The circus proved to be just the distraction I needed to let go of my worries for a little while. The performance and the story kept us captivated and the food was presented with enough flare to make up for the kitchen only holding two Michelin stars. From the story I heard, they would have gotten three had the judge not had a dislike for the more “common foods”.

We took our sweet time wandering back to our room, only to discover someone waiting for us in the sitting area of our suite.

“How did you get in here?” Maguire said, stepping in front of me defensively. He did so not out of a sense of chivalry, but to give me the space to move around him unnoticed.

“Would you rather know the how or the why?” The stranger silhouetted in darkness replied.

“I’d like to know both and I’d like to know now, you dork,” I responded. “If I like your answer, I may even tell security that you’re here with me. Granted, to do that I am going to need something to call you.”

“Call me Jack,” the embodiment of the giant slayer said, leaning forward into the light. Maguire relaxed at the familiar face, though he still stayed slightly on edge.

“So, what brings you here, Jack?” I stepped around Maguire and went for the mini fridge, grabbing a drink and some snacks.

“It’s a mix of wanting to check in on my old friends and following a bit of a hunch. You see, our mutual friend told me there’s something the two of you needed to know. It relates to a common problem we’ve been working to figure out.”

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“Any reason you waited until now?” Maguire sat down across from Jack and I tossed him the drink, then snagged another for myself.

“Because it's important that the information I give you doesn’t leave this room. Some knowledge carries consequences, you know.”

“Yes, I do,” I replied cautiously. Whatever news he had, it was about to make things more complicated.

“You recently lost a thief, someone who knows a truth you are desperately hoping to find. The loss is through no fault of your own. Your thief had something that helped him escape with ease. There's nothing you could have done.”

“What does he have?” Maguire asked. I could fell the answer settling in my chest but I didnt want to acknowledge it. Not yet.

“He has the Liar’s Luck.”

“Damn it.”

“What's that?”

“It’s something from before the time of Lord Fortuna, the antithesis to their existence. Since you’re telling us this now, I'm assuming they have left to tend to their other locations. Their power comes from unwavering belief in their own fortune. Put them face to face with the Liar’s Luck, they will be evenly matched. Tell them they are facing someone with the Liar’s Luck…” I explained.

“It all falls apart,” Maguire finished.

“Yep.”

”What exactly are we up against here?”

“The only thing I know for sure is that its something big,” Jack admitted, “and it's not something we are going to be able to tackle on our own. We are going to need to bring in some friends.”

“You got a mouse in your pocket?”

“Of course, I do. We Jacks have to stick together, after all.”

“That we do. I look forward to working with you.”