“Hey, old man! You still alive?” Dynames shouted into the abandoned looking store. Erica followed after him, in hopes of understanding his reasons for fighting alone.

Thus she ended up in the rough looking part of town….well rougher than the rest of it. Most of the buildings had no windows. In fact, some didn't’ even have doors like the one in front of them. The roof was just a sheet from a bed at best. It was shabby looking and Erica questioned why they came here.

“I don’t think anyone lives here…”

“Who the hell is talking smack!?” Erica jumped at the sudden shout that rose out of nowhere.

The sound of tools hitting the ground and rustling filled the afternoon air. After a few more loud crashes and bangs a black figure appeared. A man. Erica thought at least. He was covered in what looked like soot or ash even.

The only thing she could make out were..well his muscles. The little old man was ripped. His muscles were hard and he seemed no stranger to weapons or hard work. He could probably swing a war hammer like it was a twig.

She couldn’t see his eyes as they were covered by goggles. A thick strap around his balding head. Although the top of his head was black she could still see remnants of hair.

He charged right up to them and crossed his arm and waited. He grew impatient. “Well, which one of you was it!?”

Erica jumped again. His voice was just so loud it took her by surprise. It was like a bear growling at her. He looked like one too

“Now calm down old man,” Dynames spoke up clearly unaffected by the shouting. His face was back to normal, but he still had the weird aura about him. She was convinced he was Dynames, but something was still off about him.

The old man spat and looked up to him. “And who the fuck are you?” he said very anger. He was clearly not in a mood to deal with them.

“Well, that's mean. I'm the one who paid for most of your equipment and was one of your first clients.” Dynames looked hurt. He threw up his hands as if defeated.

“Why the fuck would I know you? Never meet you before in my life.” Clearly annoyed he went looking for a weapon to get them to go away.

“Dynames you're not in your original form.” He looked surprised then he seemed to remember himself. What kind of idiot had I followed? She sighed loudly. Then again which Dynames was it?

“Old man!” The old man stopped looking for a moment. “I'm going to say some things and then you can figure out who I am”

Paying no attention, the old man went back to work. “First, your name is something you made up because your real one is embarrassing.” The hands stop searching. The old man jumped a little but refused to look back.

“Second you had four divorces in a year”

“….That impossible”

Thud!

Erica looked to see the old man had dropped a hammer. He may not have shown it, but the soot was certainly going away as sweat was appearing rapidly. No way that can't be true! She thought. No one can do that!

“Third. After ever failed courting you name a weapon….” he got no further as the old man jump forward and clapped his mouth shut. He turned to Erica who looked away for fear of looking at him. For a moment she saw some red spots thru the blackness.

The old man looking down “Dynames you're a real bastard.” For once the old man was speaking in a more human tone. Like a kitten meowing

“What can I say? You should start to remember your customers.”

“How could I recognized one who I thought was dead and looks completely different than before!” he returned to the inhuman volume. Erica nearly covered her ears to lessen the pain.

“Well, it's nice to see you're alive and kicking” Dynames spoke on. He seemed to ignore the mood he had previously caused.

“Do you still have the item I requested all those years ago?” The old man looked up. A smirk lit his blackened face.

“Of course, I never lose my customers items.” He seemed glad to move away from the previous discussion.

He vanished back into the building and came back just as quickly. The thing he brought was covered in cloth. It seems to be a sword, from the impression it left in the clothes.

“6 long years of maintenance finally come to an end huh?” He offered it to Dynames with one extended hand.

Wasting no time he grabbed hold and took it from the old man. Erica guessed he must be a blacksmith. His structure suggested dwarf, as did his tough frame.

“Thanks for holding on to it for so long” His face made a smile and he seemed genuinely happy about it. Erica felt the hot feeling in her chest and looked away. She felt her face burn.

“So…...About the payment? You said I could meet a really cute one. Is she it?”

“No!!!” Dynames yelled but it was too late. He turned to see Erica who was pissed off. An aura of rage enveloped her.

“So is that why you let me follow you?” Her eyes sent shivers down both their spines. They were past the point of no return.

““Shit””

“Did you need to slap me that hard?” Dynames said as he nursed his now swollen cheek. He had in fact gotten off a lot easier than the old blacksmith did. Dynames dared not remember. He shivered just thinking of it.

“So where are we going next?” She called out to him as he had let some distance grow between them after the event.

“Well, I need to head toward the battlefield.” With that, he accelerated their pace and within a few minutes, they were near the edge of the city. The same place most people had watched the kings fight.

“Can you bring us down there?” He asked without looking at Erica. She inspected the distance. After getting a feel for it, she decided it was good enough.

She did like a good challenge once in awhile. She extended her hand and summon a mound of black sand.

She would need to get a little more before it was stable to stand on. She envisioned it more and add detail to her image. Soon her image had a physical shape. A mat of black sand, now hovered a few inches of the ground.

She placed it over the end and threw a pebble on it. It landed with a good thud and Erica knew it was stable.

She hopped onto it. “Well, are you coming?” She looked to Dynames who waited on solid ground.

“Are you sure that will hold both of us?”

“Something like this is child’s play for me” Her bad habit surfaced. She looked away to hide her embarrassment. She had gone so long without it happening.

“I see…” He jumped up and landed next to her. Erica immediately distanced herself from him.

“We have a lot of room so no need to get so close.” She said coldly. Only she was embarrassed to be so close to him. Why am I so conscious of him?

I need to conquer this feeling before it affects me negatively. She closed the distance on her own. As she got close she felt more conscious of her smell and her heartbeat.

She stopped when their shoulders touched. Her eyes darted to him and away with rapid succession. Am I the only one bothered by the closing of distance!

He turned to look at her. Had he noticed my embarrassment? If he did she might just have to take the plunge instead of going down with her the lift.

“Are you going to lower us?” Erica had completely forgotten. She distanced herself and lowered them down. Trying her best not to break focus.

For a long while, they were both quiet. Erica because of her embarrassing moments, while Dynames seemed deep in thought. Does he even see me as a member of the opposite sex? Wait why do I care! She wondered to herself. Her face betraying every emotion to the person next to her.

“Hey” his call snapped her out of her thoughts.

She only nodded too afraid to get look at him. She felt bad. She had only shown her bad side this whole time they had been alone. She could question him further about his relationship with Ashley. But do I really want to know?

“So why were you so close to me? Didn't you say we had all this room?” Red faced, she pushed away, only realized she had pushed off him!!!

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Dynames fell…...for a millisecond. A loud thud filled the quiet air after she had pushed him off. They were near the ground before they had realized.

Gods damn it! She yelled in her head. Why? All that time wasted on useless thoughts!

“The hell was that for!” Dynames yelled from below. He sounds anger. As he should after being pushed off the lift.

The eerie silence continued as they walked toward the center of the field. This sucks! Why can't I calm down?’ Lost in thought she ran into Dynames.

It would have been kind of romantic had he not reeked of sweat. Her nose burned after the collision. Dynames, failing to notice, dropped down and placed his ear to the ground.

She was about to speak when he did first. “Can you slap the ground a few times?” While confused she agreed, but mostly to let out a lot of her embarrassment as she smacked the ground in what felt like a pointless waste of strength….But a good stress relief.

After a few minutes of silence, Dyanmes shot up. A stern look plastered to his face. He said nothing for a while, then a smile crossed his face.

“Alright I need to go see Geal” He declared as he walked off

“WAIT!” Eira yelled. The wildlife that had gathered around scattered to the winds. Dyanmes himself jumped.

She mustered her courage. Preparing, to be honest as she could.  I need learn a few things and ask an important question.

“Will tell me the plan? I don't like being lead around by the nose.” She was a little annoyed he had failed to tell her the plan.

“Why would I tell you that?”

Had he never intended to tell me!

“Why? Well I’m going to help you fight so of course I need to..know” The words came out a halt as she looked at him.

“You will not be taking part in the battle to come” He left no room for doubt. His face stern and cold. Was he trying to keep me from fighting?

“Why?! With my magic, I could help a lot!” she was not bragging. The people didn't seem to have magic abilities. Even the old guard seem more on physical traits then magical. She would be imperative to the battle.

“Is it because I'm a girl...or do you not trust me to help”

“No. I trust you, but you are not ready.”

“How do you know? We are the same age! Surely I can handle myself on the battle….” A chill went down her spine. Her mouth frozen and her body shook. Bloodlust was heavy in the air.

She felt….Paralyzed. But the most surprising was the fact that he easily turned those eyes on her. Behind them, only blood and death were visible to her. “Do you understand now? The world you have lived in was still peaceful. You can’t handle it.”

She fell to her knees. She was aware of the sweat that appeared on her body. She struggled to get her body under her control again. So this...is how powerless I am?

“You are too weak right now. It would be hard for me to trust my back to you” His words rain down on her and wounded her deeply. She was below his trust. Her own weakness made him treat her like this.

She felt like crying. Being refuted so harshly...She had never expected Dynames to say such things...and to have such chilling bloodlust.

She wondered again. Who the man standing before her was. He looked like the one she knew, but at the same time, the air and his attitude were leagues above.

She was forced to accept the reality. Though he looked the same now. He was different from the Dynames she knew. One with a history she didn’t know about. One where all the time the spent together was small to him

“So I'm just a hindrance to you?’ she whispered it. Too afraid to look at him. If...if I am then what do I do?

A hand gently touched her head “You are no hindrance for me. I just wish to give you time to calm your nerves. You have been fighting battle after battle. You...We both still need time to mourn our loss.” His kind words eased her wounds.

Erica felt conflicted about many things. The loss of rick had hit them both hard, and she knew he had taken the most damage. But before she could even register such a things a slip of the tongue occurred. Or maybe the heart wanted it more than the brain.

“So does this...mean you do see me as a girl?” The question left her mouth before she could stop it. She felt all her brain cells shut down All that worked was embarrassment and shock.

Why did I say that!!!!

Pfft! And yet a chuckle filled the air.

“Is that why you got so close to me on the way down? You were worried I didn’t notice you?” She was beet red.

He was right. She had wanted desperately to help, but in her heart, she wondered if he saw her at all. But now that she had said such a misleading question she was beyond saving. And oddly she was okay with it internally at least.

Dynames came in close. She felt his hot breath on her ears. “Don’t worry. I've been aware of you for a long time now.” He moved away and started walking away.

Her mind was blank as the words sunk in. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn’t get a word out.

“What does that mean?!” Her voice punctured the rustling wind, but she never did get an answer.

“Wait! Dynames!” Her cry filled the void. They had just reached the cliff. She regained her composure. She eased her breathing as it took a lot to catch his stride.

“I am not Dynames.” The man before her betrayed nothing in the question. He only smiled a little. He didn't even turn to face her.

“What do you mean?” A sorrow she had never heard before was his voice. “Erica, I am the one you got to know. I am the one you have known, but…” He turned to face her. HIs expression was rigged and sad.

“I am not Dynames for that person is someone else entirely.” She could understand that much, but she could quite grasp it all.

“So I asked him a single favor before I agreed to assimilate completely with him.”

“What?” She was beyond confused. What did he mean assimilated? Does this mean there are two people living inside his body? What The hell is that?

“I asked him to give me a name befitting me. One I could claim as my own.” He brought up his hand. “It was almost funny how quickly he gave me a name. Fitting wouldn't do it justice.”

“....:” Erica couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Before it certainly looked like Dynames, but his words and gestures were small and meek, like weakness itself now gripped his once gallant form.” The man touched his chest.

It was as if the man she had seen this afternoon was gone as lost in the void.

“I am weakness. That is the core of my being. And so I can never be courageous nor have bravado. I can only borrow Dynames’s emotion and memories to have a chance. I am his opening and closing act.”

A coward who puts on a show of bravery. A man incapable of fighting, but barks the loudest about strength.

“So then, who are you?” What could the name be? What would the First king name such a sad existence? One who was giving life only to drag the real one down and make him vulnerable to the world. How must he be feeling?

Erica could understand facing her own wretchedness. Many outside expectations put her down, but she knew it couldn’t hold a candle to the pain in seeing your own life be taken and used by someone else. She gritted her teeth and a fist at her side.

Sure he is a fool, but to make such a show of it.

To make such a kind hearted person see such things. What a monster!

“What is your name then?”

A sad small appeared. “I am Jester, the clown.”

Even as he spoke it sounded joke. The name summed up everything she had heard. A clown would set up the stage, and then the mighty king would roar forward. Making them all but forget the clown.

The name meant only one thing. Erica could only see one thing about the First king. He saw this boy as nothing more than stepping stone. A tool to be used.

“And you're okay with that! Being a stepping stone for Dynames then! Don't you want to have a life of your own?”

“That is not what I was made for. I can’t imagine my future. I am incapable of that. The one life can have is one of meekness. I can’t’ take the stage. the pressure is too much for me. My very existence is to be stepped over….no it was to be used as a block. I was a mask forced onto the First king.”

He smiles. “That is why I wish for you to not tell anyone of this. I don't want people worrying about him, and I will keep the image alive, regardless of myself.”

He got close to her and took her hand. “So please, do me this one favor while I still exist in this world”

It may as well have been a knife to her chest. A person she had respected had been reduced to a mere clown, but not only did he accept it, he embraced it.

“Fine,” she had no words to change his mind. “But I don’t think I can’t come to like the First if this is how he does things. No, I refuse to accept it. Making you do such things.”

But she didn't have to accept the man who was doing all of this. Then had on her moved to her chin. She grew shocked. Everything had changed. A flame split down the media and in most the right side of Jester was changed back into the man she had met only briefly.

“No Erica that is wrong.” the amber eye looked sadden. “We are one in the same. To reject me is to reject him as well.” Jester, as he had called himself, was now split down the middle. His left was Dynames she had grown up with, while the right was the first king.

To anyone onlooker, it was a terrible match. While the left brown hair was tame, the right’s blonde and crazy. The right’s limbs were longer and put the left at a stoop. It was a creation that never should be seen in public It was doubtful they could even walk like that. The amber eye in the light socket was a sight to see nonetheless.

“Truly you are the best kind of person I could've asked for. I both are glad to have you as our friend.” The left side said. However, the right side looked annoyed. The eye tightened.

But Erica couldn't back down from this. Now when he would suffer so greatly from it. “What say you, First king? Are you disgusted by him, or did you give him that name to hurt him.” she had seen the annoyed look. Her shout was justified.

He truly is scum

“You have no right be a king if you make him do…!!” Before she could utter the statement, the right side hand became a fist. Erica guarded her face. But then something bizarre happened. The fist struck the left. Then it started messing with the left side's mouth. Pulling it at odd angles.

“What the hell Jester! You make me sound like a giant asshole! I don't think of you as a clown at all.” the right eyes looked pissed, but it became a sincere look. Like a man about to bear his sin to the world. “It was just….when I looked at you I thought: ‘This guy look like a jester of some sorts’”

“Wait so I got my name because of your passing thoughts!’ the left side looked concerned. “You are way too irresponsible about this. You could have named me something cooler than damn it!”

It was like the negative man from before was gone. It was strange to watch the halves of two different people fight using the same body. Like two pieces that just didn't fit. She almost laughed at the strangeness of it all.

“Hey, I did a pretty good job for the last minute request if you ask me. Oh, and your negative streak is worse than Ashley's or Erica’s anger issues.”

Until a comment was directed at her. “What was that?” She couldn’t let that slide. Both sided reflected fear.

“See look now you pissed her off!” The left shouted.

“Oh like that is my fault!” The right retorted back

I guess one thing is clear. They're both idiots regardless. If he isn't a bad person….then I guess I should let this go. I think they are the same person even when compared like this.

“As long as one of our remembers that I am above you, I think I can let it slid.” the internal scream inside herself was intense. While Erica barely held it together after spouting the line, the two in one stared at her.

The left’s half smile didn't fade. But the right went for looking very concerned to delighted as did the left completing a whole smile on their face.

““You truly will never kick that habit will you”” In perfect unison, they told her that. She had no idea which of them knew about it, but her face was redder than blood.

“Let's get a move on!”She ushered/sprinted past him and then the lift was moving up. Fast.

Jester took over the body and jumped up to it.

“Gladly,” His smile made Erica turn away and hold her piece. Verbally at least.

Jerk.