The Joke

Jasper made his way around the garden using his crutches. He had started to everyday go around the garden to build up his strength and stamina as well as avoid his grandfather. He still couldn't understand why the old man was so kind and caring to him but slowly he was becoming more tolerant to him more out of necessity than anything else.

He made his way to a gazebo nearby but stopped once he made it to the bottom of the stairs. He had noticed the dog from before and a younger boy already in the gazebo. He paused a moment purely to get his strength up to climb the stairs, he could care less who was already there. He started up the few stairs and heard the dog growl at him but he ignored it. He then heard a youthful voice call out to him in a cold manner.

"this gazebo is already occupied" Jasper grunted, "Don't care"

He made it up the stairs and went to a bench on the side and sat down. He set his crutches next to him and looked to the boy who was staring at him.

"You know it's rude to stare y-" he cut his sentence short so as not to threaten the boy who looked only nine or ten. It was a habit he was trying to fix to not get himself killed while still so weak.

"I'm not staring; I'm looking at you. I'm surprised, normally you'd never come near here when Roxie is here. Normally you're terrified of her." The boy pet the dog's head.

Jasper shrugged, "it's just a mutt nothing to be scared of." "Roxie is not a mutt! She is a purebred German Shepherd" "Right.. same thing" Jasper shrugged.

The boy huffed, "Why are you even out here? Don't you normally lock yourself up in that pathetic room of yours and read all day?" Jasper looks at him. "I felt like a walk, something wrong with that?" "No I guess not. But I'm sure grandfather is looking for you"

Jasper shrugged, "Probably, but I don't really care at this moment." The boy looked at him surprised, "wow, there is a first for everything. Well, since you seem to be staying here for a while; I'll let you have the gazebo to yourself, big brother." The boy's voice was filled with disdain at the words big brother.

The boy then turned and left the gazebo, the dog following him. Jasper sat watching him leave coldness in his eyes. From the previous owners memories the boy was his younger adopted brother Sam. They had very gotten along except when his father was around. It was only then that Sam would be nice to him.

He huffed before looking around at the garden filled with all sorts of flowers and plants. Some of them he could recognize from his previous life. He didn't care about plants though and only recognized them because they had been edible in his previous life. A sweet treat when you were a child starving.

He sighed softly and stretched, relaxing some. He was coming to enjoy the quiet. He was normally constantly being followed by his bodyguards Jeff and Ryan. They were constantly trying to do everything for him and being way overprotective. This kind of behavior would drive even a saint insane and he was no saint.

He had sent the two on a wild goose chase this morning to get some peace and quiet. He had sent them to find the oldest tomb book of magic they could find. From what he knew of this world, magic didn't exist so knew it would be a long time before they found anything.

Or at least this was his hope. But of course his luck was not so great as just as he was finally relaxed he heard the voice of Ryan calling out to him.

"young Master! We found an ancient text on what is presumed magic." Ryan ran up to him smiling brightly.

Jasper nodded softly coldness in his eyes trying not to murder the man in front of him who was acting like a imbecile. The man had a goofy grin on his young but strong face. Both Ryan and Jeff were identical twins with brown hair and green eyes but he could tell them apart due to the scars on their faces. While Ryan had a faint near indiscernible scar across his right cheek and lip, Jeff had a faint scar on his jawline just below his right ear.

He stood up and used his crutches to keep his balance. "So, where is this book?" "It's in your room, young master. Shall I go get it and bring it to you?" Jasper shook his head, "No, I was just about to go back to my room anyway so, let's go there."

He then started to make his way out of the gazebo being careful going down the stairs. He reached the bottom of the stairs and headed for the mansion to go inside. He made his way, neither too slow nor too fast. He made his way inside and headed to his room.

He had built up much more stamina in the half month he had gotten released from the hospital. This pleased him as before he could only go a short distance before he was tired and needed to rest but now he could go quite the distance before he needed to rest.

Jasper entered his room and saw Jeff standing to the side holding an old looking book. He went and sat at his desk and looked at Jeff and the book. The look of joy on Jeff's face really made him want to beat him into the ground but resisted the urge.

"May I see the book?"

The two men Jeff and Ryan looked at each other before Jeff's look of joy fell from his face as he handed the book over.

"It's an old book and none have been able to decipher it young master. Apologies for our incompetence in this matter"

Jasper shrugged, "no matter, I'll have a look at it and given some time we can get it deciphered later" "Of course, we will get the best person to decipher it for you and…"

Jasper no longer paid attention to him as he opened the book and looked on the first page of the book. It was written in the ancient language of his previous life! He actually thought magic didn't exist in this world but what was said on the front page said otherwise.

He was shocked at seeing this and looked at the first page for a while before he smiled. But almost as soon as he smiled he frowned and looked at the two who were still talking. He had already lost track of what they were saying and had no clue as to what they were talking about.

He now just wanted to study the book in front of him but these two were still going on talking about who knows what by now. He was starting to lose his patience with them as all he wanted to do was read this book. He looked at them coldly but they didn't seem to notice as they continued to talk. He eventually lost his temper.

"Shut the hell up! If you can't be quiet then get out!" He pointed to the door angrily.

The two men stared at him with eyes wide, before leaving the room silently. Jasper huffed cursing vehemently in his anger. He calmed down after a few minutes and sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. He took a deep breath before turning to look back at the old book on his desk and began to read it.

~

Jeff and Ryan stood in the hallway outside of Jasper's room looking at each other. They had been too shocked to even be able to speak when Jasper had his outburst. Suddenly Jeff and Ryan grinned at each other.

"Can you believe it? Young master finally had an outburst of anger" Ryan nodded in agreement. "We must tell grandmaster about this. He will be overjoyed at this news."

"I actually never thought Young Master would ever get angry. Finally after all these years he has gotten angry. I once thought he would never get angry. This is such good news"

Ryan nodded, "it is. Although I'm saddened it was at us he got angry at and not that brat master took in. I had seen them talking together at one of the gazebos but he didn't get angry then. But I did see that brat Sam left the gazebo and not the young master. This accident may have changed him but I think it's for the good. He isn't the little kid we were always having to take care of before. Hell, I think he grew up"

Jeff chuckled softly and patted Ryan's back. "Of course he grew up. Don't get emotional on me here or I'll be right there with you. Now come on let's go inform the Grandmaster."

Jeff and Ryan headed down the hall to go find the grandmaster. Smiles were plastered on their faces as they went. They had basically raised the young master after his mother passed away and had never once seen him mad. Now that the young master had gotten mad for once they had to tell the grandmaster.

~

Jasper read through the old book given to him by Jeff and Ryan. He reached the end and what he read made him lose his temper. He threw the book against the wall cursing. The book was a joke! Someone from his previous world had come here before and made a book detailing the use of magic as a joke!

Jasper clenched his fists, undisguised murder on his face. He stood and grabbed his crutches before going over and picking the book up. He then carefully left his room with the book going to one of the few fireplaces in the mansion. He was going to burn the accursed book.

Only then would he feel better. He made his way to the fireplace and finally made it. He went over to the fireplace glad to see a fire lit in it. He then tossed the book into the fire and watched it burn. The anger and murder slowly fading from his face.

He then huffed coldly and went back to his room ignoring the odd looks given to him from the staff. He didn't care what they thought of his behavior. They should really be glad he took his anger out of the book rather than them, in his opinion.