layer of its self. First, the rainbow took away the mind. Second, it took away my body. Third, it took away the spirit. Finally, it left only the soul. These intricate parts of the self had become divided, incomplete. From distant shores, I watched this process happen as an outsider, but also as the vessel of the soul at the same time.

The faint memory of an incomprehensible dream lingered on the tips of my mind’s consciousness. Slowly, the world came into focus, heavy and guilt ridden with memories of the previous night’s failed ritual. This feeling of guilt weighed extra heavy this morning, causing me to struggle to sit up. I craned my head forward while feeling with my hands for my discomfort. It was Luna on my chest. She stirred, stretched, and got off my chest, hopping down to the ground. I sat up and looked around to see the now familiar room.

“It was necessary for me to keep you here, should you travel without permission again,” Luna said.

“What happened?” I asked with a yawn.

“Quite a bit, too much to speak of right now. Ready yourself, you’ll meet with the King once again.”

I got out of the bed and we left the room. We descended down the great oak tree to the throne room where King Eulerich waited. Luna gave a bow and gave me a look to do the same. These small gestures were becoming second nature. After we had bowed and the King bowed back, she furtively exited the chamber.

“I am glad to see you have awoken, but I regret that our meeting last night was under such circumstance.”

“Hold on, what exactly happened last night? I’m still very confused about this situation.”

“So it would seem. Unequal is our knowledge at the present. Tell me, what was revealed to you by that bird-like creature?”

The words that creature had spoken lingered like a heavy mist, but I decided it wouldn’t do me any favours to lie. I chose my words carefully.

“Hoo-hoo, I see. Perhaps blame is on both our parts. I worry what will happen in times to come. Nevertheless, I will share with you what I know of the barrier, if you will permit me,” the King said with a humble bow.

That barrier from last night was not a gate to get back home, that much I had realized now. The King’s sudden shift in attitude meant one thing, but I could only hope I was wrong. I braced for the worse.

“That barrier has existed for two thousand years, keeping evil contained; yet a small opening has appeared when the ritual was thwarted. You witnessed but a fraction of its evil power. Should that opening be allowed to fester, I...” the King trailed off.

My fear had come true. The King likely realized that I knew what he wanted to ask, but neither of us wished to say it first. For some moments, a heavy silence crashed through the King’s chamber.

“So—,” we said at the same time.

Just then, a door at the side of the chamber creaked and wailed as it was pushed open. An almost unfamiliar face peeked through and called out to us. It was Lady Marisa.

“Has he agreed, King Eulerich, to fix the barrier?” she asked.

I groaned; whether it was in my head or out loud I don’t know, but my shoulders slumped as Lady Marisa’s words revealed the burden. I gave the King a pleading look, and he returned it with a blank stare while turning his head like owls do.

“In but a moment would we have broached the topic, my Lady. Your timely arrival has leapt ahead of where we are.”

Her normally reserved nature broke as she turned beet red. “O-Oh, my apologies, your majesty. It seems my excitement got the better of me.”

“It matters not, my Lady, for we need not stand on ceremony now,” the King said as he hopped off his throne. “Ferdinand, it is as you have seen from her Ladyship’s remark: you will journey with her and Luna. They have been told what must be done and will guide you.”

“Journey? Hold on—!”

“Now, I must be off,” interrupted the King.

He flapped his great wings, causing me to shield my eyes. I felt the rush of wind as he flew over me. When I turned around to see where he went, he was gone. Unexplained, unjustified, he left without a word, and more questions raised than answered. I was at fault for ruining this barrier, and felt obligated to help, yet I had no idea what the King expected of me.

Lady Marisa had fully entered the room by now and was standing near me. She wasn’t wearing her usual outfit and headdress, making her almost unrecognizable at first glance. The new dress she was wearing was suited for travelling. It was simple and black, with a red vest embroidered with white flowers. Luna trailed behind her carrying two large backpacks.

“This shall be quite a thrilling adventure, no?” Lady Marisa said.

“I’d like to learn about this journey prior to starting it. The King was light on the details,” I said.

“So he really said nothing of it to you, the King? Hmm, I see. Well, we need to fix the barrier so we will go to the four realms of the spirits, whereupon divine objects will be bequeathed to us. Hurry, take your pack—time is of the essence,” she said, deftly shouldering one of the backpacks, and starting for the exit.

“Ferdinand, the King entrusted this to me. You’re to carry it with you at all times. You’ll need it for the trials ahead,” said Luna.

She handed me a hefty, regal medallion that was ornately decorated. I didn’t know what role the medallion would play in this upcoming adventure, but it felt important. It was a puzzle piece of this world, and it was my job to discover where it belonged. I had started from above, in the clouds of ignorance, but now I was grounded in the world of elements. Where this journey would take me, I couldn’t know. With the medallion in hand and backpack on, I put one foot in front of the other, and followed my new companions out the door.