Conny and his troupe consist of Gerard and the Scotsman walk on the pavement road, Conny, he was carrying both Gerard and the Scotsman, both Gerard and Conny were so tired to the point that Conny was walking while swaying like a drunk person. All the local residents they passed by look at them with strange and confused face as they keep their distance from Gerard, Conny and the Scotsman, Conny didn’t know where his destination is since on his vision it all grey, Monochromacy (Acromatopsia). All the things he saw feel the same to him, as Conny wondered to some place where it looks different since it was at the corner of the streets, a wooden cottage where the flowers were rotting near the building, the wooden cottage looks like it will collapse any second, there is a lot of nails to keep the wooden cottage intact.
Conny threw Gerard to the front porch of that wooden cottage, then he put the Scotsman on the floor, since the Scotsman is a mid-size painting of young king Edward IV now. Conny lean on the wooden stair, gasping for air, it was tiring and he is also starving, he can’t help but bear all of it. He glances at the Scotsman and beg, “Owner… I’m sorry, I think we need to sell you for some penny, because… we will die of starvation at this point.” Gerard weakly raised his thumb, he agrees with the Jester’s suggestion.
“NO!!, I refused!!, *sigh, come on now, you must surely have any idea how to get some food right?, I mean we’re in the middle of town, look around, there is some restaurant, food stall.” the Scotsman suggest, as the young king Edward IV painting move it’s lips, unfortunately, the Scotsman words didn’t change anything, Conny and Gerard were still starving.
Since, Conny didn’t know what to do he decided to sleep on the front porch of this wooden cottage, it seems the building is abandoned so he closed his eyes, but then… he heard a footstep coming to this wooden cottage, Gerard head perked up, Conny opened his eyes and they see the young kid they met earlier at the cemetery, a young kid with 4’9 height and a dark bluish long hair that covered his eyes, and wild berries on his hands. It was so beautiful sight for the starving, a food…they just witnessed a temptation that is so hard to resist, both Gerard and Conny prayed inwardly for the young kid to spare some berries to them, at this point they will do anything for this young kid, both of them fidgety raised their hands begging for a food to the young kid, as the young kid stop in front of them.
“What are you doing in front of my house? oh right, I’m glad we really meet again, here are some wild berries that I’ve picked up from the forest, near the cemetery…you don’t mind if… I join you to eat right?” there is a slight pause when the young kid asking Conny and Gerard if it’s okay for him to join and eat together with them. Of course, both of them didn’t mind the young kid at all as they nod their head and raise their thumb rapidly, they can’t utter any words now, since their mouth were flooding with their saliva.
The young kid gave Conny and Gerard some wild berries, then the young kid sit at the stair as Gerard too join to sit at the stair, from the left is Conny, the middle is the young kid and finally on the right is Gerard as they look at each other and eat the wild berries, munching the sweet and tangy taste of the wild berries, tears cascaded down from Gerard and Conny eyes, because they are so grateful, they are so grateful for the young kid, because of him, both of them avoid died of starvation.
“Thank you…*sniff…I will not forget this…you just saved my life…”
“THANK YOU, KID… YOU ARE A KIND PERSON AFTER MY DAUGHTER, IN THIS WORLD…*sniff…”
Both Conny and Gerard hug tightly the young kid, wrapping their hands to the young kid head and keeps brushing his dark bluish hair, as the young kid tap Conny and Gerard shoulder, since it’s difficult to breath being wrapped like a cinnamon roll, “I- I get it…so…uh.. can you stop doing this…i…can’t…breath.”
Both Gerard and Conny released their hands from the young kid, as the young kid cheeks reddened up slightly and his lips curled up a little, it’s been so long that he almost forgets being hugged like a family. Then, he remembers something, he still didn’t introduce himself to these people, as he gestured his right hand to his chest and said, “Pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself… my name is Heksen, and this is my parents house, it’s pleasure to meet you, I’m sorry if I was quite rude when we first met.” The young kid, Heksen looks at the two people in front of him, smiling at him and then the person on the left side, starts introducing himself and his group.
“Nice to meet you, Heksen…I knew that you are a kind person from the beginning, my name is the Jester, the person on your right side is Gerard, the Driver, that’s right we were originally driving with a car until he hit that hole and made the car begone.” Conny sarcasm made Heksen chuckle a bit, but Gerard seems to get annoyed as he said his excuse,
“Hey!, it’s not my fault okay, you two were so unbelievable that I lost my focus of the road.” Heksen tilt his head as he looks around, there is more person, where? That’s what in Heksen’s mind. Conny lightly chuckle and shake his head while closed his eyes and replied, “Unbelievable? I think the most unbelievable one is the fact that you, the driver made our condition grievable.” Gerard grit his teeth, what Conny said successfully triggered him, but he holds his anger because of Heksen, Gerard didn’t want to show Heksen unpleasant vibe on this cheerful conversation, but it seems that fucker, the Jester, Conny, clearly taunting at him, as he wink his right eye to Gerard.
“Uhh…you said…you two…is there any more person here?” curiosity get the best of Heksen as he asked Gerard. Gerard nod his head confirming what he just said, then he gets up and grab the mid-size painting canvas depicting young king Edward IV, shoving it close to Heksen’s face and Gerard said, “This is, the Human, the Scotsman…believe it or not, this expensive art masterpiece is alive, it can talk, it can see you, and it can process its own thought.”
Heksen tilt his head hearing Gerard words, does something like that exist?, it’s straight up a fantasy like item, right?, Heksen know that he is still a kid, but he also knows that reality and fantasy is different, so why Gerard, the one who is an adult, saying stuff like that?. the confused expression on Heksen’s face made Conny held his laughter by putting a straight face while he is biting his lips. Heksen looks at the mid-size painting, it looks normal and it’s true that it was expensive, but… it didn’t move at all, does sir Gerard in delusion or something?
“Sir…Gerard, it’s just a painting…it didn’t alive at all.” Heksen tried to tell Gerard that it just a normal painting, Gerard smirk when Heksen said that word, as he teases the Scotsman by saying, “Hear that, the Scotsman? The kid thinks you’re an expensive art masterpiece, bahahaha.”
“Indeed, why did you think of me like that kid?, tsk, tsk… I’m the Scotsman, the Human, allow me to express my gratitude for saving my companions.” Heksen jumped from his seat as he screams at the talking painting, it… alive!!… I can’t believe it!…. Just who is these people?! That’s what in Heksen’s mind, never in his wildest imagination, he would thought about a talking painting, and today, in front of him, that talking painting is here.
“Hahahaha… oh, I’m sorry, I can’t, hahaha… he really looks surprised, Owner, you’re so mean, why did you act like a normal painting?.” Conny lost it when he witnessed Heksen jumped from his seat, because it was so comical to him, as he holds his stomach and wipe the tears that’s coming from his eyes. Gerard covered his mouth and laugh too.
“Enough you two, you made the kid, Heksen, embarrassed, I’m sorry kid, now that you two had eaten something, it’s time to continue our journey.” Said the Scotsman, Conny immediately straightened his back and stop laughing, since he knew that the Scotsman will gave you a torture if you get on his nerve, Gerard unconsciously copied what Conny did.
“Oh, already leaving?, I… didn’t mind it if you stay here for a day.” Heksen said with sulking expression, it made Conny, Gerard and the Scotsman felt guilty for suddenly leaving Heksen, the three of them look at each other and decided, they want to stay in Heksen’s house for a day, thinking it like repaying his kindness that he shown earlier to them.
“On second thought, I think it’s better to take it slowly, since we just arrived at this town, we need to rest for one or two days, didn’t you agree, Jester, Driver.?” said the Scotsman, taking back what he just said, which made Heksen’s face brightened a little, as he enthuasthically welcome the three of them to his house.
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Inside Heksen’s house, a rundown wooden cottage with a lot of nails to keep the house intact, it looks more like a shed, but Conny, Gerard and the Scotsman didn’t mind it at all, Heksen show them the living room, the bathroom and the kitchen, the kitchen was an empty space without any food to consume, that made Conny feels sad about Heksen living condition, since he didn’t have anyone to look after him, does it mean, he always eat wild berries as the mean to survive?, and when the wild berries isn’t there he needs to starve for a day?, poor kid. That’s what in Conny’s mind as he looks at Heksen who cheerfully explained a lot of things in his house, Conny can’t help but bitterly smiled while he looks at Heksen.
“And that’s all, you can relax yourself in the living room, there is a decent sofa there, but…uhh, I’m sorry if the sofa is a little bit dirty, I forgot to clean it.” Heksen scratch his hair, embarrassed by the things that he just said, since it was shameful to his guest, but he can’t lie to them, Gerard brushed Heksen’s hair and he said, “That’s alright kid, we are grateful to you for letting us staying here.”
It was a coincidence that after Gerard said that, rain starts pouring down heavily, it made Gerard put on the smug face as if he is saying ‘told you’ to Conny and the Scotsman. Without much things to do, all of them sit at the couch, as the red couch made a noisy squeaky sound when the three of them, Conny, Heksen and Gerard sit on it, the Scotsman were put on stick out nail above their head like a normal painting.
“I’m sorry…there is no food or drink to offer to you guys.” Said Heksen as he lowered his head, Conny hand pat Heksen’s head as he said, “It’s okay, at least we’re not drenched here, thank you for letting us staying here, kid.” Hearing Conny’s word, Heksen lips curled up slightly, then Gerard let out a long sigh, and he complained, “I’m bored…hey, how about sharing some stories, especially you, Jester, I want to know more about you, you’re not a devil aren’t you?, because you carried that talking painting and you can transform into that weird golden masked attire.”
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Heksen nod his head, he agrees with Gerard’s suggestion. In his mind, he wonders, why sir Gerard said that he assumes Conny is a devil and what is the weird golden masked attire he is talking about? Hearing Gerard’s question made Conny chuckles a bit, he waves his hand and begin his story, “Of course I’m not a devil, they are Wicked aren’t they?, I’m a Virtuous person, I once was a farmer slave… until one day, I… I…hmm weird…why I can’t remember the next… well, anyway, someone from the church in Welsterven told me that I was cursed by one particular item… maybe that item, is the reason why I can transform to that weird golden masked attire… and for the Scotsman, well he was once a human, until he became a project sacrifice to speed up the construction and the rest are history, he become one with an object, a hotel building, old gramophone and now, that painting.” Both Heksen and Gerard were left speechless as Gerard gulped his saliva and his widened eyes imagining what kind of life, Conny, the Jester and the Scotsman had.
He… had a rough past, not what I was imagined in the beginning, I thought he was from the deepest hell or something, but he is just a normal human trying to survive. That’s what in Gerard’s mind as he rub his chin and then he raise his hand to begin his story, “I think I’m next, well, I once was a normal happy loving married man with my beautiful wife and my lovely daughter, I worked as horse carriage driver sometimes I tried driving the steam-powered car, but the cost for purchasing one car is outrageous, one decent car is 30 gold coins, yeah, I just tried driving it when the driver of that steam-powered car is not busy by asking his permission, oh and I also helped my wife running a donut store. Until…that cursed night happened, I… lost my wife…my daughter…my carrier…everything… looking down at my wife and daughter tomb, I…wanted to hang myself…alone in some abandoned, dark, room… and never in my imagination I would meet this person… the Jester… this bast-*ahem…this gentleman coax-*ahem convince me to join in his troupe to travel the world.”
Conny nod his head while his eyes were closed hearing Gerard’s story. Heksen, he looks at Gerard’s face who is holding his tears by forcefully smiled and try to annoy Conny, sir Gerard is a strong man…I wonder if I will be as strong as him in the future…Heksen thought to himself, looking at sir Gerard and the Jester, he made a promise to himself to be strong, to not crying again… as there are more people having worse fate than him.
Then all eyes were staring at Heksen as he nervously gets up and begin his story, “I- my name is Heksen…I live alone in this house now…I had a loving parents and grandparents…but not anymore, the Jester story gave me a thought, you’re saying that you got cursed by an item right?” Conny nod his head when Heksen said that, as he attentively listened what Heksen gonna say next, Heksen continued speaking, “do you think that I—does these eyes some sort of curse, am I cursed?, do you think that I am a cursed child that bring bad luck?” Heksen chest heaved up and down as he brushes his long hair upward and hold it with his right hand revealing his unique eyes to Conny, Gerard and the Scotsman. The three of them were left shocked especially Gerard as he fell from the couch.
“R-real shit…kid, did you…those eyes, is that the one you had when you were born?” Gerard frantically point his finger to Heksen’s eyes, Gerard felt fear and goosebump when he looks at many and complex star constellations depicted in Heksen’s eyes, it looks like a universe were transferred to him. Heksen panicked as he made Gerard terrified he hurriedly covered his eyes with his long hair.
“Hmm…why did you covered it?.” Conny rub his chin, as he looks disappointed rather than terrified when Heksen covered his unique eyes, Gerard looks at Conny in disbelief, many scenarios in his mind when for the worse, who knows what kind of things this madman will do to Heksen.
“It’s hard to guess if it’s a curse or simply a unique trait that you have, or simply a blessing in disguise, you never know what kind of thing you will get in this twisted and fucked up world, let me ask you kid, does this eye brings bad luck only for you or the people around you?” the Scotsman comment made all eyes looks at it, the painting above the couch, it seems the Scotsman knew a little bit about this whole weird thing, well he experienced the worst of it after all.
“The night before my parents were killed by a bandit named Don Rogue, I- I had a dream, a dream where I witnessed a mysterious hand that seems to be writing something on a giant sphere using one finger, I don’t know what kind of language that hand wrote, it made my head hurts just by looking at it, then I woke up only to find Half-elf Valley getting attacked by bandit and it happened…my parents got killed by bandit named Don Rogue.”
Silence descend the room as the Scotsman trying to comprehend this information, Conny rub his chin again, he seems familiar with the name Don Rogue, then he remembered, he remembered who is Don Rogue, as his right fist smashed into his left palm, “Ah!, it’s that elf!, Don Rogue, I remembered now.” Gerard looks at Conny as he curiously asked, “You know this Don Rogue?, wait… he is an elf?”
Heksen widened his eyes when Conny and Gerard said that Don Rogue is an elf, that explain why guards can’t handle him, since elf who worshipped Mother of Earth, the goddess of nature, were said to be an Elder Shaman, they possessed terrifying abilities as Heksen saw how Don Rogue is able to transform into a grim reaper. His parents were killed by Don Rogue on that night, until the police unit H334 successfully drift Don Rogue away. The next day Heksen’s parents funeral were being held, their dead bodies were nowhere to be found, probably because Don Rogue brutally slaughtered it. That made Heksen’s grandpa depressed, the next day he always goes to mountain alone to calm himself, he was haunted by his son and his in-law. Until Heksen saw that dream again, and his grandpa was said to fell from a mountain.
“An…elf…um…sir Jester, where is that Don Rogue now?” Heksen clench his fist, he clearly wanted to hunt down that elf who made his life miserable, but then, Conny gave him a shocking statement while leisurely resting his head on his right hand, “Huh? where is he you say?, well he was dead, he invaded Jerrim’s farm, the place where I came from and I punch him so hard to the point he flew and vomited a gallon of bloods.”
Unbelievable, that is the word to describe this person who punched an elder shaman and still breathing till today, both Gerard and Heksen gulped their saliva, just how strong this Jester is, fucking madman… he punched an elf and he is able to laugh, something must wrong in his head Gerard inwardly made a comment of Conny. Don Rogue…dead? Then what is my life purpose now?…. seems like Heksen feel both relieved and empty after hearing Conny’s word.
“We’re getting strayed from the topic here, kid, I think…your eyes… in Divinity is called manifestation, a result from your action, which gave you an ability and curse…WAIT!! I had a crazy hypothesis…could it be…that you… you always watch the stars at night?”
the Scotsman suddenly went hysterical as his canvas were shaking uncontrollably, looking at the Scotsman both Gerard and Conny could tell that something crazy is happening to Heksen, as Heksen nervously nod his head and he confessed, “Y-yeah, when I was a child, my grandpa and I always loved to stargazing at the top of the mountain…until one night I pass out while stargazing with grandpa… the next day, my grandpa said my eyes changed…I look at the mirror and this is the result.”
Silence descends the room again, no one dare to utter more words, the sound of heavy rain pouring down from the roof could be heard clearly, the silence was shattered with a loud glaring thunder, then the Scotsman said, “Oh heavens…kid, it seems you got a dangerous curse, a celestial eyes…sir Herlan told me that the reason why the night sky don’t have any stars anymore because someone got a celestial eyes…i-I never thought it was you…”
Conny widened his eyes, he seems to remembered something again, he was once being helped by someone named Herlan before, Herlan Rewead, an eccentric old man, the watcher from the church in Welsterven, another memory resurfaced as he saw his hands grabbing a mask, then his memory blurred again…Conny looks at Gerard, who is looking at him with his concerned face.
“Jester…why are you the one who dazed out? It should be Heksen, he finally knew the truth behind his eyes.” Gerard made a sarcasm when Conny finally get back to reality, Heksen didn’t uttered any words but his whole body were shaking, especially when he heard from the Scotsman he is the reason why night sky doesn’t have stars anymore, Conny slaps his cheeks until it reddened up, then he muttered to himself,
“Yeah…why I was the one getting dazed out?…weird, anyway…you okay kid?, hey- hey Heksen!!” Conny saw Heksen weakly drop to the floor like a doll, it seems that information shocked him to the core.
Conny and Gerard hurriedly bring Heksen to his bed, they are worried if something was wrong with Heksen, Conny looks at Heksen’s face that starts to become pale, placing his hand to Heksen’s forehead, he cursed as he knew what is wrong with Heksen, “Shit…I think…his condition drops, Gerard… go call a doctor or herbalist, quick!!” Conny gave an order to Gerard, but, Gerard hesitated as the outside is still raining, he bites his lips and said, “It’s still raining…”
Hearing Gerard’s word made Conny turn his head swiftly at Gerard and glares at him, “So what?, it’s just a fucking rain and you become a pussy now?, look at this kid… the one who gave us food and shelter, at critical condition and you worried about some fucking weather?!” Conny’s harshful words hit Gerard quite hard, as Gerard rubs his hair until it became a mess, clicked his tongue and ran outside under the heavy rain looking for a doctor or herbalist.
Looking at Gerard’s back, Conny finally felt a little bit relieved, but he still feels worried, he sits at the thin bed edge and hold Heksen’s skinny right arm, rubbing it gently hoping that nothing gone wrong to Heksen, don’t you die, kid…you just gave me food earlier…. Conny’s eyes gaze at Heksen’s face, then he saw a translucent hand gently brushing Heksen’s hair, but, that translucent hand can’t touch Heksen’s physical body as it goes through it, damnit!…why there is a ghost now?! Conny inwardly lampooned, then he heard an old lady playful laugh inside his head,
(Hohoho…I’m sorry young man…did I scare you?, I’m Heksen’s grandma.)
Conny widened his eyes when he heard that old lady’s voice in his head, it scared Conny as he looks around trying to find the old lady, but he can’t spot her at all,
(don’t mind me…I’m just a last conscious of my body that can’t be at peace, worrying about my cute little Heksen.)
Conny nod his head slowly, I see…I’m sorry that you saw your grandson passed out because of the truth that my companion just said.
(it’s alright, I should be thankful for your companion for telling the truth about Heksen’s condition and how you all gave him a comfort, I observed him every day since my last breath, I want to comfort him, but I can’t…I’m just a wandering soul without a physical body, I saw how Heksen were treated as a bad luck to the resident of Half-elf Valley, it hurts me when Heksen tears pouring down like the rain outside, it hurts me more, since he didn’t have anyone related to him he can lean on, as no one would care about him…they threw stuff and even hurts him when they passed by…i…can’t do anything…I tried to shielded him…but, all of it went through me and hit Heksen’s body, then he lock up inside this house waiting to his death…I…I-I am grateful…truly…I am grateful that fate brought you all to meet with my cute little Heksen…if at that time you didn’t approach him…he will probably end his life…ahh…it seems I can’t being here for too long…oh kind hearted young man…please…please…I beg of you…don’t let my Heksen shed anymore tears, be sure to remind him to eat…and the most importantly made sure to tell him to smile and laugh…be sure to tell him that he deserve to be happy.)
Conny held his tears when he heard that pledge, I promise, I will made sure that you always hear Heksen laugh from now on, I’ll take care of him like my own little brother.
As Conny inwardly said that, he saw a light reflection of an old lady giving a hug to Heksen, then that old lady walks to Conny and hug him too, as the light reflection burst into million particles, that light particles was blinding but it didn’t hurt Conny at all, in fact he felt peace, like his looking at something dazzling and beautiful. A wonderful thing akin to hope.