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(pilot chapter)

He was blind.

Ever since he was created he was blind or that's what he was told since he couldn't even remember the first minutes after he was created by his master...

He didn't know why.

No one could tell him why.

This wasn't fair.

He didn't deserve this… or did he?

But why was he blind?

Well, he wasn't COMPLETELY blind, his magical mantle helped him see.

But only the outlines of animate and inanimate objects…

The lines were hard to get used to and clearly drove him mad…

All he knew was he might have done something bad to lose his perfect sight.

In his insanitized clown-like room he was sitting in the air innocently with his eye twitching intermediately he gazed down at his cards.

Lines…

So many…

Lines…

He couldn't help but shudder at the fact, even though he was obviously used to the lines now… still he felt unease whenever he even opened his eyes. He hated this.

The lines were outlining the printed picture of the card…

A joker…

The most dangerous card in the deck of fifty-two…

What memories, of some sort, this card brought back.

The Nightmaren sighed as he recollected his memories. He remembered planning to take out that infamous NiGHTS with this same card but she had other plans.

She knew his weakness and took his mantle away, leaving him useless and unable to see her moving. He couldn't even tell if she felt pity or silently laughed at his agony. He tossed cards in all directions hoping to hit the jester. That was the day he was truly terrified. He wasn't even smiling like usual. The smile that hid his pain had vanished… that expression showed real fear of not being able to see again. He remembered trying to snatch his cloak away from her by using his ears to detect her but she was too agile. When he woke up he was on the floor of his room with his mantle on his back and a note on his invisible face.

He couldn't read. Even if he could would that had mattered? He didn't even know who it was from. If it was from the traitor he wouldn't forgive her. Either way he was unable to ask NiGHTS herself about the note but couldn't because she was a traitor. How useless he felt. Not even Reala could tell him what this read.

He probably doesn't even know he couldn't see.

"Jackle."

"Well, speak of the devil," Jackle exclaimed cheerfully with that crazed smile as he turned his back to the Maren, "Rea-sama, comes to visit lil' ol' me!"

Ever though he couldn't see his face, he knew he was rolling his eyes and grimacing at him.

Reala continued, glowering at the insane Maren and spoke concisely, "You need to collect Ideya."

"Can I kill them afterwards?" He asked with slight hope but on the inside it was just an excuse to stay out longer, "I'm hungry."

There was a short silence then his older brother continued, "Whatever, just go get the Ideya, Jackle."

The mantle shrugged and teleported out of the Nightmare realm, appearing in the dream plaza of where visitors always show up when they're sleeping.

Jackle sighed. He hated his job. How he begged to be away from this place… but not be a traitor… no not a traitor. Nothing of the sort. He wouldn't want to be against his master now did he?

No, the correct term would be a coward.

His damaged sight led others to think he was cowardice. If he ran would that ruin his reputation?

Suddenly he felt deep growl in the pit of his stomach begged for his attention.

Truthfully he was hungry… now where was that visitor located?

Before he had the chance to even start searching he heard a familiar voice.

"Jackle-chan?"

He sighed. His prey will have to wait.

"Hello, NiGHTS-sama," he greeted in an unpleasant tone.

"Don't call me that." She said quickly and stared at him, "What are you doing here?"

The mantle didn't answer.

NiGHTS anxiously pleaded, "Please, Jack-chan, don't do it… I know you're better than this."

"But I'm huuuungryyyy!" He exclaimed in his usual way.

The Nightmaren gave him a look he obviously couldn't see. Knowing the look she was giving him anyway he pouted, crossed his arms, and adverted his gaze away in a stubborn fashion.

After a moment of silence Jackle checked to see if the jester was still beside him. She was. The outlining of her head was tilted to the side.

"Onii-san. Do you worry for me? It's because I'm blind isn't it?"

The outlines of his head moved downward in responds.

"So what? I can't do anything about it anyway. I…" he paused abruptly, the emotion of dismal clouded his eyes as he moved his head towards the ground.

The jester exhaled slowly, "Jack-chan, you are not a coward. You shouldn't depend on negative words from others. Especially since you are blind… And yes I do worry about you, otouto-san, I've always cared about you… I never wanted to fight you because of your condition."

He was taken by surprise. He spoke slowly in slight anger, "You shouldn't treat me like that. I just want to be like everyone else… with sight. I don't need your sympathy. Leave me be."

This surprised her. Again she sighed defeated knowing she couldn't change the stubborn Maren's mind. Before the jester left she responded in a few words, "… I'm sorry that I didn't treat you better…"

And she was gone.

Floating there with his blazing blue eyes closed, his mind was a complete blur of words and emotions.

Finally he snapped as his head jerked upwards with determination.

That's it.

He was done.

Slowly he took off his persona and threw it on the ground, breaking it into a thousand pieces.

"I'm done with this life. I'm through with this place. I'm outta here."

And so… he flew off towards the direction of the other side of the deadly ocean. He didn't know where he was going to go or what he was going to do when he will get to a place.

He wanted a life he could control.

He wanted to be… liked.

He wanted to see… that sudden tree up ahead of him.

There was a loud smack and a following thud.

The Nightmaren groaned in pain in a late reaction.

How did he not see that…?

He knew he was out of dreamland but… how did he come across another area already?

He sworn he could feel his vision blur.

Before he passed out outlines of a figure loomed over him.

Somehow… he could see purple eyes staring down at him in wonder and worry.

They didn't belong to NiGHTS. The outlines of the horns were different and the shape of the Nightmaren was different.

His numb ears heard her call for someone.

He couldn't tell.

He couldn't care at the moment.

He was to caught up in his own thought to even realize that he was being picked up and going somewhere he had never even realize it was there before.

A Nightmaren village…

He finally passed out.

~o~o~o~o~o~O~o~o~o~o~o~

So should I continue this? Let me know :D

If you want to know how I got the inspiration about Jackle being blind copy and paste these: watch?v=FwLZsuEsTtE watch?v=QjLTJfpZXHY