Lost in Histerianz

〚 XVIII 〛

"[y/n]? What are you doing?" Seth came into my room.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about stuffs." I replied while looking at him. My hand was holding the book I got from Arthur's castle. I was still trying to figure how to open this book.

His face did looked familiar to me. Somehow I'm used to his presence although we just met. His face has some wrinkles near his eye and his smile lines. I dared myself to ask about his age.

"Seth, how old are you?"

"Um... It's complicated. But it's no use if I keep it a secret to you. I became a Cartomencer when I was 25."

"Well, it looks like a lot of Cartomencers are young?" 25 with that look... Quite unbelievable.

"Indeed. Because young bodies are much better than an old man's right?"

"That's true. Could you tell me the story of me? Uh, I mean they said that I am 'The Fool' and I was dead? And I'm back here?"

"Yes, thousands of years ago, after you nearly died because of the former Cartomencer of 'The Devil', I saved your card before it was too late and I thought the best way was..."

He stopped.

"Was...?" I wanted him to finish his sentence.

"Was to teleport your spirit to another world. And one of the cost for teleporting a spirit is amnesia. And I started to age as you grew in your world."

"What? Is this real?"

"It's a vain to make up stories or lie to you. We must figure out how to gain you powers back. By the way, how old are you, [y/n]?"

"This year I'm 17. And you?" I spontaneously covered my mouth for asking the same question I've asked before.

"As I said, I aged as you grow. 'The World' said that as you gain age, the same thing will happen to me. Hmm... Last time I was 25. And let's say you're 17 right now. That means..." His face's turning pale.

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm a 42 middle aged man." He grabbed his hair and his face was pale and shocked.

"Is that how the magic works?" I kinda felt guilty that he aged because of me. How special am I that he wanted to sacrifice his life?

"You can say it's a curse, but I'll do anything for you. I can't lose you."

His amber eyes looked deeply into my [e/c] eyes. His gaze managed to made my cheeks bright red.

"Why did you do that for me? You can just let me died and let the 'The Fool' search for a new person."

"I can't do that, [y/n]. It was part of the deal that you would lose your memory and I thought that's fine but it does hurt right now. Don't you remember me?"

"Honestly, I do feel that you're familiar. But I remembered that I've never met you."

"Oh, God... Well, I hope we can find a way to regain your memories. What's that book?" he looked into the book that I held.

"Arthur brought me to his castle and I found this in his library. But I still can't open it."

"May I?" he asked me to pass the book. I put it on his hand.

"Look, [y/n]. Maybe this was your book."
Seth's pointed on the name that's carved on it's cover.

"Serendine Everleigh?"

"It was your name, [y/n]."

"What?" I was shocked.

"I thought it was the name of the owner. And it was mine?" I continued. Seth nodded.