“Oh dear oh dear, guests have arrived! How shameful! When no act can be played upon a stage alone!”

A loud and cheerful voice was heard.

Despite the cheerful nature of the voice, there was a whimsical sense to it.

Llednar and I were both alarmed at immediately prepared to draw our blades.

We scanned our surrounding carefully.

We have yet to determine friend or foe so we first decided to probe the others intentions.

“Who is there?”

“Ohoho, how rude of me! To not show my face when guests appear, dead or alive, would bring great shame upon my name!”

“Dead or alive…?”

Immediately, several lights in different colors began to light up.

They began moving in a bizarre fashion until they slowly began to gather up on the center of the stage.

*Drum roll*

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Upon the stage I dance and sing, the Fool is what I am! To the guests who appear at last after I’ve waited so long, Clovis the Clown appears once more!”

A red silhouette then fell upon the stage at great speed.

Upon its fall, flowers suddenly bloomed, breaking his fall.

The figure stood atop the floating flowers.

Almost as if weightless.

The flowers suddenly began to float down.

The lights then gathered illuminating the figure of the red silhouette.

Illuminated upon the stage was a young boy, he had crimson red eyes that shone like rubies and wore clothing fitting for a clown that instead of being of different colors, it was of one color alone.

Blood red.

He wore no makeup on his face. He was of similar height to myself, and had a rather handsome appearance.

His expression was one of delight as he gazed upon both of us.

“Wait… Clovis the Clown!?”

Llednar suddenly exclaimed.

“You know him?”

I asked.

“I do. He was a performer of the Red Moon Troupe. A famous circus that travelled the continent many years ago. They disappeared one day without a trace. I didn’t expect that I’d meet the Circus Master Clovis the Clown once more! Or that he met the same end we did.”

Llednar muttered.

I was also quite surprised.

The fame of the Red Moon Troupe had reached even my country. Even though they disappeared many years ago, their fame shook the continent to such a degree that despite their disappearance, they are still a rather famous topic of conversation.

Regardless, I believe I should introduce myself.

“Clovis the Clown, I am Sylfern, a traveler.”

Since the other party has already introduced himself, it would be rude not to give one’s name right?

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Llednar, an old thief.”

Llednar gave a rather curt reply.

“Tis a pleasure to greet thee. What would such an unlikely duo of sorts be doing here, to meet an old fool like myself? If you wish to see a play, I would unfortunately decline, for this Troupe of mine has only myself alone.”

Alone?

“That’s odd. What happened to the rest of your troupe? I’m certain such a famed group would not disband so easily. And without a word too.”

I asked.

At my question, Clovis bowed then tears began to fall as he narrated his tale.

“Tis a tragedy you see. One day, after a fine performance, our Troupe wandered through this very forest filled with murderous rogues with blades filled with blood! Ah… I witnessed the sight myself. As all of them were killed, reduced to bloody rags before my very eyes! One by one they fell till it came my turn… And that wretched fiend tore my body to pieces, to be assembled together with the rest of my Troupe. And whatever’s left of them, were charred to cinders, leaving naught more than ashes.”

His story confirmed our guess.

Continuing with a small cry, he continued his tale.

“Thus, this body of mine, is what’s left of my Troupe. With all the talents of my companions, and myself, in one. But their souls are not with me. I am here alone. In wretched agony…

He cried once more.

It was an odd sight.

To see a bright figure like this crying in grief in behalf of his companions.

But I suppose that’s natural.

It’s natural to mourn for one’s dear departed comrades.

People who shared life’s joys and sorrows with you.

But I guess it may be a blessing for those departed, that they would not be left here.

In this wretched place alone.

I felt pity for this person, and some hints of envy.

I pity this person for witnessing the deaths of himself and his companions and I envy him for having trusted companions that accompanied him around.

Wait…

If he possesses all his companions body parts, then perhaps, he may have also attained their powers?

No… If that was the case, I would have other powers as well.

Regardless, if he possess all their combined talents, he may be the most formidable out of the three of us.

If so, then it’s worth a try to recruit him.

Talent is something that everyone has.

If an acrobat of his skill joined us, he should have deadly tricks that should help us.

“Would you listen to my offer, Clovis, for a fitting finale to your Troupe?”