I Am The Fool

Collins was a fanatic of a fool. he was life enthusiast but he always daydream of being the fool and breaking the law of life and have fun. But he can't bring himself to become a fool, he knows that being the fool will break the law of his attitude and personality as a life enthusiast.

The Sun cast a golden yellow light, towards the village.

Collins was wondering if he could ask That Ryuta to help him.

Collins walked toward the black castle, his footsteps slow but steady. The towering structure loomed over him, its dark stone absorbing the golden sunlight. He stopped at the entrance, staring up at its vast, silent form.

Minutes passed. He stood still, lost in thought, questioning if this was the path he wanted to take.

Then, the heavy doors creaked open.

A figure stepped out.

Skyler.

The original Fool.

His piercing gaze landed on Collins, a knowing smirk forming on his lips. "You've been standing there for a while," Skyler said. "Looking for something… or just lost?"

Collins took a deep breath and met Skyler's gaze. "Can I join in?" he asked, his voice steady but carrying a hint of uncertainty.

Skyler's smirk faded. He crossed his arms and leaned against the castle doorframe, studying Collins for a long moment before shaking his head. "No."

Collins frowned. "Why?"

"You're not supposed to be," Skyler said simply. His voice carried an edge of finality, but Collins wasn't ready to let it drop.

"That's not an answer."

Skyler sighed, tilting his head as if debating whether to entertain the conversation. Finally, he pushed off the doorway and took a step forward. The sunlight barely touched his face before it seemed to shy away, retreating into the shadow of the castle.

"This isn't child's play," he said. "You think joining here is easy, but no it isn't about breaking the rules, having fun, doing whatever you want? It's not." His tone grew sharper, more serious. "It's for the mature. The ones who understand what it really means to walk this path."

Collins swallowed. His heartbeat quickened. He had imagined this moment so many times—standing before Skyler, the original Fool, asking to be part of something greater than himself. But now, standing in the reality of it, he felt an unease creeping in, like a cold wind curling around his spine.

"What does it really mean, then?" Collins asked.

Skyler chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "It means knowing the cost. It means losing something. Sacrificing." He stepped closer, and for the first time, Collins noticed something in Skyler's eyes—something hollow, something missing.

Collins hesitated. "What did you lose?"

Skyler's smirk returned, but it was thin, fragile. "Everything that made me anything else."

The words lingered in the air like a ghost, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Collins could hear the distant sounds of the village behind him—laughter, footsteps, life. But here, at the castle's entrance, it felt like another world entirely.

"Still want to join?" Skyler asked, tilting his head.

Collins opened his mouth, then closed it. His instincts screamed at him to say yes, to prove himself, to take the leap. But something deep inside whispered caution.

"I… I don't know," he admitted.

Skyler gave a small nod, as if that was the only answer he had expected. "Good," he said. "Then you're not ready."

With that, he turned, stepping back into the darkness of the castle. The heavy doors groaned as they began to close.

Collins stood frozen, watching as the light of the sun was swallowed by the void within.

And then—

The doors slammed shut.

Collins was left standing in the golden glow of the setting sun, staring at the black castle, the weight of Skyler's words pressing down on him.

Not ready.