Painting above by me as always. Due to your wonderful comments about my wanky watercolor painting, yall encouraged me to draw more scenery for this story. (Although I usually draw digitally for fanfics - but I'll try something new)

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"Hey... You're there?"

After many lonesome years within the light-forgotten depth of the castle, an empty hall desolated from any belief has finally heard the voice of two people chatting. You sat there, on a dusty ground of this murky dungeon, the only thing facing you were the profuse stairs leading into the elevator. The gloom of the dazed stairways crept into you like a sleepy lullaby. But you weren't alone - it seems for the past hours you've gained a friend who accompanied your mental-state and wanky conversations. The catch? He was locked away in some sort of a prison.

"There, there and nowhere!"

You nodded, although you two couldn't see each other. This fella was certainly a character - his giggly attitude and way of speech unquestionably brought sheer interest to you, but it also made you feel in a quandary. You sat, your head slumped into your hands - "I was wondering... why are you locked in there?"

"A story long dead and forgotten - I just wanted to play a game, a game! But the boring kings found such fun to be a trouble. As a punishment, they craved to imprison my body! But I'm fast, fast! Clever, clever! They lost the chase, and locked up their entire race, building a prison around the whole world!"

"Their entire race? P-please elaborate."

"Yes, didn't you hear? By the hand of the Knight, The wretched King imprisoned the rest of the rulers, thinking he's owning the whole power to himself... That 'spade-face' is rotten through and through! Little do these sillies know that they've locked themselves up. Now I'm the only one Free, Free! No cell or prison can hold me down."

"Interesting. Truly interesting..." - Jevil's words stuck in your head. His oddities weren't just a result of loneliness, but because he believed he was the only one who knew the taste of freedom, despite him being locked there for... who knows how long. Though you felt there was something else to his words "And why do you think so?"

"It's a game, my lady, a game!"

"Does it feel safe?" - You heard the clown release a hum questioningly; his humorous voice relaxed more than ever. "I mean, do you feel comfortable alone as if you're at home... away from trouble from everyone else?"

A moment of silence passed by before Jevil answered in a low voice - "It is an amenity in its optimum, but it brings you chaotic loneliness to tear you apart."

"Heh... can't argue with you, sir. I got so costumed to my own loneliness back in..." - you gulped "...back in my world."

"And yet here you are! Away, away from home. You've jumped from another realm and still, you've masterfully sneaked past any trouble. Say, say, how does it feel being hurled into a world of not your own."

You hugged your knees closer to yourself in comfort, recalling a past memory "It's nothing new to me."

Your words rock Jevil's mind, leaving it to move in foreign ways, ways he has become unaccustomed to these many years. You were like an echo, but one with the power to tear down walls that are built high to imprison him. Your words were truly colorful - "How sneaky you are, my Lightner."

The two of you would have tête-à-tête about seemingly nothing yet everything, the old walls being your only audience. But there was something toggling Jevil's mind - he still couldn't quite get a picture of you. Your physical characteristics were unknown to him due to the darkness of his cell and the wall separating you, but that didn't stop him from craving to know your body.

"...You'd agree with me, it's awfully dull in here, Isn't it? Orient me on your visage."

"Huh? You want me to tell you how I look like?"

"Correct, correct!"

"I mean... what is there to tell?" - the Jester noticed your voice stumbled upon your words with embarrassment as if no one asked you to ever describe yourself - "Most average (hair-color), a boring (skin-color)... I don't know."

"You speak so low of yourself? Don't droop on me now, now! Tell me about your eyes... I want you to mesmerize me!"

"Eh... well," - with a coy chuckle and a light smile, this time you tried to describe your actual looks with carefulness, meanwhile the jester listened to you with a dreamy gaze.

He began daydreaming, trying to put a sincere image of a (skin-color) female with soft (hair-color) color. Fantasizing about your (eye-color) eyes as they gleam across the room, while a beam of joy dashing inside of you. Just the thought of your warm (skin-color) skin would send a shiver down his spine. Slowly but deliberately he'd yearn to see you in your spectacles. Jevil didn't want to just dream about your voice, he wanted to see an actual figure of you talking to him.

But alas, he's locked while you're roaming the illusionary lie of the world revolving in darkness. And as much as the two of you would have an ambition for these candid conversations to never end, Your senses told you to get up. Your mind was still shouting for you to find Susie, Kris, and Ralsei rather than stay in this hidden floor in the enemy's lair.

"I must head on, find my way out of this Castle."

"Why leaving, leaving? It's un-so, I had so many things to tell you about... but now you're choosing to return to the same shut-off world."

"I apologize," - you tried to excuse yourself out with deepest regards as a way to express your gratitude to the friend behind bars, but you knew you couldn't stay for much longer - you were on the run after all, and who knows what those three kids might face if you're not there to protect them. "But thank you for letting me stay in here - I appreciate your company."

Jevil stayed threateningly silent before he contemplated what to say - "...Floor 5F. You'll meet an acquainted friend of yours."

Heeding his advice, you left hurriedly without another word. At first, the darkness of the room must have deceived you, or else your vision was dazzled by the glowing eyes peeking at you as you ascended further towards the stairs.

*Jevil was certain you'll return.

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The noble residence of the Card Castle continued on with their tasks, meanwhile the royal guards were serving their duty under the King's command. Despite their dissatisfaction with their ruler's bidding, the poor darkners had no choice but to obey in order to escape his tyranny (but also to get their salary)

Thus, several Head Hathies guarded the obsidian hallways of the floor 5F. They marched back and forth like soldiers on duty, but what they didn't grasp was the fast shadow of a (your-height) human. You managed to sneak past some wardens, adapting to your quiet and stealthy nature of maneuvering. But that wasn't an issue - your course of attention was on finding an exit.

'Please don't tell me I'm lost.' - you thought, scolding yourself for listening to Jevil's advice. Why were on floor 5F?

Just when you tried to move in a different direction, a loud crash emitted from the room beside you. You instinctively pressed your back on the wall, trying to stay low. It seems someone was in the room beside you, moving with something heavy. The loud crash repeated for several times, making you stand still, before stopping completely.

'It stopped. I think I can move n-' taking a step further to escape, the massive Spade-door was spread open, revealing the person behind it in shock. Whoever it was the two of you jumped in horror.

"BHAAA!"

"BHAAA!"

"BHAAA- wait, Lancer?" - you mumbled like an idiot.

"M-miss? It's you, Miss!" - It was none other than Lancer, his shocked expression immediately compensated with his iconic grin "I thought you were gone! My dad ordered everyone to keep an eye on you..."

You stared at him, bewildered. "Kid, what're you doing here?"

"I was tucking my bike to bed, see?" - the small boy pointed to the back, showcasing his jumbled room where a bike was indeed tucked lovingly to bed. It was the same bike that you almost thrashed.

"That's...Lovely." - you cracked a nervous smile at him. Lancer was still the bundle of joy that he is - his beaming smirk wide and his childish behavior untamed as ever. He couldn't deny that he was jubilant to see you, but he seemed rather apprehensive about something

"Lancer listen to me..." - you crouched down to his level, speaking softly to him "I need your help to get out of here. I need to get back to Susie, Kris, and Ralsei - have you seen them?"

"Of course I have!" - his spade sign slightly dropped with sadness, looking down shyly "Actually, they're searching for you as well..."

"...Are they alright?"

"Y-yes, they are... they just seem very, very worried."

You sighed in relief, grateful that this child is hanging out with the trio - at least now you can be sure that nothing happened to them "I don't know where I am, but I need to get back to the group before more guards may find me - please Lancer, will you help me?"

"Well well well," - Lancer suddenly throws his head back and giggles like only a kid can. It's that infectious kind of laugh that lights up any adult – like an echo of innocence bouncing off. "If it isn't the Hero - Miss (Y/n) asking me, the bad guy, for help?"

You raised an eyebrow, trying to conceal your own smile.

"I'm just kidding, of course, I'll help - it's always fun to sneak out of home with someone! So instead of facing problems alone - we'll both be in trouble!

"Your home?" - you stood up, watching as Lancer hopped up with excitement to fetch his bike back up.

But he was too busy to listen to you, as he tried to ride his rad bike. Although one of the wheels was slightly bent and hard to turn, he still tried to kick it with his legs. "Hurry on, let's go!"

You noticed his struggles with leading the vehicle, so taking a grip on it from behind the bike, you decided to push Lancer, as a mother would to her child who's riding a bike. You just hoped you won't cause too much noise with your immature behavior - "Lead the way, kid."

Thus the two of you went on

Lancer was having a blast as he sat on his half-broken bike while you pushed it with all power and might. The two of you scared anyone in the hallways, passing by to reach the ground floor. The boy would giggle and laugh, calling for you to help him push the bike even faster. You'd jokingly warn him that if you'd do that, you'll send him flying once more.

Eventually, the two of you reached the massive gates of the castle, the scarlet forest glittering outside. Surprisingly, there were no guards - "we're lucky to be moving at this time. There are very little guards at this hour."

"That's better, this way we'll both move faster."

But Lancer stayed silent, his face lacking his enthusiastic smile "Um, about that..."

"What is it, Lancer?"

"I really can't continue any further." Gazing down steadily, Lancer released a short sharp breath. "You see... my Dad will be mad if he'll know that I helped you."

You paused before answering, your tone dropping to a softer octave. "Your dad? You can calmly explain to your father that you tried to help a friend..."

"But... It was my dad who ordered to imprison you."

You stopped dead in your tracks.

"I-I'm really sorry, Miss (Y/n). But you'll have to continue on your own... but, um, I hope I helped!" - Without another word, Lancer took a step backward, before taking his bike and running off into the castle. You just watched, eyes still like headlights on full beam, expression serene.

Standing alone in the middle of the magnet field, you mumbled in shock - "His dad is the King..."

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Art by le me. Again, thank you all for your wonderful support and comments - yes, I read all of them.

*Tête-à-tête: "a private meeting/heart-to-heart talk". I pass a cafe that has this title every day, so I was bound to use this phrase.