"Alright." Alaric said, glancing at Sharon and nodding to grant her request.
It was a small favor for him.
Ouroboros, having finally decided, looked at Lucifer. "I want those photos."
"Hm?" Alaric blinked, then realized, chuckling. "You mean the ones I took of you all, including Amon?"
Ouroboros nodded candidly. "And the ones from when we turned into animals. I'd like to keep them as memories."
Raven Amon's face darkened, his gaze on Ouroboros turning sour. "Ouroboros, have you been hanging around the True Creator so long you've lost your mind?"
Medici, who'd been annoyed about his own embarrassing moments being recorded, now laughed. The humiliation wasn't his alone... it had shifted to Amon, who'd fared even worse.
Rabbit Leonard, no longer intimidated, looked like he wanted to dig a hole and hide. His dismal performance in the game had fully showcased his ignorance. Cat Klein and panther Azik were slightly uncomfortable, but Klein's experience as a cat and Azik's seasoned perspective as the Death Consul kept their embarrassment in check.
Beagle Mr. A, oblivious to the conversation, curled up dejectedly in a corner, likely upset over the game's outcome or feeling he'd let down his Lord's angel... unaware that Medici had already switched sides.
Ouroboros glanced at Amon, puzzled, and after a moment said, "My mind is fine." After a pause, he added, "The Lord is fine too."
Amon's look screamed, You've definitely lost it.
Click!
The camera flashed again, capturing the moment. Alaric snapped several shots before lowering it, grinning at Ouroboros. "Alright, I'll make you a copy of the photos once they're developed."
"Thank you." Ouroboros said sincerely.
The animal charades game wrapped up successfully. Amon, insisting the game was rigged and unfair... claiming Ouroboros's artistic skill was cheating... got himself banned from further rounds by Alaric's swift decision.
Alaric then organized two more games, using the charades results to stoke competitive spirits instead of offering "requests" as prizes. The tactic worked, making the subsequent games lively. When the final games ended, Alaric, with help from the True Creator and Mr. Door, sent everyone back to their respective homes, concluding the Joker Club's first gathering.
---
Cathedral of Serenity
Back in his familiar room, Leonard was still reeling, feeling like it had all been a dream. Pallez watched as the Red Glove suddenly pinched himself, then asked, confused, "What are you doing?"
"I'm checking if I'm dreaming." Leonard said seriously.
"..."
The next moment, the kindly old man's smile turned sharp as he pinched Leonard's cheek hard.
"Still think you're dreaming?"
"Ow, that hurts!" Leonard yelped, clutching his face and shaking his head. "No, no, I'm awake. Very awake."
Pallez gave him a look and chuckled.
Leonard, rubbing his cheek, glanced at Pallez, now human-shaped instead of a shadow, and asked curiously, "Old man, you can come out now?"
"I could always come out. I was just too weak before to bother with a Avatar." Pallez said with a grin, clearly in good spirits. Beating Amon's true body and regaining Sequence 2 status was a massive win for him.
"Oh…" Leonard didn't dwell on it, asking instead, "So why make a Avatar now?"
Pallez glanced at him, smirking. "To tutor you."
"Huh?" Leonard froze, dumbfounded.
Pallez continued, "Everyone now knows you're clueless. You're not my student, but you're my host. People see us as one, so your ignorance drags my reputation down too. It's a bit late to fix, but better than letting you embarrass me again."
The implication was clear: while Leonard posed no threat on the pathway, he could ruin Pallez's reputation.
Leonard's face turned as red as a boiled crab, wishing he could vanish into the floor.
Pallez shook his head, thinking to himself how young Leonard still was. But his intent to tutor was genuine. Leonard wasn't just any mid-Sequence Beyonder... he was tied to Pallez and Klein, a likely Sefirah Castle holder. Learning some hidden knowledge was essential.
---
Forsaken Land of the Gods.
Unlike those returning to the outside world, Ouroboros got home fastest... his home was the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
After framing the day's drawings, Ouroboros left his room and went to where the True Creator resided. The True Creator still hung upside down on a cross, but he seemed more lucid than before. Where he once spent 48 hours a day in chaos and madness, he now had moments of clarity, like now.
"Ouroboros, did you have fun today?" The True Creator asked.
"Lord, I had a great time. Watching you crush the sun was thrilling, beating Amon was fun, and the games were exciting…" Ouroboros knelt before the True Creator, recounting his experiences with a steady voice and a persistent smile. After finishing, he concluded, "It was joyful, like when you hadn't yet fallen."
The True Creator fell silent for a moment before saying, "Good."
Silence followed until Ouroboros spoke again. "Lord, can the Lord return?"
The first "Lord" referred to the True Creator; the second, naturally, to the Ancient Sun God.
***
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