The Valley of Wonders was alive with music, lights, and laughter—
as if the world outside wasn't drowning in war.
Klen walked with purpose,
Amwaj and Marjan following close behind.
Amwaj looked around, confused.
Amwaj:
"This is strange...
They live normally while the world is burning."
Marjan:
"That's how it is, Amwaj.
People come here to relax...
to forget the world."
Amwaj:
"That's... awful."
Klen:
"And that's why we exist.
We're the ones who care.
We're the ones who make those who harm this world...
pay for it—with honor, with strength, with justice."
Amwaj:
"Yes, yes... we know."
They passed a disturbing sight—
a young man tied to a post, being whipped by a trainer.
Trainer:
"Move, you stubborn brat!
No food until you perform!"
The crowd cheered as if it were normal.
Amwaj clenched her fists.
Amwaj:
"How cruel...
He's a human..."
Marjan suddenly heard a familiar, irritating voice.
Stein:
"That useless girl!
I'll sell her off!
She and her stupid stick—
a dragon? Don't make me laugh!"
Marjan nudged Klen.
Marjan:
"Red Knight... look.
They're talking about a girl.
Could be your companion."
Klen's eyes sharpened.
Klen:
"Yes...
that's Rose's staff.
The one I bought for her."
He stepped forward.
Marjan blinked.
Marjan:
"Wait—what do you mean exactly?"
Amwaj stared at him.
Klen ignored them and approached Stein.
Klen:
"Honored sir."
Stein:
"Who are you?!
And what is that ridiculous armor you're wearing?!"
Klen didn't answer—
his eyes were fixed on the staff.
Stein smirked.
Stein:
"So it is important to you."
Amwaj stepped in quickly.
Amwaj:
"No—actually, we're here to retrieve a stolen item
belonging to an old woman in a nearby village."
Klen shot her a look.
Stein scoffed.
Stein:
"What?!
That brat stole something and came here to gamble it away?
Describe the staff."
Amwaj froze.
Marjan jumped in.
Marjan:
"It's her farming stick.
She uses it for livestock."
Stein:
"Huh?!"
The crowd murmured.
Crowd:
"She tricked us...
All this time..."
Marjan whispered to Amwaj.
Marjan:
"What?
Do they mean...?"
Stein waved dismissively.
Stein:
"Fine.
Take it.
I don't care.
These old things are worthless.
But how about this—"
He grinned.
Stein:
"If I win, I take your armor.
If you win, you get the staff...
and five hundred gold coins."
The crowd erupted.
Crowd:
"Yes!
Stein finally lit the fire!"
Amwaj looked around nervously.
Klen stepped forward—
but Marjan grabbed his arm.
Marjan:
"Allow me, Red Knight."
Klen looked at him, reluctant.
Marjan smiled.
Marjan:
"Don't worry.
I know your armor means more to you than your life.
And Rose means more to you than your armor.
Let me handle this."
Klen nodded.
Marjan sat down at the table.
Stein laughed loudly.
Stein:
"So, noble knight—
you let a smaller, weaker boy play for you?
I've beaten beasts and men of every race.
A dwarf won't change anything."
Circus guards whispered among themselves.
Guard:
"They're from Lajira...
those two.
Prepare yourselves."
Amwaj muttered.
Amwaj:
"That old man is driving me insane..."
Klen whispered back.
Klen:
"Stop complaining.
Stay close."
He turned to Stein.
Klen:
"I am a noble, honorable knight.
Gambling games do not suit me.
So I rely on my brilliant companions."
Stein scoffed.
Stein:
"What nonsense are you spouting?!
You'll lose—
and I'll take that ancient armor.
It'll fetch a fortune in the Zorlan auctions."
Marjan smiled.
Marjan:
"Thank you for trusting me, Red Knight."
Klen nodded.
The organizer placed cards on the table.
Organizer:
"Simple rules.
Pick a card.
If the same color appears twice in three attempts—
you win.
We take twenty percent of the prize."
Marjan's eyes gleamed.
Marjan:
"Understood."
THE VALLEY OF WONDERS — THE FINAL ROUND BEGINS
Amwaj stared at Marjan, stunned.
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Amwaj:
"This is the first time I've seen Marjan like this...
He looks... excited.
Serious.
Like he's actually enjoying this."
Klen chuckled.
Klen:
"Oh, it reminds me of Lady Rose...
and your arrogance too.
Mix the two of you in one pot and you get Rose."
Amwaj:
"Huh?!
What's your story with this 'Rose' anyway?"
Klen:
"You'll understand everything once you meet her."
Amwaj glanced around nervously.
Amwaj:
"They're surrounding us..."
Klen:
"I know.
They won't succeed.
They're not strong enough.
Their real leaders haven't shown themselves yet."
She stepped closer to him, noticing how massive he looked standing behind Marjan.
At the table:
Marjan chose the left card.
Stein chose the right.
The organizer lifted the cards.
Organizer:
"Blue for the forest boy.
Red for Mr. Stein."
Stein narrowed his eyes at Marjan.
Stein (whispering):
"So... the child wants to win.
I can see your focus.
Watch how the old man destroys you."
He leaned forward.
Stein:
"So, boy... you said you're from this planet?
What do you people do in your free time?"
Marjan answered calmly.
Marjan:
"I never said I'm from this planet.
And I'm not interested in sharing my hobbies with you."
Stein twitched.
Stein:
"You're an ill?mannered brat!
Your face says otherwise!"
Marjan:
"Sorry...
but I only share my hobbies with my friends.
And the people I love."
The crowd gasped—
some laughed,
others nodded approvingly.
Stein blinked.
Stein:
"And what about me?"
Marjan didn't hesitate.
Marjan:
"I hate you."
The crowd exploded in laughter.
Amwaj stared, speechless.
Klen burst out laughing.
Stein, furious, grabbed Rose's staff and threw it at Marjan—
but Klen caught it effortlessly,
holding it at his side.
Marjan glanced back.
Marjan:
"Thank you."
Klen:
"It's nothing."
Organizer:
"Return the staff."
Klen:
"No need.
We're going to win."
Stein stood up.
Stein:
"What?!"
The crowd roared with excitement.
Stein sat again, trembling with anger,
staring at Marjan's cold, focused expression.
The organizer placed the next set of cards.
Organizer:
"Alright..."
Stein chose left.
Marjan chose right.
The cards rose.
Organizer:
"Mr. Stein: Blue.
Forest boy: Red."
A tie.
The next round would decide everything.
Stein grinned.
The organizer placed the final set of cards.
Organizer:
"This round includes a white card.
Whoever picks the white card...
loses instantly—
and must pay double the wager...
to both the opponent and the house."
The crowd gasped.
Marjan's eyes sharpened.
Stein's smile widened.
Klen folded his arms.
Amwaj whispered:
Amwaj:
"Marjan...
don't you dare lose now..."
·
THE VALLEY OF WONDERS — THE LEADER ARRIVES
Amwaj stared at Marjan, still stunned.
Amwaj:
"How... how is this even fair?!"
Klen crossed his arms, laughing loudly.
Klen:
"Ah, that's why Samhar kept losing.
He's good at gambling—
but every time he came to this circus,
they trapped him with this trick.
You idiot, Samhar!
HAHAHAHA!"
Amwaj:
"What is wrong with you?!"
Klen:
"Nothing."
Marjan raised an eyebrow—
he had noticed something strange in the organizer's hands...
and in Stein's eyes.
Stein leaned forward.
Stein:
"I'll let you choose first."
Marjan:
"Very well.
I choose the right."
Stein:
"Left."
The organizer flipped the cards.
Organizer:
"A tie."
He slammed his hand on the table.
Organizer:
"Extra round!! Same rules!"
The crowd gathered closer, buzzing with excitement.
The organizer placed two cards only.
Organizer:
"One is blank.
The other has a color.
Whoever picks the colored card wins.
Let's see who fortune favors."
Marjan looked at Stein.
Then at the organizer.
The cards were placed.
Stein chose left.
Marjan smiled.
Marjan:
"I refuse.
Reset."
The crowd gasped.
Crowd:
"He refused?!
He can do that?!"
The organizer smirked.
Organizer:
"Oh?
This boy is very clever..."
Stein growled.
Stein:
"You—!"
The organizer reshuffled.
Marjan chose right.
Stein refused.
Crowd:
"OHHHH!!"
Amwaj whispered:
Amwaj:
"Please, Marjan... win..."
The organizer reset the cards again.
Organizer:
"This is the final reset."
Marjan chose left.
Stein took right.
The organizer lifted his hand.
Organizer:
"Forest boy...
you picked the white card."
The crowd erupted.
Crowd:
"Stein wins!!"
Amwaj:
"No!"
Klen:
"No...
he's planning something else."
Stein stood proudly, raising his arms.
Stein:
"Kneel, forest brat!"
But the organizer raised his voice.
Organizer:
"However—
in the previous two draws,
the boy avoided the white card twice in a row...
and Mr. Stein picked the white card twice in a row."
Stein froze.
Stein:
"What?!
What do you mean—
did I lose?!"
He looked at Marjan's calm, cold smile.
The crowd gasped—
then exploded in cheers, laughter, and shouting.
Organizer:
"By the rules of the house—
the boy wins!
Five hundred gold coins...
and this strange staff!"
He handed Marjan the gold.
Klen smiled proudly.
Amwaj beamed.
Klen wrapped his arms around both of them in a sudden, crushing hug.
Klen:
"Well done!
Let's go."
Marjan blinked.
Marjan:
"Did he... hug us?"
Amwaj:
"He's a weirdo."
Marjan:
"He's a good man."
Amwaj:
"Let's just go."
They turned to leave—
When a short, beautiful girl with honey?colored eyes
and long black hair
walked toward them,
carrying a pink scythe.
She laughed.
Ruby:
"You three?!"
The organizers and guards panicked.
Guards:
"It's Ruby!
She's here!"
Ruby pointed her scythe at them.
Ruby:
"Hey!
You three!"
Klen stopped walking.
His posture changed instantly—
straight, rigid, alert.
Amwaj and Marjan exchanged a look.
Amwaj:
"She...
she looks like...
the leader?"
THE RED MIST CIRCUS — THE DEAL WITH RUBY
Ruby tilted her head, studying Klen with a sly smile.
Ruby:
"You caused quite the commotion...
A good one.
Now everyone wants to play.
I'm grateful."
Klen:
"No need to thank us!
This is one of the noble duties of the Red Knight's team!"
Ruby tossed them another pouch of gold.
Ruby:
"As the rules say...
you get double."
Klen:
"We don't need it.
Keep it."
Ruby blinked.
Ruby:
"You... don't need it?
Then why are you even here?"
Klen:
"For fun!
Relaxation!
A pleasant outing!"
Amwaj leaned in and whispered:
Amwaj:
"You lying disaster..."
Klen ignored her.
Klen:
"I'm here looking for my friend.
She came here...
and never returned.
We were supposed to meet her and continue our outing."
Ruby raised an eyebrow.
Ruby:
"What's her name?"
Klen:
"Rose.
Lady Rose."
Ruby snapped her fingers.
Ruby:
"Oh, her.
The girl in the cage.
She lost a bet and got locked up.
And it seems you're holding her staff by coincidence?"
Klen:
"We want her back."
Ruby:
"Sorry, no.
The auction hasn't started yet."
Marjan stepped forward.
Marjan:
"I believe we deserve special treatment.
Look around you—
we revived your circus."
Ruby smirked.
Ruby:
"You're the clever boy who beat Stein...
even while he was cheating."
She sighed.
Ruby:
"Julia is going to kill me for this...
Fine.
Follow me."
---
THE BACK TENTS — THE TRUTH OF THE CIRCUS
Ruby led them behind the main tent—
into a massive, dimly lit hall.
Cages everywhere.
Animals.
People.
Creatures from every race.
Amwaj gasped.
Amwaj:
"This is horrible!"
Marjan's eyes darkened.
Marjan:
"They're trading them...
Look—
some are from our village."
Amwaj opened her mouth to scream—
but Klen stepped in front of her.
Klen:
"Control yourself."
He walked forward calmly,
eyes cold,
as if he'd seen this before.
Ruby pointed.
Ruby:
"She's here."
Inside a cage—
Rose sat cross?legged, annoyed.
Rose:
"Klen!
You came!"
Klen:
"Lady Rose.
Seems you've had a rough time."
Ruby unlocked the cage and removed the restraints.
Ruby:
"Even now?
We're even, right?"
Rose:
"Get away from me, you witch."
Ruby:
"You're annoying.
I'm glad you're leaving."
Rose stepped out, dusting herself off.
She looked behind Klen—
and saw Amwaj and Marjan.
Rose:
"Wait—
how did you even get in here?"
Klen pointed at Marjan.
Klen:
"This boy won the gamble.
And your staff."
Rose's expression softened instantly.
She smiled—
a real smile.
Amwaj:
"Hold on...
she was calm the whole time...
even though she was locked up by people who could change their minds at any moment?!"
Marjan:
"She trusted him.
She knew he'd come."
Amwaj's eyes widened.
Amwaj:
"So...
this is Sinel's daughter..."
Rose threw her arms around Klen's massive torso.
Rose:
"You idiot...
you actually came."
Klen laughed loudly.
Klen:
"HAHAHAHA!"
Amwaj stared.
Amwaj:
"You two...
are you...?!"
Rose:
"Huh?
What do you mean?"
Klen:
"HAHAHAHA!"
Rose extended her hand to Amwaj.
Rose:
"Nice to meet you.
I'm Rose."
Amwaj:
"Uh... Amwaj."
Rose turned to Marjan.
Rose:
"You're the smart one who got me out.
Thank you."
Marjan shook her hand, meeting her eyes.
Rose smiled.
Marjan smiled back.
Marjan:
"We're grateful too...
daughter of Sinel."
Rose's expression shifted—
just slightly.
Marjan:
"Sorry."
Rose looked at Klen.
Rose:
"It's fine.
Really."
Klen:
"I visited his grave."
Rose nodded.
Rose:
"That's good."
Ruby clapped her hands.
Ruby:
"Alright, enough drama.
Take it outside before the auction starts."
Klen turned.
Klen:
"We have a thousand gold coins."
Rose:
"What?!"
Klen:
"I'm thinking of buying everyone in these cages...
and freeing them."
Ruby stared at him.
Ruby:
"You?!
Are you insane?
Why buy them if you're just going to free them?!"
Klen puffed his chest proudly.
Klen:
"It is one of the noble duties
of the Great, Honorable, Righteous Red Knight!"
Amwaj covered her face.
Amwaj:
"I can't believe this man..."
